Education
There are four levels of education in Australia:
- Primary
- Secondary
- Vocational
- University
Each state government manages the Primary and Secondary school system within their state. This means that they provide funds and regulation for their schools. Both public schools and private schools exist in each state. Public schools are wholly funded by the government and attendance is free with the following exceptions: Holders of Temporary Business (Long Stay) (457) visas are required to pay a fee for each child in New South Wales (Sydney) and The Australian Capital Territory (Canberra). Church and other community groups operate private schools which are partly funded by the government and partly funded by parents through school fees.
School attendance is mandatory for children aged from 5 or 6 through to 15. Primary school commences with grade 1 at age 5 or 6 through to grade 7. Some states have a mandatory pre-school or prep year. Junior secondary school encompasses grades 8 through 10 and senior secondary is a further 2 years in grades 11 and 12. Entry to university typically requires grade 12 matriculation and entry to vocational institutions occurs after completing grade 10. The curriculum taught in each state or school may vary but the learning areas are the same in all.
Each state has a Vocational Education and Training (VET) or Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system. VET prepares people for work in a career that does not need a university degree. Each state manages their system and meets at a national level to coordinate their effort. VET is transferable between all states. Study done in one state gains the same status in another state. Typically, a VET/TAFE course takes two years of study.
The federal government provides funding to universities in all the states. Each is independent in its governance. They set their courses and course content which cover undergraduate degrees and diplomas and post graduate study such as masters and PhD programmes. Typically, a university course takes three or four years of study.