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Education in Australia is primarily the responsibility of states and territories.

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.

Education is compulsory up to an age specified by legislation; this age varies from state to state but is generally 15-16, 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 academic year in Australia varies between 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 with seasonal holidays and breaks for each educational institute.

Pre-school

Pre-school in Australia is relatively unregulated, and is not compulsory. The first exposure many Australian children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is day care or a parent-run playgroup. 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. 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 or at least education is compulsory in Australia between the ages of six and fifteen, depending on the state and date of birth, with, in recent years, over three quarters of students staying on until they are seventeen. Government schools educate about two thirds of Australian students, with the other third in private schools, a proportion which is rising in many parts of Australia. Furthermore an increasing proportion of these privately educated children are now being home educated ( or 'homeschooled').

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

Private 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.

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.

Primary

• Pre-school/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 (part of primary school in WA, SA, QLD only)

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 private 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

In the Northern Territory, primary schools often include a pre-school. In Western Australia, primary schools often include two pre-school years. Beginning in 2007, the Northern Territory introduced middle schools for Years 7-9 and High School for Years 10-12. Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania have a "Year 13" for students wishing to take extra time to develop their skills before tertiary education.

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.

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)