EDUCATION AND SCHOOLING IN AUSTRALIA
School is compulsory for all children aged between five and fifteen years. These ages may vary slightly in some states. The government provides public schools. Churches and other groups provide private schooling. Public schooling is free and users pay fees for private schooling.
Note: Students holding temporary visas may be required to pay full school fees, even for public schooling. Check with individual schools for details. In most public schools you will be asked to pay a voluntary contribution towards the cost of your child’s education. Families are also required to pay for excursions, books and stationary.
Each state government manages the school system within their state. This means that they provide funds and regulation for their schools. Both public schools and private schools exist in each state. The curriculum taught in each state or school may vary but the learning areas are the same in all.
AUSTRALIAN STATE AND TERRITORY EDUCATION WEBSITES
Australian Capital Territory Department of Education and Training
New South Wales Department of Education and Training
Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training
Education Queensland
South Australia Department of Education and Children’s Services
Tasmania Department of Education
Victoria Department of Education and Training
Western Australia Department of Education and Training
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Approximately 30% of children are educated at independent schools in Australia. Some independent schools have religious affiliation and fees vary, ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 a year as a rough guide. Here is a statistical snapshot of indepentent schooling in Australia for 2008.
Useful links for independent schooling research:
www.isca.edu.au
www.isd.com.au
www.independentschools.com
Our Good Schools in Australia Guide is coming soon….
FURTHER EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
Each state has a Vocational Education and Training (VET) or Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system. VET prepares people for work in a career that does not need a university degree. Each state manages their system and meets at a national level to coordinate their effort. VET is transferable between all states. Study done in one state gains the same status in another state. Typically, a VET/TAFE course takes two years of study.
For further information visit:
www.australia.gov.au
www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au
www.austrliantechnicalcolleges.gov.au
www.training.com.au
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
The national government provides the funding for universities in all the states. Each is independent in its governance. They set their courses and course content. A professional body must endorse a course for it to run. Typically, a university course takes three or four years of study.
For information for about studying at university in Australia visit:
www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
www.goingtouni.gov.au
Find a university for various courses of study in Australia.
www.australian-universities.com
Australian University Rankings
UNIVERSITIES IN ADELAIDE
Flinders University
University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
UNIVERSITIES IN BRISBANE
Queensland University of Technology
University of Queensland
Griffith University
Deakin University
Monash University
UNIVERSITIES IN CANBERRA
Australian National University
University of Canberra
UNIVERSITIES IN DARWIN
Charles Darwin University
UNIVERSITIES IN HOBART
University of Tasmania
UNIVERSITIES IN MELBOURNE
RMIT University
Swinburne University of Technology
University of Ballarat
University of Melbourne
La Trobe University
Victoria University
Australian Catholic University
UNIVERSITIES IN PERTH
Curtin University of Technology
Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University
University of Notre Dame Australia
University of Western Australia
UNIVERSITIES IN SYDNEY
Macquarie University
University of New South Wales
University of Sydney
University of Technology Sydney
University of Western Sydney
UNIVERSITY FEES
Australian permanent residents are eligible for help with university fees. A student loan scheme, Higher Education Contribution Scheme or HECS allows students to gradually pay off their accumulated university fees once they graduate and are earning income above a designated amount. The government deducts the fees from the individual’s salary in small amounts.
Source: www.immi.gov.au
