South Australia’s Education System
Making the move to South Australia with children can seem daunting but there are plenty of resources to help you manage education choices for your children.
The education system in South Australia consists of 3 stages:
Preschool (or kindergarten): preschool is not compulsory but highly recommended
Primary school and secondary school (or high school): children between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend school. In their final 2 years, students complete the South Australia Certificate of Education (SACE).
Tertiary education: South Australia has a number of universities, TAFE, and training institutions that offer a diverse range of career skills and qualifications.
Parents can choose to send their child to a government (or public), independent or Catholic school or preschool.
All young people between the ages of 16 and 17 years must attend full-time schooling, training or work for at least 25 hours per week.
Public schools
The Department for Education is responsible for all public education in South Australia and caters for children from birth through to adult. The department has a strong vision of growth for every student, in every class, in every school.
There are more than 1000 public children’s centres, preschools, primary schools and secondary schools across the state.
To learn more about public education options in South Australia, visit the Department for Education website.
The website is home to an array of resources to assist you with understanding the education options available for your child. The website also includes information on how to enrol your child in a public school or preschool.
Independent Schools
Choosing the right school for your child can be a challenging task. If you are looking to enrol your child/children in an independent school, the Association of Independent Schools South Australia (AISSA) is the best place to start. Almost 20% of South Australian children are educated in independent schools within the state, with higher percentages in secondary years. In addition to providing choice and diversity, independent schools can support a range of religious beliefs and educational philosophies. The AISSA website provides resources for parents including information on term dates, learning principles and school governance.
Click here to search for independent schools in South Australia.
Catholic Education South Australia
South Australia has more than 46,000 students in 101 Catholic schools offering education options for families from early years to Year 12. If you wish to enrol your child/children in a Catholic school, the Catholic Education South Australia website is the best place to start. Their school directory allows you to search based on aspects of a location that will suit your family, understand the tradition of the school and will link you directly to the schools websites for information such as fee structures.
Click here to search for Catholic schools in South Australia.
Universities and Higher Education
South Australia is not only known as the Defence State, it is also known as the Education State. If your child/children completed secondary school and are looking to enrol in higher education, South Australia is the best state for them to learn, grow and thrive. Universities in Adelaide are ranked within the top 2% in the world delivering Bachelor degrees, Masters degrees, graduate certificates, diplomas and more across a broad range of disciplines.
Adelaide has three state universities, Flinders University, The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. In addition to public universities the state is also home to a Carnegie Mellon University and Torrens University campus.
Click here to visit Study Adelaide and search for universities as well as other specialist higher education institutions offering quality education in specialist study areas.
Vocational Education and Training
South Australia’s vocational and education training (VET) institutions provide students with the opportunity to build job-specific skills across a wide range of industries within Australia. Through internationally recognised courses, students have access to workplace experience, technical experts and practical, hands on skills required to succeed in a global marketplace. With over 290 locations across Australia and courses covering more than 80 areas of industry and activity, TAFE SA is South Australia’s largest VET provider. In addition to TAFE SA there are a number of other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) which are regulated by the Australian Government.
Click here to visit Study Adelaide and search for VET institutions and RTOs.
