Enrolment information for each of the states and territories is provided. This is for initial enrolment at the commencement of school careers and applies firstly to the government school system. At the Primary level, most other systems also follow these general procedures. Where applicable, each section contains links to other specific information related to enrolment. Links to documents relevant to the state or territory are included at the beginning of each section.

In addition, there are several links listed under Other Information, which may be of interest. Two extra sections have been included. The first relates to suggested procedures when transferring your child between schools, whether in the same system, state or country. It does not cover every option but does suggest a series of basics. The second provides basic information about the transition from Primary to Secondary education and its related enrolment procedures.

This first page looks at initial enrolment procedures and information for the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland.

The Second Page looks at initial enrolment procedures and information for South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

The Third Page looks at the procedures when changing schools, the transition from Primary [Elementary] to secondary schooling and a section of other, related information.

All links will be updated regularly in working to ensure they are current.

Should you be aware of errors in any of the data provided, please assist by letting us know so this can be updated and accuracy maintained.

States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

Helpful Information	Enrolling in an ACT Public School Has sections for Preschool and Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, Senior Colleges and International Students as well as information about schooling models and Priority Enrolment Areas. Catholic Schools Enrolment Information Package, Enrolment Forms [2012], Information Flyer [all PDF]. See also the links for Catholic School enrolment in the NSW listing. Starting School - A Guide for Parents Advice relating specifically to ACT government schools. Download the PDF document from this site. Enrolment Policies Access Departmental policies for enrolment in Pre-Schools [Government], Primary & High Schools and Colleges from this site. Scroll down to the Section including E.
Minimum Age at Entry	Must turn 5 years of age by 30 April in the year they enrol. Continuous intake after 5th birthday into Transition. Children must be enrolled, by law, when they turn 6 years of age.
First Formal Year of School	Kindergarten
Special Circumstances	Early entry for gifted/talented children is possible, but if you are seeking this contact should be made with the local Director of Schools. Be sure you have data to back up such an application. If you have a child with a disability, contact should be made with the local Director of Schools to ensure appropriate placement and assistance. Information on Disability Education Services for all levels can be found here.
Non-Local Enrolment	Available, but is dependent on places. Local and then other ACT students have preference over non-ACT students. Priority Enrolment Areas. Information on these for all levels can be found at this site with Word downloads available.
Documentation Required	Proof of age, e.g. Birth Certificate or Passport. Appropriate VISA if applicable. Recommended Copies of documentation if legal circumstances apply e.g. custody. Any documentation relating to mental/physical conditions which may affect learning and/or require special assistance. Check with the proposed school for any further requirements.
Immunisation	No specific requirements for enrolment, though immunisation is encouraged. What happens if there is a disease outbreak and your child has not been immunised, can be found in the Infectious Diseases Outbreak Procedures and Exclusion Periods document.
Orientation	Orientation is an accepted, normal component of enrolment. Check with your child’s future school regarding date[s] and time[s].
Travel Assistance	Some special bus passes are available. Check with your child’s future school for details. For children with special needs visit the Transport for Students With Disabilities site. For general student transport, try the Student Transport site. You can also find information at this Student Transport Program site.
Financial	Check with your child’s proposed school for details. Some schools will have a support fund to assist families in need.
Uniform	Schools have a uniform, dress code or colour code, which is established by the School Board. Check school documentation for details of this.

