General Information Section on Education in Australia

Australia is a highly economically developed nation with an education system that is world renowned. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is a measure of its wealth is 13^th for 2022. It rates very highly at 8^th in 2019 based on the Human Development Index (HDI) with a score of 0.944 out of a maximum of 10. This index is based on the combination of life expectancy, education level and GDP. These indices show that Australia has the capacity to present a top-class standard of education for its citizens.

Australia is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development–(OECD) and the standards set by that organisation are considered very carefully in structuring the Australian curriculum. The International Baccalaureate curriculum is offered as a course of study in some Schools and Colleges.

Each Australian State and Territory manages its own education system however the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACARA) controls the development and implementation guidelines of the Australian National Curriculum.

Many students from overseas nations come to Australia to complete their Secondary and Tertiary education. Some stay on as their skills are needed in the Australian community and they can gain a special Graduation Visa that can lead to Permanent Residency (PR) and eventually Australian Citizenship. If coming to study in Australia a proficiency level of 5 on the International English Test Standard –(IELTS)  for Secondary and 6.5 for Tertiary study is essential as the language of instruction in all education fields is English.

There are a number of education programs run by government and non-government agencies to assist migrants or new arrivals to Australia to learn the national language which is English.