[11][12] Education in Australia is compulsory between the ages of four, five, or six[13] and fifteen, sixteen or seventeen, depending on the state or territory and the date of birth.

[21][22] However, Australian students placed 16th in the world in reading, 29th in maths and 17th in science in the 2018 PISA study by the OCED.

The academic year in Australia varies between States and institutions; however, it generally runs from late January/early February until early/mid-December for primary and secondary schools, with slight variations in the inter-term holidays[34] and TAFE colleges,[35][36][37] and from late February until mid-November for universities with seasonal holidays and breaks for each educational institute.

[38] Government provision in Australia during the years before children start school is a relatively recent innovation.

Historically, preschool and pre-prep programs in Australia were relatively unregulated, and children were cared for in informal ways by baby-sitters and by members of their families and close associates.

[40] Federal and state legislation now requires preschool services to implement and deliver programming based on the nationally approved Early Years Learning Framework[41] The first exposure many Australian children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is daycare or a parent-run playgroup.

[47] Most states of Australia now fund government preschools to offer 15 hours per week (600 hours over a year) for each enrolled child in the year before they commence formal schooling[48] In 2023, 4,086,998 students were enrolled in 9,629 primary, secondary and special schools in Australia.

[50] The Australian Government provides the majority of public funding for non-government schools, which is supplemented by states and territories.

The development of the Australian Curriculum is based on the principles of improving the quality, equity and transparency of Australia's education system.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has mandated the achievement standards that describe the quality of learning (including the depth of understanding, the extent of knowledge, and the sophistication of skill) expected of students who have studied the content for each subject.

[82] According to the 2022 PISA evaluations, Australian 15-year-olds ranked ninth in the OECD for reading and science and tenth for maths.

Primary schools focus on developing essential literacy, numeracy and social skills, and provide foundational knowledge to children about the world around them.

Specialist schools generally already have an accessible environment and curriculum for their student population; this may mean that there are limited subjects on offer.

[135] All applicants are required to sit the Academic Selective Entrance Test and possibly complete combined interviews, auditions and/or workshops depending on the program(s) applied for.

The following table serves as a summary of the qualifications issued by each state or territory: VCE Vocational Major 2023- As an alternative form (or as an addition to) the government-endorsed certification path, students, by approval, may elect to receive certification under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

These standardised tests assess students' reading, writing, language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Menzies Research Centre have both concluded that increasing school funding above a basic level has little effect on student proficiency.

[172] In 2010 the Gillard government commissioned David Gonski to the chair a committee to review funding of Australian schools.

A National School Resourcing Board was charged with the responsibility of independently reviewing each state's compliance with the funding agreement(s).

[49] Australian students placed 16th in the world in reading, 29th in maths and 17th in science in the 2018 PISA study by the OCED.

International full fee paying students, from primary school right through to Australia's universities have shown a slow decline in education standards.

[181] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are at a significant disadvantage when compared to non-Indigenous Australians across a number of key school educational measures.

There was intervention by the Australian Human Rights Commission, and in 2012 the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs issued a report which included the recommendation that: "Indigenous language education should be introduced to all schools with Aboriginal students, and indigenous languages included as an official Closing the Gap measure".

The method has proven effective against reducing the drop-out rate, and in 2020 eight students were the first in their community to graduate year 12 with scores enabling them to attend university.

[193] Section 116 of Chapter V. The States in the Australian Constitution reads: The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

In New South Wales, the Special Religious Education classes are held in the government school sector that enable students to learn about the beliefs, practices, values and morals of a chosen religion.

[199] In Victoria, legislation prescribes that government schools must not promote any particular religious practice, denomination or sect, and must be open to adherents of any philosophy, religion or faith.

In July 2009, the Queensland Minister for Education said that the rising levels of violence in schools in the state were "totally unacceptable" and that not enough had been done to combat violent behaviour.

The biggest source markets for onshore international learner enrolments in 2025 are expected to be China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia, Brazil and South Korea.

[214] Australian Government is also planning to add another 1.46 billion AUD according to Modern Manufacturing Strategy, which predicts a high jump in job growth and migration of people.