Diversity and quality underpin Australia’s education services, which cater for students from many backgrounds. Australian schools, universities and colleges have a strong commitment to equity, high academic standards and continuous improvement, with a focus on excellence in teaching, research and student support.
The majority of state and territory governments have regulatory responsibility for education and training. They are also responsible for funding the vocational and training sector, while the Australian Government has primary responsibility for public funding of the higher education sector.
Generally, school education in Australia lasts for 13 years and comprises a preparatory year before Year 1, primary school (six years) and secondary school (six years). A preparatory preschool year is not compulsory but is strongly promoted by the Australian Government through initiatives aimed at providing universal access to quality early childhood education. School education is compulsory until the age of 15 or 16, with a number of states currently reviewing this age provision.
The Australian Government also promotes early learning through its support of approved child care services operating under a quality based system. More than a million children participated in approved child care in 2006-07.
In Australia, about 3.4 million students attend 9 581 schools, 71.5 per cent of which are run by state and territory governments. These schools account for 66.4 per cent of students. There are 244 358 school teachers in Australia. Total recurrent public funding (Australian Government and state and territory government) for all schools is about $32.4 billion a year.
The Australian Government has a leadership role in identifying and promoting national standards and priorities for students. Key objectives include advancing higher standards in schooling through greater national consistency and accountability; enriching the quality of teaching; ensuring safe and supportive school environments; and providing targeted assistance to enable equity of access to education.
There are two types of tertiary education programs: those offered by institutions, private training providers and industry in the vocational education and training (VET) sector; and those offered by universities and other higher education providers.
Australia’s VET system provides individuals with the skills required in a modern economy and delivers competency-based training that is practical and career-oriented. The VET system is highly advanced, following a decade of continuous reform. In the regulated VET system, industry-based qualifications are delivered by registered training organisations. These include public institutions called TAFE institutes, and private colleges. Australian VET qualifications are designed to provide students with nationally recognised competencies that employers have identified as critical to their needs. Students achieve a qualification only after meeting the set competency standards.
There are about 1.7 million students in the publicly funded VET system, with more than 418 000 engaged through the Government’s Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program. Training is delivered by both public providers – 64 public providers service more than 79 per cent of students – and private providers.
Through initiatives such as the National Skills Shortages Strategy, the Australian Government works in partnership with key industry groups to ensure training programs meet current and future industry needs.
Australian universities have an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research, with academic staff recruited from Australia and around the world. Universities and other higher education institutions offer programs leading to a bachelor’s degree and a range of postgraduate degrees, including higher degrees by research. Some universities also offer shorter undergraduate and corporate development programs. In 2006, there were more than 984 000 students studying at universities and other higher education institutions in Australia.
The Australian higher education sector comprises 37 public universities and two private universities, which are autonomous and self-accrediting. There are four other self-accrediting higher education institutions and about 150 non-self accrediting institutions. These institutions are accredited by state and territory governments and include theological colleges and providers specialising in professional and artistic courses of study. An American university, Carnegie Mellon, has opened a branch in Adelaide, South Australia. Australian universities have campuses overseas in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and Vietnam.
All Australian higher education institutions have mechanisms in place to ensure the quality of their courses and services is maintained at an international standard. Australian universities are established as autonomous bodies by legislation that vests responsibility for their governance in a council or Senate. Non-university providers must be registered and have their courses accredited through a government agency.
The Australian Government is committed to improving educational achievements for Indigenous Australians. The Government is focusing on halving the gap in literacy and numeracy outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP), endorsed by all Australian governments, forms the basis of activities in Indigenous education. The 21 Goals of the AEP provide for:
involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in educational decision-making
equality of access to education services
equality of educational participation
equitable and appropriate educational outcomes.