Education in Brisbane

There are many great options for schools in the Brisbane area for those coming to work in Brisbane with school-aged children. Under Australian law, all children from six to 16 must attend school full-time. There are three main types of school you could send your children to in Brisbane:

Public or state schools

Australia has a high-quality public education system that requires no fees for Australian citizens and permanent residents. There are some costs: you may be asked to pay a voluntary fee, and you do have to pay for school uniforms (which are generally compulsory in Brisbane), books, stationery supplies, excursions, and additional music lessons.

Enrolment is based on location, with each school having a local ‘catchment’ area for students based on their address. Those on a temporary visa may be offered a different fee structure or receive grants, so make sure you understand what your visa situation is.

There is also a program for international students to attend government schools across Queensland.

Catholic schools

There are many small Catholic schools in Brisbane known as ‘systemic’ schools. They are mainly subsidised by the government, but levy a small fee and are open to Catholic students.

Independent or private schools

There are many excellent private schools in Brisbane, charging much higher fees (in many cases, over $25,000/year). The majority are religious, but many are also non-religious or non-denominational. While most private schools in Brisbane are day schools, there are also some boarding schools, and there is no requirement for students to live locally. Many also offer the International Baccalaureate.

The school year runs from January to December, with four school terms. School holidays are two to three weeks long and take place in April, July and September. The end of year summer holidays are usually around six weeks long, although private schools generally have longer holidays than public schools. In Queensland, school is in session Monday to Friday, generally from 9am to 3pm, although these times can vary for each school.

To help you decide what school to send your child to, the following resources are available:

·      Good Schools Guide www.goodschools.com.au

·      Choose Brisbane www.choosebrisbane.com.au

·      Independent Schools of Queensland www.isq.qld.edu.au

·      Queensland Catholic Education Commission www.qcec.catholic.edu.au

To enrol your child in a school, contact the school by telephone or in person. You will need to take your visa and entry to Australia documents, proof of their date of birth, and any papers relating to their previous education.

Universities in Brisbane

Brisbane has a number of internationally competitive universities offering world-class facilities, including:

·      The University of Queensland (UQ)

·      Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

·      Griffith University

·      University of Southern Queensland

·      James Cook University Brisbane

School-leavers wishing to enter university in Brisbane will require an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) from an Australian high school or an equivalent such as the International Baccalaureate. International student university fees can cost between $20,000-$30,000 per year.