Understanding the Australian school sectors

Australians are fortunate to have choice when it comes to finding a schooling system that suits our children and our circumstances. This is particularly true of metropolitan areas. With excellent educational opportunities across three sectors, choosing the right school can be a difficult decision for parents to make.

Female primary school students wearing blue gingham dresses with boys in background Credit: JohnnyGreig/Getty Images

Key Points

• Australian schools fall into three sectors: Government, Catholic and private
• Most schools are co-educational but single-gender schools are available, mostly within the private and Catholic sectors
• Hefty school fees don’t always mean better education outcomes for your child
• Students can change school at any time