Preschool and school education has a similar structure across Australia, with only slight variations amongst the States and Territories. Preschool education is commonly one year in length and is not compulsory. School education is thirteen years with some variations in Queensland and Western Australia. It is divided into a preparatory year, primary schooling and secondary schooling. The preparatory year is not compulsory but is almost universally undertaken. Children usually start in the preparatory year at around five years of age although in some States the starting age is closer to four years. Primary schooling is six or seven years—Years 1-6 or 1-7, and secondary schooling is five or six years—Years 7-12 or 8-12. School education is compulsory until the age of 15 except in Tasmania where it is compulsory until age 16. 

Government schools are the direct responsibility of State education ministers and have the largest enrolments in the primary and secondary levels. Non-government schools, while not subject to direct ministerial control, operate under conditions set by State government registration authorities. 

Tertiary education 

Tertiary education programs can be divided into two main types—those offered by institutions and industry within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, and higher education programs which are mainly offered by universities and other higher education institutions. VET is competency-based and offers a wide variety of programs under the National Training Framework (NTF). Higher education offers programs leading to Bachelor degrees and a range of postgraduate awards. Universities also offer some shorter undergraduate programs. 

Each year, Australia welcomes an increasing number of international students to its universities, institutes, colleges and schools. Many of these students undertake English language training in Australia, either separately or in preparation for other studies. 

Australia ranks third in the English-speaking world behind the United States and Britain as an international student destination. 

International students are attracted by the excellence of our education and training, our world’s best practice quality and financial assurances, our national qualifications framework and the welcoming environment of our technologically advanced, safe, multicultural society.

Excellence in higher education 

Australia’s universities have long enjoyed an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Academic staff in Australian universities are recruited on an international basis. Australia has 42 higher education institutions which receive some level of funding from the Commonwealth Government, including 38 universities. In addition, there is one university which is funded entirely from private sources and a range of other privately funded institutions (such as theological colleges) offering higher education courses. In 2001, Commonwealth government expenditure on higher education was more than $5.8 billion. 

Australian universities have strong international linkages across the entire range of their activities, from individual research collaborations through to joint ventures with universities in other countries. In particular, Australia works to develop strong education relationships with its neighbours in the Asia Pacific region. 

Knowledge and innovation 

Australia is committed to establishing a culture of innovation to make the best use of national and international information networks, encourage creativity in all forms of research, promote collaboration between university researchers and industry, and disseminate the outcomes of research to the wider community.