Enrolment Information

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

The 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.

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.

Changing Schools

‘Each year nearly 80 000 school students move interstate with their family. Schools play an important role in helping mobile students to adjust to their new environment and ensuring the educational development of the student is not impeded as a result of the move. Parents can also assist by providing the new school with information on their child’s educational background, by familiarising their child with the school and by monitoring his/her progress. The following booklets and brochure provide information for schools and parents to assist in supporting the needs of students who move schools’. All are provided by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Irrespective of which state/territory or overseas country you are moving to, the following points remain applicable.

Contact your child’s Present School and notify them your child is leaving. At the same time :

obtain a Transfer Certificate. If you are moving interstate, you can gain an Interstate Student Data Transfer Note. Details can be found here for those in Government Schools, and at this site for those in Non-Government Schools. Find a Parent Fact Sheet, School Fact Sheet and FAQs in PDF format plus other documentation on both these pages;
collect Samples of Work - either a Portfolio or a range of work samples in different subject areas;
talk to the class teacher[s] and see if they can give you any Additional Information;
make or obtain notes on any Special Programs in which your child is involved and that need to be continued. Some detail of where they are in a program would be valuable;
Changing Secondary Schools in Australia Years 7 to 10
‘Summarises the junior secondary curriculum in eight public education systems in Australia as well as in the New Zealand system. It provides an overview of the structure of the secondary system, advice and web links relating to students transferring schools, information about the junior secondary curriculum, subjects and courses, and an outline of the various methods of assessing and reporting student achievement when students complete Year 10’.
This site could prove useful in seeing what may be needed [and suggested above] to assist a smooth transition.

Make sure you Return Equipment which belongs to the school, e.g. library books, readers, etc..

If you have Uniforms no longer of use to you, consider donating them to the Clothing Pool, to another family or check if they will be usable at their new school.

Thank the school for what it has done. It is surprising how often people who are happy with their child’s school never do this.

Contact your child’s New School and let them know your child is enrolling. Do this as soon as possible. Have the following information available :

name, age and birthday;
the year/class they have been in and the state/territory/country they are coming from;
any special programs they have been in and indicate you wish to discuss these when you visit the school for your child’s enrolment. This includes things such as acceleration as well as programs like Reading Recovery, English as a Second Language, etc..

When you visit the school for the first time to Enrol your child :

take all Documentation and give it to the school during the initial meeting. You are advised to keep a copy for yourself;
discuss Special Programs and your desires in regard to them. Find out whether the programs will continue or what options exist either at this school or another school;
as well as meeting the Principal or designated enrolment staff, ensure you meet your child’s Class Teacher/Year Advisor, so you know who they are for future reference;
ensure you are aware of what Equipment [stationery, calculator, instruments, special clothing, etc.] your child must have. Most schools provide a list, either separately or as part of a booklet of information;
arrange a Tour of the school for yourself and your child [if not offered] so you know where things are;

If your child is Not Starting Immediately, make sure you find out :

what day/date/time they are to commence;
what things they need to bring;
where they have to go when they arrive;
whether they will be able to purchase Food, and what sort, during the day;
where they have to go for Transport Options [bus/train/bicycle/car pickup/etc.] at the beginning and end of the day;
what time they finish so you have an indication of the time they should be home following the end of the school day OR what time to pick them up;
whether After School Care is available and its details;
details regarding Fees and/or contributions and their payment;
the dress code/Uniform requirements.

If they are starting Immediately, check any items listed above which still apply.

If you wish to become involved in school activities this could be the time to ask about the possibility, especially if you have done so in the past [e.g. helping in classrooms, in the Canteen, Reading groups, etc.]. You may, however, wish to leave this until you have settled into your new home and your child has settled into the school.

Check to see who you should Contact if you have further questions. This may not be the Principal or even the class teacher, depending on the circumstances. It is far better to contact the school if you are not happy or not clear about something than to let this go to become a bigger problem in the future.

Once you have done the above, place your child in the school’s capable hands and leave as soon as you have said a brief farewell.

If a Problem that requires your attention occurs, they will be the first to contact you regarding this.

