Education in Australia

Educational oversight Federal Minister for Education	DEST Julia Gillard
National education budget	$40. The Australian Minister for Education has responsibilities which include the following areas Education policy and programs including schools vocational higher education The Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations is an Australian government department Julia Eileen Gillard (born 29 September 1961 is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and deputy leader of the federal Australian Labor Party (ALP Funding or financing is to provide capital (funds which means money for a project a person a business or any other private or public institutions 44 Billion (5. 8% of GDP) (2006)
Primary language(s)	English
Federal system Established Compulsory Education	1895 1939
Literacy (2003)  • Men  • Women	99[1]% 99[1]% 99[1]%
Enrollment  • Primary  • Secondary  • Post-secondary	17% of population 1. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, Primary education is the first stage of Compulsory education. Australia See also Education Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage third level and' post-secondary education', is the educational level following the completion of a school providing 9 million 0. 9 million 0. 4 million
Attainment  • Secondary diploma  • Post-secondary diploma	< 69% 34%

Education in Australia is primarily the responsibility of states and territories. Educational attainment is a term commonly used by statisticans to refer to the highest degree of education an individual has completed Australia See also Education Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage third level and' post-secondary education', is the educational level following the completion of a school providing The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of 8 states and territories controlled under a federal system of government

Generally, education in Australia follows the three-tier model which includes primary education (primary schools), followed by secondary education (secondary schools/high schools) and tertiary education (universities and/or TFEC (Technical and Further Education Colleges)). Primary education is the first stage of Compulsory education. Australia See also Education Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage third level and' post-secondary education', is the educational level following the completion of a school providing Technical and Further Education or TAFE (pronounced) institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses in Australia The Australian education system is one of the best in the world, ranking 8th on a worldwide scale.

Education is compulsory up to an age specified by legislation; this age varies from state to state but is generally 15-17, that is prior to completing secondary education. Post-compulsory education is regulated within the Australian Qualifications Framework, a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training (TAFE) and the higher education sector (university). The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF provides the hierarchy of educational qualifications in Australia. Technical and Further Education or TAFE (pronounced) institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses in Australia This is a list of universities and other Higher education institutions in Australia.

The academic year in Australia varies between states and institutions, but generally runs from late January until mid-December for primary and secondary schools and TAFE colleges, and from late February until mid-November for universities.

Contents 1 Pre-school 2 School 2.1 Government (or state) schools 2.2 Other schools 2.3 Normal Ages 2.3.1 Primary 2.3.2 Secondary 3 Comparison of ages and grading across States 4 Tertiary 5 Public and private education 6 See also 6.1 Overview 6.2 Qualifications 6.3 Agencies 6.4 Lists of schools 7 References 8 External links

Pre-school

Pre-school in Australia is relatively unregulated, and is not compulsory. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The first exposure many Australian children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is day care or a parent-run playgroup. Day care or child care is care of a child during the Day by a person other than the child's Parents or Legal guardians typically someone outside This sort of activity is not generally considered schooling. Pre-school education is separate from primary school in all states and territories except Western Australia and Queensland, where pre-school education is taught as part of the primary school system.

Pre-schools are usually run by local councils, community groups or private organizations except in the Northern Territory and Queensland where they are run by the Territory and State Governments respectively. The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the center of the mainland continent as well as the central northern regions Pre-school is offered to three to five year olds, although attendance numbers vary widely (from 50% in New South Wales to 93% in Victoria). The year before a child is due to attend primary school is the main year for pre-school education. This year is far more commonly attended, and usually takes the form of a few hours of activity five days a week.

School

School is compulsory in Australia between the ages of six and fifteen to eighteen depending on the state and date of birth, with, in recent years, over three quarters of students staying on until they are eighteen. Government schools educate about two thirds of Australian students, with the other third in independent schools, a proportion which is rising in many parts of Australia.

Government schools are free, while independent schools, both religious and secular, charge fees. Regardless of whether a school is government or independent, they are required to adhere to the same curriculum frameworks. Most school students, be they in government or independent school, usually wear uniforms, although there are varying expectations and some Australian schools do not require uniforms.

Government (or state) schools

Government or state schools are run by the local state or territory government. They do not charge compulsory fees, with the majority of their costs met by the relevant government, and the rest by voluntary levies and fundraising.

They can be divided into two categories: open and selective. The open schools accept all students from their government defined catchment areas. Selective government schools mostly cater for academically gifted students (the top 5 percent), although there are performing arts and sports schools. Almost all selective schools are in New South Wales, though a few exist in other areas. A selective school is a school which admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria usually academic

Selective schools are more prestigious than open government schools, and generally achieve better results in the school-leaving exams than independent or open government schools. Entrance to selective schools is often highly competitive and they cater to a large geographical area.

Other schools

Most Catholic schools are either run by their local parish and/or by each state's Catholic Education Department.

