Education in Australia

Education in Australia

DEEWR
Federal Minister for Education	Simon Crean
National education budget (2009)
Budget:	$44,489 Million (4.63% of GDP)[1][2]
General Details
Primary Languages:	English
System Type:	Federal
Established Compulsory Education	1830s[3] 1870s[3]
Literacy (2003)
Total:	99%[2]
Male:	99%[2]
Female:	99%[2]
Enrollment (2008)
Total:	20.4% of population[4][5]
Primary:	1.9 million[4]
Secondary:	1.4 million[4]
Post Secondary:	1 million[6]
Attainment(2008)
Secondary diploma	75%[4]
Post-secondary diploma	34%

Education in Australia is primarily the responsibility of states and territories. Each state or territory government provides the funding and regulates the public and private schools with its governing area, The federal government funds the universities, but these set their own curriculum.^[7] 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 TAFE Colleges).

The Programme for International Student Assessment for 2006 ranks the Australian education system as 6th on a worldwide scale for Reading, 8th for Science and 13th for Mathematics.^[8] The Education Index, published with the UN's Human Development Index in 2008, based on data from 2006, lists Australia as 0.993, amongst the highest in the world, tied for first with Denmark, Finland and New Zealand.^[9]

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.^[10] 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 academic year in Australia varies between institutions, but generally runs from late January/early February until mid-December for primary and secondary schools, with slight variations in the inter-term holidays^{[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]} and TAFE colleges,^[19][20][21] and from late February until mid-November for universities with seasonal holidays and breaks for each educational institute.^[22]

Contents 1 Pre-school 2 School 2.1 Catholic and Independent schools 2.2 Common Ages 2.2.1 Primary 2.2.2 Secondary 3 Comparison of ages and Year levels across States and Territories 4 Tertiary 5 Federal department 6 See also 6.1 Overview 6.2 Qualifications 6.3 Tests 6.4 Agencies 6.5 Lists of schools 7 References 8 External links

Pre-school

Pre-school (also known as Kindergarten in some states and territories^[23]) in Australia is relatively unregulated, and is not compulsory.^[24] The first exposure many Australian children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is day care or a parent-run playgroup.^[25] This sort of activity is not generally considered schooling, as 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.^[26]

Pre-schools are usually run by the State and Territory Governments, except in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales where they are run by local councils, community groups or private organizations.^[26] Pre-school is offered to three- to five-year-olds; attendance numbers vary widely between the states, but 85.7% of children attended pre-school the year before school.^[27] 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 may take the form of a few hours of activity during weekdays.^[28]

Responsibility for pre-schools in New South Wales and Victoria, lies with the Department of Community Services and the Department of Human Services, respectively.^[29] In all other states and territories of Australia, responsibility for pre-schools lie with the relevant education department.^[26]

School

Education is compulsory in Australia between the ages of five and fifteen to seventeen, depending on the state or territory, and date of birth.^[10] In recent years, over three quarters of students stay at school until they are seventeen. Government schools educate approximately 66% of Australian students, with approximately 33% in Catholic and Independent schools.^[4] A small portion of students are legally home-schooled.^[30]

Government schools (also known as public schools) are free for Australian citizens, while Catholic and Independent schools charge fees.^[31] However in addition to attendance fees, stationary, textbooks, uniforms and school camps all add to the costs and government schools can cost on average $316 per year.^[32][33]

Regardless of whether a school is part of the Government, Catholic or Independent systems, they are required to adhere to the same curriculum frameworks of their state or territory. Most school students wear uniforms,^[34] although there are varying expectations and some Australian schools do not require uniforms.

Catholic and Independent schools

Catholic schools enroll 20.2% of students, while non-Catholic non-government schools, often called Independent schools, enroll 13.7% of students.^[4]

Most Catholic schools are either run by their local parish, local diocese and their state's Catholic Education Department.^[35][36] Independent schools include schools operated by secular educational philosophies such as Montessori, however, the majority of Independent schools are religious, being protestant, Jewish, Islamic or non-denominational.^[37]

Some Catholic and Independent schools charge high fees, because of this Government funding for these schools often comes under criticism from the Australian Education Union and the Australian Labor Party.^[38][39]

Common Ages

Students may be slightly younger or older than stated below, due to variation between states and territories. The name for the first year of Primary school varies considerably between states and territories, e.g. what is known as Kindergarten in ACT and NSW may mean the year preceding the first year of primary school or preschool in other states and territories.^{[40][41][42][43][44]} Some states vary in whether Year 7 is part of the Primary or Secondary years,^[45] as well as the existence of a middle school system.^[46]

Beginning in 2008, the Northern Territory introduced middle schools for Years 7-9 and High School for Years 10-12.^[46][47]