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Transition - Primary to Secondary

Normally, the process of transition from Primary schooling to secondary school will commence during the first half of the last year of primary school. This will include some/all of the following depending upon the state/territory you are in. A helpful page can be found at Secondary School, especially Starting Secondary School which, while Victorian oriented, contains things common to all systems.

Parents & students are asked to nominate a Secondary school. This is usually done during Term 2 [Tasmania - by June] of the last primary year of schooling.
In each state/territory you may have a choice of applying for one, or more, of the following.

your local secondary school;
a range of non-local secondary schools;
different kinds of secondary schools e.g., sport, selective, technical. This depends on the structure within the state or territory system.

You are often asked if your child will not be attending a government secondary school i.e., if you are going to choose a non-government school. This allows schools to gain a reasonable idea of the number of students they can expect to enter the first year of secondary school.
In some states, e.g. New South Wales and Western Australia, there is a special examination for potential entry to selective/specialist secondary schools. This occurs during the first semester of the year. See Examination & Testing or Secondary Education pages.
Once your child has been approved for placement at the selected secondary school you will be notified, usually through your child’s primary/state school.
The secondary school is formally notified, by the system, that your child is coming to them in the following year and a place is reserved for them.
Your child will take part in an Orientation process. Depending on the state/territory this could be one or more visits. These could be for a whole, or part of a, day.
Some states/territories will hold all of these on the same date, others on dates developed between secondary schools and feeder primary schools.
The Orientation is usually held either in late November or early December.

During the Orientation experience, students [and sometimes parents] are normally :

given a tour of the school;
given details regarding uniform/dress code, school materials required, etc.;
told about fees and other requirements;
told about subjects to be studied;
introduced to a number of staff who will work specifically with them;
told the exact date/time when they are to come to the secondary school to commence in the following year;
talked to by existing students at the school.

Parents may be invited to take part in the Orientation. You should check with the school concerned if you are not sure about this and wish to be involved. Discuss this with your child prior to involvement and find out how they feel about you being there. many would find this a difficult experience

Your child should then report to the school on the nominated date, and at the nominated place, at the commencement of the new school year

If you are in doubt about any aspect of the process to be used, contact your child’s primary school no later than the end of Term 2 [Tasmania - by June].

If you wish to know more about the commencement of the new school year in secondary school, contact the secondary school your child will be attending.

If your child is to attend a non-government secondary school, then you will be involved directly in all aspects from the application onwards, and you should already be aware of all that is involved. If not, ask !

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Other Information

Comparative Age - Australia
This site, by the Western Australian Department of Education, provides a ‘Comparison of ages for entry into Programs in Australia’. Covers both preschool and formal schooling years.
Well presented
Data Implementation Manual for Enrolments
‘This manual provides information to assist schools and school systems to collect student background information from parents as agreed by Education Ministers. This is to enable nationally comparable reporting of students’ outcomes against the National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-first Century’. One state’s process, covering Years K [or 1] through to 7, Western Australia, can be found at this site. A new Data Standards Manual is also in use.
School
Find a number of facts sheets relating primarily to health and support services for children attending school. From Better Health, Victoria.
School Readiness Fact Sheet
From the Learning Difficulties Coalition of NSW.
Starting School & Starting High School
By Child and Youth Health Service in South Australia. Each covers a range of relevant topics. Scroll down the listing on this page to access one or both of these.
Highly Recommended !
Starting School : Effective Transitions
Research paper by Australian academics. ‘It provides examples of effective strategies and transition programs. In this context, the nature of some current transition programs is questioned’.
Student Background Characteristics
‘Provides information to assist schools and school systems to collect student background information from parents as agreed by Education Ministers. The nationally comparable data are required to monitor and report on progress towards the achievement of national goals and targets at various points of schooling, and to provide the evidence base to underpin future policy reforms and improvements’. Information is collected as part of the enrolment process.
Transition to School
Information from Vision Australia. It includes information about readiness skills, ways of assisting the transition, ‘School Days arrive’ and more. Covers all children.
Most schools provide a Handbook listing relevant information about school life from Absences to Visitors and everything in between. If they do not supply one automatically, make sure you ask. Others may not only have a print version, but also an online version, such as at Anula Primary School [NT] [check via the navigation at the left] and at Stanwell Park Public School [NSW, School Information].

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