Non-Catholic non-government schools (often called "Independent" schools) enroll about 14% of students. These include schools operated by religious groups and secular educational philosophies such as Montessori. The Montessori method is an educational method for children based on theories of Child development originated by Italian educator Maria Montessori (1870-1952

Some independent schools charge high fees. Government funding for independent schools often comes under criticism from the Australian Education Union and the Australian Labor Party. Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Australian Education Union (AEU is an Australian Trade union

Normal Ages

Primary

• Kindergarten: 4-5 year olds
• Preparatory / Reception / Kindergarten (QLD, NSW,VIC and ACT): 5-6 year olds
• Year 1: 6-7 year olds
• Year 2: 7-8 year olds
• Year 3: 8-9 year olds
• Year 4: 9-10 year olds
• Year 5: 10-11 year olds
• Year 6: 11-12 year olds
• Year 7: 12-13 year olds (WA, SA, QLD)

Secondary

• Year 7: 12-13 year olds (ACT, NSW, TAS, and VIC,) Middle School NT
• Year 8: 13-14 year olds
• Year 9: 14-15 year olds
• Year 10: 15-16 year olds (high school NT)
• Year 11: 16-17 year olds
• Year 12: 17-18 year olds

NB: In some states students may be slightly younger, it varies between states. Some Independent schools also vary in whether grade 7 is secondary or primary as well as the existence of middle school.

Comparison of ages and grading across States

Year(s) In School	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
Australian Capital Territory	Primary School							High School				College
	Kindergarten	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
New South Wales	Infants School			Primary School				High School
	Kindergarten	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Northern Territory	Primary School							Middle School			High School
	Transition	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Queensland	Primary School								High School
	Preparatory	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
South Australia	Primary School								Secondary School/High School
	Reception	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Tasmania	Primary School							High School				College
	Preparatory	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Victoria	Primary School							Secondary School
	Preparatory	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Western Australia	Primary School								High School
	Pre-Primary	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12

In the Northern Territory, primary schools often include a pre-school. } The Australian Capital Territory (ACT is the Capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and its smallest self-governing internal territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the center of the mainland continent as well as the central northern regions Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. In Western Australia, primary schools often include two pre-school years.

Beginning in 2007, the Northern Territory has introduced middle schools for Years 7-9 and High School for Years 10-12.

Both South Australia and Tasmania have a "Year 13" for students wishing to take extra time to develop their skills before tertiary education.

State or Territory	Minimum age	Age in the year before Year 1	Compulsory age	Nomenclature year before school	Nomenclature year before Year 1
ACT	4. 8	Age 5 on 30 April	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Kindergarten
NT	4. 6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Transition
NSW	4. 5	Age 5 on 31 July	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Kindergarten
QLD	4. 6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6. 64	Kindergarten / Preschool	Preparatory
SA	4. 5	Continuous entry in the term after 5th birthday	Year in which child turns 6	Kindergarten	Reception
TAS	5. 0	Age 5 on 1 January	Year after turning 5	Kindergarten	Preparatory
VIC	4. 8	Age 5 on 30 April	Year in which child turns 6	Kindergarten	Preparatory
WA	4. 6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6. 6	Kindergarten	Pre-Primary

For a Cost/Benefit Analysis relating to the implementation of a common school starting age and associated nomenclature by 1 January 2010 see report by John Manefield and John Moore of March 2006. [1]

Tertiary

Main article: Tertiary education in Australia

Public and private education

Main article: Public and private education in Australia

Search Australian Private and Government Education

See also

Overview

• Education in the Australian Capital Territory
• Education in Victoria
• Education in Tasmania
• Australian universities
• Tertiary education fees in Australia
• Performing arts education in Australia
• Australian Qualifications Framework
• TAFE
• University admission

Qualifications

• Higher School Certificate - the credential awarded for completing years 11 and 12 in NSW
• School Certificate - the credential awarded for completing years 9 and 10 in NSW
• Victorian Certificate of Education
• South Australian Certificate of Education
• Tasmanian Certificate of Education
• Western Australian Certificate of Education
• Northern Territory Certificate of Education
• ACT Scaling Test
• Queensland Core Skills Test
• Overall Position (Queensland)

Agencies

• New South Wales Department of Education and Training
  • Board of Studies - responsible for developing and maintaining curriculums and assessment credentials in NSW
• Department of Education (Victoria)
  • Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority

Lists of schools

• List of schools in Australia
• List of universities in Australia
• List of schools in the Australian Capital Territory

References

External links

• Education and Training International. The international arm of the Western Australian (W.A.) Government's Department of Education and Training.
• Australian Government Education website
• The Official Government School Site
• edna.edu.au Education Network Australia website
• Curriculum Corporation website
• Australian Qualifications Framework website
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria website
• Glossary of Australian Education Terms
• Australian Bureau of Statistics 6278.0 - Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005
• The National Education Directory of Australia Pty Ltd

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