In Tasmania, children are required to start school in the year in which they are five years old on 1 January. Many children will commence kindergarten (part time) from the age of four, although this is not required by law. Children must remain at school to complete the year in which they turn 16, and then remain in some form of education or training until they are 17.
There are four school terms in Tasmania, with a long break over summer. The terms structure changed from three to four terms in 2013 and is now similar to other states in Australia.
Government schools are called public schools and the school your children attend will be determined by where you live. Fee paying schools are called private schools, with fees varying between schools, although in general they charge significantly less than in other parts of Australia.
Information on schools and links to school websites
Tasmanian Government Department of Education
The Department of Education website provides information on the school system in Tasmania, including term dates, the curriculum and the schools. The department covers Early Learning (including Childcare), Schools, Further Education and Adult and Community Education.
This publication by the Department of Education is available to download and provides a lot of information in an easy to follow format. This is the latest version and if a 2013 version is released it will be made available.
Term dates for the current and two subsequent years for Government Schools. Private school dates are likely to vary slightly and you will need to refer to the website of each school.
This Department of Education resource allows you to search for schools in Tasmania by postcode and also to download the full list of schools if required.
This website allows you to search for private (independent) schools in Australia by city or region.
The My School website allows you to search for all schools by suburb.
The Australian Schools Directory allows you to search for all schools by suburb, type, level and gender.
Care for Kids is an online resource for finding childcare in Australia, including child care centres, family day care, after school care, nannies, babysitters and holiday care.
Learn more about Tasmania
To find out more about Tassie, visit our other information pages listed below. Each contain detailed information and links to a vast array of useful websites.
- The Cities, Towns and Regions of Tasmania
- Climate and Environment
- Attractions and Events
- Arts and Culture
- Food and Wine
- Sport and Recreation
- Property in Tasmania
- Travel and Transport
Contact Us for a quote to help you move to Tasmania
If you are considering relocating to Tasmania, or even moving from one part of Tassie to another, then contact us to talk about how we can make it easier for you. Our relocation services and home search services are designed to help you make the move without all the stress. Our Schools and Childcare Search will help you and your family settle into your new location more quickly.
Photo credit: Oatlands | Tourism Tasmania | Nick Osborne
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