Understand Australian Schools: Year Levels, Support and School Choice
Learn the language schools use, the questions that reveal whether a school fits your child, and the separate checks for enrolment eligibility and fees.
In this guide
Reviewed 1 October 2026. SettleAU editorial guidance using the linked primary sources. Examples are our own hypothetical scenarios, not market estimates. No independent legal, financial or education-professional review has been completed.
Foundation is the first school year
The first formal year of schooling is part of primary school, before Year 1. It is not the preschool year. The same word can describe different stages in different states: for example, Kindergarten is the first school year in NSW, but an earlier program in WA. ACARA’s terminology helps explain the difference.
| Jurisdiction | Name |
|---|---|
| NSW and ACT | Kindergarten |
| Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania | Prep / Preparatory |
| South Australia | Reception |
| Western Australia | Pre-primary |
| Northern Territory | Transition |
Foundation is followed by Years 1–12. Campus arrangements vary: a school may be primary, secondary, combined or part of a middle-school/college structure. Starting-age cut-offs, compulsory participation and intake dates are state-specific. Ask the receiving school to confirm the year level from date of birth, prior schooling and the relevant state policy; do not convert an overseas year number automatically.
Compare individual schools within each sector
| Sector | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Government / public | Local enrolment entitlement, visa-fee status, voluntary versus required charges, programs actually offered |
| Catholic | Admission priorities, religious participation, fee schedule, sibling arrangements and learning support |
| Independent | Governance and ethos, admission conditions, tuition and extras, withdrawal notice and support available |
A sector label does not prove a school’s quality, class size or suitability. Nor does a higher fee establish better teaching. Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School is an independent school; it should not be listed as a public-school example. PEGS school history.
Separate tuition from the rest of the bill
Do not assume public education is tuition-free for every visa. Victoria uses the student’s visa category to decide ISP fee liability; Tasmania also assesses temporary residents by subclass. Victoria policy; Tasmania Temporary Resident Program.
Even where tuition is exempt, ask about uniforms, devices, materials, excursions, transport and outside-school-hours care. Obtain a written quote for the child’s actual year level and starting term. The school cost worksheet adds your own confirmed figures without predicting a visa exemption.
Use the state-by-state enrolment guide to find the official fee route. Exact subclass, dependant status, location and the current school year matter. A family with different visas may require separate assessments for each child.
A zone map is one part of enrolment
Search the exact address for the intended enrolment year and year level, then ask the school to confirm your child’s eligibility and the evidence it requires. Being in a zone is not a universal guarantee for every applicant or program. South Australia identifies capacity-managed schools where an in-zone place may not be available. SA enrolment and capacity guidance.
Selective schools, specialist programs, out-of-area applications, preschool and fee-paying international places can use different admissions processes. Check their official application dates. Do not sign a lease solely on an agent’s school-zone claim.
Ask how support works day to day
- Who assesses English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) needs, and when will that happen?
- Is support in the classroom, a small group or a separate intensive program? What is available this term, and are there program or transport costs?
- How will the school communicate with parents who need an interpreter?
- What disability adjustments or medical plans should be organised before the first day?
- Who will help with peer relationships, bullying concerns and settling into routines?
Support varies by school, program and eligibility. NSW says EAL/D availability differs between schools; it does not promise the same service at each location. NSW temporary-resident and language-support information. Avoid fixed promises about becoming fluent or adapting within a particular number of months. Agree a review date and discuss progress with the teacher.
Read assessment information in context
NAPLAN generally involves Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. A student with a language background other than English who has been in Australia for less than a year may be considered for exemption; arrival alone does not create an automatic exemption. The school must consult and obtain signed parent/carer consent. Official participation rules.
Use My School to understand a school’s context and published results, alongside its annual report, a visit and questions about support. NAPLAN is one measure of learning, not a complete school ranking or a forecast for an individual child. The ICSEA measure describes educational advantage in a student population; it is not a teaching-quality score. My School explains ICSEA.
Prepare for the first term
- Get the school’s actual calendar, start time, pupil-free days and term dates. State, Catholic and independent calendars need not match.
- Ask for required identity, address, visa and immunisation records. If something is unavailable, ask about the appropriate alternative instead of delaying contact.
- Discuss overseas vaccination records with a recognised immunisation provider. Record requirements and outbreak exclusions differ from a blanket ban on school attendance: NSW requires an immunisation certificate at enrolment. NSW school and childcare rules.
- Visit the route at arrival and pickup times. Check before/after-school care availability and its separate cost.
- Agree a contact person, an early progress conversation and how your child can ask for help.
Questions and answers
Is Prep the year before primary school?
No. Prep, Foundation, Reception, Pre-primary, Transition and school Kindergarten are names used for the first formal school year. Preschool terminology varies by jurisdiction.
Does a high NAPLAN score prove a better school?
No. Compare the school’s context, support and actual programs as well as results. A score alone does not establish why outcomes differ or what your child will experience.
Will language support be free and immediate?
Do not assume that. Ask the school or education program about eligibility, assessment, delivery, availability and any charges for your circumstances.