Schools in Australia at a glance: structure, public-school fees and the ATAR

This guide is for parents weighing a posting or move to Australia. It covers year levels, public-school fees and the ATAR, the score used for university entry. It rests only on official sources, and the as-of date of each is given in the text. Rules can change, so confirm the final details with the relevant body and the school.

The basics of Australian schooling

According to the Productivity Commission's Report on Government Services 2026 (school education, as of 2026-06-03), state and territory governments are responsible for delivering and regulating schooling. They set curricula and register schools. So rules can differ even within Australia, depending on the state.

• School entry is compulsory, and minimum starting ages are set by state law. In 2025 they generally allowed enrolment from about four and a half to five.
• Since 2023 the structure of primary schooling is the same in every state. Its first year is called the foundation year in the Australian Curriculum, though state names can differ.
• Primary runs to Year 6, and secondary is Years 7-12 in every state. Years 11-12 are senior secondary (Study Australia, checked 2026-10-30).
• All young people must stay in school until they complete Year 10.
• Of 9,673 schools in 2025, 69.6% were government schools; the rest are non-government schools such as Catholic and independent schools.
• NAPLAN national tests run in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Check the details with the education department of the state you are moving to.

Public-school fees are set by the state, not the visa

A first question for temporary-visa families is whether public school charges fees. The Department of Home Affairs describes the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa as a temporary visa that lets an employer sponsor a skilled worker for a role it cannot fill locally (as of 2026-10-29). The same source says public school fees for accompanying children are set by each state's education department, not by the visa.

Take the NSW Department of Education's Temporary Residents Program (as of 2026-10-29) as an example.

• Most children of temporary visa holders, of international students and of visitors accompanied by a parent pay an application fee and tuition.
• Exemptions can be requested, for example where a parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or for low income.
• If the visa changes to an exempt category, a pro-rata refund of the remaining tuition may apply.
• Applications are online only.

This is one state's example. Other states may differ. This article cannot say whether any particular family is exempt. Ask the education department of your state directly.

The ATAR and the IB

Study Australia, the Australian Government's study guide (checked 2026-10-30), says students sit exams after Year 12 and receive an official senior secondary certificate. Its name differs by state, but every state certificate is recognised by Australian universities. The ATAR is a score that shows a student's rank among their year group and is used for university entry.

Some families consider the IB Diploma. The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC, as of 2026-10-29) says IB results are converted to a Combined Rank that is comparable with the ATAR for tertiary entry across Australia.

• The conversion is agreed by Australia's admissions centres. It changes year to year, and each table applies to a set period.
• Students who sat the IB outside Australia get a Combined Rank from their whole-number total out of 45 on the official transcript.
• The IB Diploma does not guarantee entry to any course.

If a child stays on after the parents leave

If the parents may return home while the child stays, look at the rules early. Home Affairs guidance (as of 2026-10-29) says:

• Student visa holders under 18 must have either welfare approved by the school (a CAAW) or a nominated guardian. The guardian can be a parent, a custodian, or a relative aged 21+ (such as grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle) nominated by a parent.
• Parental consent (Form 1229) is needed.
• Welfare must last until the student turns 18 or the enrolment ends plus 7 days.
• The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) lets a guardian stay up to 5 years to support a child on a student visa.

This article does not say which visa a family falls under. That is for the official authority or an immigration professional to judge.

Do not forget the Korean school record

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's 2026 plan for returning students (as of 2026-03-01) says primary and middle-school pupils on recognised study abroad are exempted from compulsory schooling after reporting their departure and stay. High-school students withdraw. On return, the grade is set by mapping the foreign school years and transcripts onto Korea's 12-year system. Details can differ by region, so confirm with your local education office.

Checklist

• Have you chosen the state you will move to? Structure and fee rules can differ by state.
• Have you worked out which year level your child's birthday places them in?
• Have you checked the state education department's guidance on whether your visa type means an application fee and tuition at public school?
• Do you know whether an exemption category exists and whether applications are online only?
• For the senior years, have you thought about the ATAR pathway versus the IB, alongside your child's plans after school?
• If your child may stay on alone, have you looked at the CAAW and guardian rules?
• Have you asked your local education office about the Korean record (departure report, withdrawal, re-entry)?

Ask the school

• What are the fees for our family's visa status, when are they due, and what are the refund terms?
• Which senior programme does the school offer (state certificate with ATAR, or the IB), and how does it support university applications?
• What documents and deadlines apply to enrolment, and how is the year level decided?
• What welfare arrangements apply to students under 18 (for example, does the school provide a CAAW)?
• Where can we find the IB Combined Rank conversion table that applies this year?

Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.