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New South Wales

Helpful Information	Catholic Schools FAQs Has information about who can enrol and how to do this. There is also information on school fees, discipline, curriculum, Religious Education, special education, parental involvement and students from non-English speaking backgrounds. Covers NSW and ACT. Starting School [NSW] Advice relating specifically to New South Wales schools. How to Enrol at a Public School Going to Primary School Includes, Preparing for Kindergarten, Ten Tips for Parents of Children Starting Kindergarten and, Time to Start School … A Parent’s Guide to Starting Kindergarten [PDF 1.28mb], as well as other information.
Minimum Age at Entry	Must turn 5 years of age by 31 July in the year they enrol. Intakes may occur until the beginning of Semester 2. Late birthdays [May/June/July] are likely to cause discussion about suitability and readiness to start rather than wait another year. Children must be enrolled, by law, when they turn 6 years of age.
First Year of School	Kindergarten
Special Circumstances	Children With Special or Additional Needs This site will provide a range of specific information. Early enrolment is possible for gifted/talented students. Check with your child’s future school for details. Be sure you have data to back up such an application. Check with your child’s future school if your child suffers from a mental or physical disability to assure appropriate placement and support.
Non-Local Enrolment	Available. You may apply at other schools. Available vacancies [school and/or year] will determine possible placement. Check the Out-of-Area Schools section of the Enrolment page for details. Contact individual schools to find their out-of-area policy.
Documentation Required	Proof of age, e.g. Birth Certificate or Passport. Immunisation Certificate - see below. Proof of address if applying for non-local school. Appropriate VISA if applicable. Recommended Copies of documentation if legal circumstances apply e.g. custody. Family Law Related Issues. This site provides a range of information. Any documentation relating to mental/physical conditions which may affect learning and/or require special support. Children With Special Medication Needs provides a range of information. Assisted School Travel Program information can be found here. Check with your child’s future school for any further requirements.
Immunisation	Immunisation Certificate from family doctor/hospital/local health centre. Failure to be fully immunised may require exclusion in the event of particular diseases occurring in the school. All Immunisation [NSW] details can be found here.
Orientation	Orientation is an accepted, normal component of enrolment. Check with your child’s future school regarding date[s] and time[s].
Travel Assistance	Yes. Bus/train passes available where required, for all children up to Yr 3. Passes for children in higher years are only if they live more than 1.6+ km in a direct line from the school. Assisted School Travel Program information can be found here.
Financial	Catholic Schools - How Much are The School Fees ? Click on this question for further details. Covers NSW and ACT. Government schools - Yes, but voluntary. Check with your child’s future school. Voluntary School Contribution information can be found here. Excursions, travel for sport and other costs are paid by the student and their family. Discuss any of these with the school if there are difficulties with payment.
Uniform	Yes. Check with your child’s future school. Some schools have ‘dress codes’ in addition to or instead of uniforms. Other Information [NSW] is available here.
Out of School Hours Care	Many local and community programs operate across NSW, either at schools or local centres. Check with your child’s school about Outside School Hours Care. Before and After School Care A brief summary, with links, from the Department of Education & Training. Network of Community Activities ‘OOSH [Out of School Hours] covers services for school-age children before and after school and during the school vacations. The official name for the government’s program is Outside School Hours Care [OSHC] or Vacation Care [VC]’. The Australian Child Care Index Search state areas to find appropriate sites.

