With a total 2011 budget of Aus$44,489 million, education is clearly one of the cornerstones of the development of the Australian economy and society. While each state and territory would have specific regulations in the schools in their region, both public and private schools.

Education in Australia has a three-tier model. The first level is primary education followed by secondary education and the last level is the tertiary education level. It is mandatory in Australia to be in school from the ages of six and fifteen years. After this age, the Australian Qualification Framework governs the unified system of national qualifications for schools, vocational education called TAFE and the higher education sector called University education.

The first level, called pre-school or kindergarten is not compulsory. This is often practiced in day care centers or playgroups. The first formal education level is pre-school education. From the age of six, depending upon the state regulations, the child needs to enroll either in public school or private school. Public schools are free for Australian citizens and permanent residents. On the other hand, private schools charge attendance fees and aside from this, private schools or Catholic schools require payment for stationery, textbooks, uniforms among other schooling costs.

Despite the difference in attendance fees, all schools in Australia are required to adhere to the same curriculum content in their territory or state. There is some flexibility provided, such as the religious education subjects, uniforms and other activities. The majority of students in the country go to public school, nearly one fifth of the total student population go to Catholic schools while non-Catholic non-government schools have nearly 14% of all the students in the country.

The following are the year levels and the average ages of children attending in schools throughout Australia:

a) Kindergarten or Foundation Year: Between five and six years of age;
b) Year 1: between the ages of six and seven;
c) Year 2: seven and eight years of age;
d) Year 3: between the ages of eight and nine;
e) Year 4: nine and ten years of age;
f) Year 5: between the ages of ten and eleven;
g) Year 6: eleven and twelve years of age;
h) Year 7: between the ages of twelve and thirteen;

Upon reaching thirteen, the individual student needs to go to secondary school or called middle school. The following are the average ages for secondary school children in Australia.

a) Year 7: between the ages of twelve and thirteen;
b) Year 8: thirteen and fourteen years of age;
c) Year 9: between the ages of fourteen and fifteen;
d) Year 10: fifteen and sixteen years of age;
e) Year 11: between the ages of sixteen and seventeen;
f) Year 12: seventeen and nineteen years of age;