The school year in Australia goes from late January until mid-December. It is divided into two half-year periods (semesters) with two terms each, the so-called High School Terms. Each term is approximately 10 weeks in duration. At the end of each term there are school holidays.
The school calendar below applies for state schools and may vary slightly for private schools. Students can only join at the start of a term. In exceptional cases, we can accept applications as close as six weeks before the start of a term.
School days are from Monday to Friday, usually from 9 am until 3 pm. Again, these times may vary at private schools.
* IMPORTANT: The term dates for state high schools in the table below have been provided by the individual states. However, the following should be noted for Term 4 at state high schools:
- the last day of school in December refers to years 7-9
- Years 10 and 11 end their lessons two weeks earlier to allow time for final examinations.
- Year 12 end their lessons three weeks earlier to allow time for final examinations.
| Queensland | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22.01. – 28.03. | 15.04. – 21.06. | 08.07. – 13.09. | 30.09. – 13.12. * |
| 2025 | 28.01. – 04.04. | 22.04. – 27.06. | 14.07. – 19.09. | 07.10. – 12.12. * |
| 2026 | 27.01. – 02.04. | 20.04. – 26.06. | 13.07. – 18.09. | 06.10. – 11.12. * |
| 2027 | 27.01. – 25.03. | 12.04. – 25.06. | 12.07. – 17.09. | 05.10. – 10.12. * |
| South Australia | ||||
| 2024 | 29.01. – 12.04. | 29.04. – 05.07. | 22.07. – 27.09. | 14.10. – 13.12. * |
| 2025 | 28.01. – 11.04. | 28.04. – 04.07. | 21.07. – 26.09. | 13.10. – 12.12. * |
| New South Wales | ||||
| 2024 | 30.01. – 12.04. | 29.04. – 05.07. | 22.07. – 27.09. | 14.10. – 20.12. * |
| 2025 | 31.01. – 11.04. | 28.04. – 04.07. | 21.07 – 26.09. | 13.10. – 19.12. * |
| Victoria | ||||
| 2024 | 29.01. – 28.03. | 15.04. – 28.06. | 15.07. – 20.09. | 07.10. – 20.12. * |
| 2025 | 28.01. – 04.04. | 22.04. – 04.07. | 21.07. – 19.09. | 06.10. – 19.12. * |
| Tasmania | ||||
| 2024 | 07.02. – 11.04. | 29.04. – 05.07. | 23.07. – 27.09. | 14.10. – 19.12. * |
| 2025 | n.n. | n.n. | n.n. | n.n. |
| Western Australia | ||||
| 2024 | 31.01. – 28.03. | 15.04. – 28.06. | 15.07. – 20.09. | 07.10. – 12.12. * |
| 2025 | 05.02. – 11.04. | 28.04. – 04.07. | 21.07. – 26.09. | 13.10. – 18.12. * |
| Canberra (ACT) | ||||
| 2024 | 30.01. – 12.04. | 29.04. – 05.07. | 22.07. – 27.09. | 14.10. – 17.12. * |
| 2025 | 03.02. – 11.04. | 28.04. – 04.07. | 21.07. – 26.09. | 13.10. – 18.12. * |