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Northern Territory

Helpful Information	Information for Parents ‘This information pack has been assembled for the benefit of parents whose children are to attend a school in the Northern Territory for the first time’. Includes a range of downloadable documents and Enrolment forms. You should also check the information on the Let’s Start Program which ‘aims to help parents support children as they negotiate their way through preschool into primary school. We work with children aged 4-6 years and their parents or main carers’.
Minimum Age at Entry	‘Children turning five on or before 30 June are eligible to enrol in a transition program at the commencement of the school year. Children who turn five after 30 June are eligible to enrol in a transition program from the commencement of the following school year’. Check information on the Age of Entry page. Transition is a non-compulsory year as is Preschool. Children must be enrolled, by law, when they turn 6 years of age.
First Year of School	Government Preschool available if children have turned 4. This is recommended but not compulsory. Non-Government Pre-schools may take them earlier than this. Transition now has only one intake.
Special Circumstances	Check with your child’s future school if your child suffers from a mental or physical disability to assure appropriate placement and support. Information on Special Education and Disability can be found here.
Non-Local Enrolment	No restrictions to enrolment, unless space is not available.
Documentation Required	Proof of age, e.g. Birth Certificate or Passport. Appropriate VISA if applicable. Recommended Copies of documentation if legal circumstances apply, e.g. custody. Any documentation relating to mental/physical conditions which may affect learning and/or require special support. See Special Circumstances section above. Check with your child’s future school for any further requirements.
Immunisation	No specific requirements for enrolment, though immunisation is encouraged. The Infectious Diseases - Exclusions From School policy is found here.
Orientation	Orientation is an accepted, normal component of enrolment. Check with your child’s future school regarding date[s] and time[s].
Travel Assistance	A range of travel schemes. Check with your child’s future school. Details and application forms for a variety of travel assistance can be found here on the Student Assistance Schemes page.
Financial	Yes, but voluntary[Annual Levy]. For details see Voluntary School Contributions. Check with your child’s future school. Discuss any of this with the school if there are difficulties with payment.
Uniform	A uniform policy applies from Transition to Year 9. Check with the your child’s future school. The Compulsory School Uniforms T-9 policy also indicates what is required.
Out of School Hours Care	A variety of local and community programs operate, either at schools or local centres. Check with your child’s school about Outside School Hours Care. The Australian Child Care Index Search territory areas to find appropriate sites.

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Queensland

Helpful Information	Frequently Asked Questions about Catholic Schools Provides a range of information from the historical to curriculum, fees, catering for students with special needs, more. Starting School [Qld] Covers government and non-government schools. A second site covers Enrolments at all levels as well as transfers between schools, while a site covering Preparing for Prep which has information and PDF downloads, can be found here.
Minimum Age at Entry	They may enrol in a Kindergarten in the year they turn 4 years of age. Their name may be placed on a waiting list in the year they turn 3. See proof of age requirements below. ‘A non-compulsory, full-time Preparatory Year. Children must be aged five by 30 June in the year they enrol’. Find all relevant information from this site, and even more extensive information on the Preparatory Year and early learning, here. Children must be six by 30 June in the year they enrol in Year 1. Children must be enrolled, by law, when they turn 6 years of age.
First Year of School	Year 1
Special Circumstances	Early enrolment is possible for gifted/talented students. Check with your child’s future school for details. Be sure you have data to back up such an application. Check with your child’s future school if your child suffers from a mental or physical disability to assure appropriate placement and support. The Learning & Disability : Students with Disabilities page covers support information for this group.
Non-Local Enrolment	‘Parents are free to send their children to the school of their choice, depending on available places. Some schools have an enrolment management plan in place that means students may not be able to attend unless they live within the designated catchment zone’. You can check the details for all schools with Enrolment Management Plans here. These show local catchment areas for schools with these plans.
Documentation Required	Proof of age, e.g. Birth Certificate or Passport. Appropriate VISA if applicable. Recommended Copies of documentation if legal circumstances apply e.g. custody. Any documentation relating to mental/physical conditions which may affect learning and/or require special support. Check with your child’s future school for any further requirements.
Immunisation	No specific requirements for enrolment, though immunisation is encouraged.
Orientation	Orientation is an accepted, normal component of enrolment. Check with your child’s future school regarding date[s] and time[s].
Travel Assistance	An allowance is available. Check with your child’s future school or go to School Transport, which covers transport for students with disabilities. School Transport Assistance Scheme information can be found here.
Financial	There is a Contribution Scheme. Check with your child’s future school. Discuss any of this with the school if there are difficulties with payment. Financial Assistance information is found here.
Uniform	‘School communities in conjunction with their Parents and Citizens’ association decide on a student dress code’.
Out of School Hours Care	Outside School Hours Care [OSHC] Information from Education Queensland for P & Cs who are running these. Queensland Children’s Activities Network ‘QCAN is the peak body for Outside School Hours Care Services throughout the State of Queensland’. The Australian Child Care Index Search state areas to find appropriate sites.

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