Primary

• Kindergarten (QLD) 3-4 year olds^[42]
• Pre-school / Kindergarten / Prep (ACT, NT, NSW and SA/ TAS, VIC and WA / QLD): 4-5 year olds^{[40][41][42][43][44]}
• Kindergarten / Preparatory / Pre-Primary / Reception / Transition(ACT and NSW / TAS, VIC and QLD / WA / SA / NT): 5-6 year olds^{[40][41][42][43][44]}
• 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 (QLD, SA, WA)^[45]

Secondary

• Year 7: 12-13 year olds (ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC)^[45] (Middle School NT)^[47]
• Year 8: 13-14 year olds
• Year 9: 14-15 year olds
• Year 10: 15-16 year olds (High School NT)^[47]
• Year 11: 16-17 year olds
• Year 12: 17-19 year olds

Comparison of ages and Year levels across States and Territories

Students can undertake Year 12 for up to three years, students who complete Year 12 under a reduced work load generally do this in two years, this is usually referred to "Year 13".^[48][49][50]

Year(s) In School	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
Australian Capital Territory[45]	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[45]	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[47]	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[45]	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[45]	Junior primary school			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[45]	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[45]	Primary School							Secondary School				VCE
	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[45]	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. In Western Australia, primary schools often include two pre-school years.

State or Territory	Minimum age	Age in the year before Year 1	Compulsory age	Nomenclature year before school	Nomenclature year before Year 1
ACT[40]	4.8	Age 5 on 30 April	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Kindergarten
NT[41]	4.6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Transition
NSW[41]	4.5	Age 5 on 31 July	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Kindergarten
QLD[42]	4.6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6.64	Kindergarten / Pre-school	Preparatory
SA [43]	5.0	In the term after 5th birthday	6 years of age	Pre-school	Reception
TAS[41]	5.0	Age 5 on 1 January	Year after turning 5	Kindergarten	Preparatory
VIC[44]	4.8	Age 5 on 30 April	Year in which child turns 6	Kindergarten	Preparatory
WA[41]	4.6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6.6	Kindergarten	Pre-Primary

Children that have been identified as gifted may begin school earlier than the stated minimum age in some states and territories.

Tertiary

Tertiary education (or higher education) in Australia is primarily study at University or a Technical college^[51] in order to receive a qualification or further skills and training.^[52]

Federal department

Education in Australia has been the responsibility of the following departments:

• Department of Education, Employment and Training (DEET) (1987)
• Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) (1996)
• Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) (1997)
• Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) (2001)
• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (2007)

See also

Overview

• Academic grading in Australia
• Australian Qualifications Framework
• Australian universities
• University admission
• Education in the Australian Capital Territory
• Education in New South Wales
• Education in the Northern Territory
• Education in Queensland
• Education in South Australia
• Education in Tasmania
• Education in Victoria
• Education in Western Australia
• Performing arts education in Australia
• Tertiary education fees in Australia
• TAFE
• For an Analysis relating to the implementation of a common school starting age and associated nomenclature by 1 January 2010 see ~ Cost/Benefit Analysis report by John Manefield and John Moore of March 2006

Qualifications

• ACT Year 12 Certificate
• Higher School Certificate - the credential awarded for completing Years 11 and 12 in NSW
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
• Northern Territory Certificate of Education
• Queensland Certificate of Education
• School Certificate - the credential awarded for completing Years 9 and 10 in NSW
• South Australian Certificate of Education
• Tasmanian Certificate of Education
• Victorian Certificate of Education
• Western Australian Certificate of Education

Tests

• ACT Scaling Test
• Queensland Core Skills Test
• Overall Position (Queensland)
• NAPLAN (National)

Agencies

• International Baccalaureate Organization
• Department of Education and Training (Australian Capital Territory)
• Department of Education and Training (New South Wales)
  • Board of Studies - responsible for developing and maintaining curriculums and assessment credentials in NSW
• Department of Education and Training (Northern Territory)
• Department of Education and Training (Queensland)
• Department of Education and Children's Services
• Department of Education (Tasmania)
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria)
  • Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
• Department of Education and Training (Western Australia)

Lists of schools

• List of schools in Australia
• List of schools in the Australian Capital Territory
• List of schools in New South Wales
• List of schools in the Northern Territory
• List of schools in Queensland
  • List of schools in Greater Brisbane
• List of schools in South Australia
• List of schools in Tasmania
• List of schools in Victoria
• List of schools in Perth, Western Australia
• List of schools in rural Western Australia
• List of universities in Australia
  • List of universities in Australia by enrolment

References

External links

• Australian Education System
• Education and Training International. The international arm of the Western Australian (W.A.) Government's Department of Education and Training.
• The Official Government School Site
• edna.edu.au Education Network Australia website
• Curriculum Corporation website
• Educational Student Resource 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
• List of Australian Universities & degrees by location

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