Government schools (also known as public schools) are free to attend for Australian citizens and permanent residents, while Catholic and independent schools usually charge attendance fees. All Australian schools are required to adhere to the same curriculum frameworks of their state or territory.
Types of schools
Government schools are mostly free for Australian citizens and permanent residents. Some schools charge a “voluntary contribution” or donation fee, which can range from AU $60 to as much as AU $1,000. You're not legally required to pay the donation fee, but schools encourage you to do so.
Almost all domestic undergraduate students, and postgraduate students pay a fee to complete their studies. However, most Australian students are Commonwealth supported, meaning they are not liable to pay the full tuition fee for a course. The Australian government pays a portion of the tuition fee.
Though public schools don't charge mandatory fees, the survey asked parents about the other costs that can be involved in schooling, including voluntary student contributions, electronic devices, uniforms and tutoring.
How much does public school cost in Australia? The national average total cost of a public school education if a child goes to school from age 5 – 16 is $68,613. That means about $109 for every week of their school years. How much do Australian private schools cost?
A primary school education is expected to top $140,000 for families choosing to educate their child privately. Parents sending their child to a public primary school can expect to face costs of around $23,000, which compares to roughly $61,000 in the Catholic sector.
Kindy will be free for eligible-aged children who attend a government-approved program offering free kindy from 1 January 2024. This means that whether a child attends a sessional kindergarten, or kindergarten in a long day care service, the kindergarten program will be free.
Schools are funded through a combination of Australian Government (Commonwealth) funding, state and territory government funding, and funding from fees, charges and other parental or private contributions.
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School (GGS) officially takes the cake for Australia's most expensive private school, with annual tuition fees for Year 12 students reaching over $43,000!
School education is 13 years and divided into: Primary school - Runs for seven or eight years, starting at Kindergarten/Preparatory through to Year 6 or 7. Secondary school - Runs for three or four years, from Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10. Senior secondary school - Runs for two years, Years 11 and 12.
Yet it was a Labor government entering office in 1983 that really ended free education. In the August 1986 Budget, Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke introduced a $250 “administration fee” charged to students on enrolment.
The Whitlam Labor government abolished university fees on 1 January 1974. By the mid-1980s, however, there was consensus between both major parties that the concept of 'free' tertiary education in Australia was untenable due to the increasing participation rate.
The Education Act of 1872 was the first of its kind in the world. The first in the Australian colonies. Education was free and compulsory, so the whole community would benefit. All children aged 6-15 years had to attend school unless they had a reasonable excuse.
Tuition fees
Australia is one of the most popular destinations for university study but, like the UK and the US, it is also one of the most expensive. However, regions differ greatly and it is worth exploring all avenues before ruling out the possibility of studying Down Under.
“Private schools tend to be overfunded, and they are funded by different mechanisms than public schools,” said Dr Larsen. “Private schools have every right to charge as much as they like in fees from parents. “But the government is also giving them an amount of money as well.
The most over-funded schools were Loreto Kirribilli, St Aloysius College and St Augustine's College, which all received an extra $4.5 million in 2020 – more than twice as much as the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) determined they needed. Three of the highest-funded schools and the amounts they received.
The University of Wollongong (UOW), established in 1951, often tops lists of the most beautiful campuses in Australia. Sandwiched between tree-covered mountains and the azure blue waters of the Pacific, the Wollongong campus exemplifies Australia's natural beauty.
Topping the list as Australia's most expensive private school is likely Victoria's Geelong Grammar School for the second consecutive year. Tuition for year 10 - 12 students at the elite secondary school will set parents back $46,020 a year in 2023, up 5.4 per cent on 2022.
Public primary schools (state schools) are fully government-funded and free to attend. However, you are usually asked to pay a voluntary school levy per student per year. You will also need to pay for uniforms, some books and extra-curricular subjects and activities such as excursions.
The minimum Wage in Australia
Australia's hourly minimum wage is AUD 21.38, so students can earn up to $855.20 per fortnight during the school term and more during school breaks. However, this rate may change based on the sector and the nature of the work.
In 2022: 4,042,512 students were enrolled in schools across Australia, an increase of 11,795 students (0.3%) compared with 2021. the majority of students were enrolled in government schools (64.5%), followed by Catholic schools (19.7%) and independent schools (15.9%).
Australian parents may be able to access government support to cover part of the cost of care but according to OECD figures, families are still spending between 10 and 16 per cent of their household income on childcare. That is higher than the OECD average of between 8 and 10 per cent.
The Schoolkids Bonus is a yearly payment of $820 for each eligible child in secondary study and $410 for each eligible child in primary study. Payments are made in two equal instalments in January and July each year.
Most Australian schools do have canteens where you can buy lunch, but most students would only have a bought lunch as an occasional treat or if their family was in a rush that morning and didn't get lunches made. Most students would bring lunch from home most days — usually a sandwich, a snack and a drink.