Insights, tips, and news about education and schools in Australia
21 September 2026
For most Australian families, your child's age decides more than their temperament does. Five national entry programs accept a four-year-old. Ten accept a five-year-old. By the time a child turns…
21 September 2026
Any Australian child with a Medicare card can have a full eye examination by an optometrist, and it costs the family nothing when the optometrist bulk bills. Medicare's schedule fee for that…
20 September 2026
Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a fortnightly payment to help with the cost of raising children, in two parts. Part A is paid per child: up to $235.48 a fortnight for a child aged 0 to 12, and $306.46…
20 September 2026
Whether your child travels to school for free depends heavily on where you live. In Victoria, everyone under 18 now rides public transport free, any day, anywhere — a saving of up to $755 a year per…
19 September 2026
Parental Leave Pay is the Australian Government's paid leave for parents of a newborn or newly adopted child. For a baby born or adopted on or after 1 July 2026, a family can get up to 130 days — 26…
18 September 2026
The federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) pays up to 90% of approved child care fees for families earning up to $88,520, tapering to nothing at $538,520. With two or more children aged 5 or under in care,…
18 September 2026
Swimming is the most common organised activity for Australian children, and it is not close - 23.3% of all children swim outside school hours, against 14.3% for the next most common, soccer. Swimming…
16 September 2026
If you go to school in Australia, you are one of the lucky ones. Around the world, 273 million children and young people are not in school at all, according to UNESCO. That is about 65 times the…
16 September 2026
A child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule in 2026 if three things are true in the same calendar year: they are aged 0 to 17 on at least one day of the year, they are on a Medicare…
16 September 2026
If you are applying for a Melbourne scholarship for 2028 entry, five rounds close before the end of October 2026 — and three schools have already closed a round. We went through the scholarship pages…
14 September 2026
Three Australian states run a government-backed summer learn-to-swim program, and the first booking deadline is four weeks away: enrolments for Western Australia's VacSwim close on 14 October 2026,…
13 September 2026
The most common organised activity for children in Victoria is Swimming, which 25.4% of all children take part in outside school hours. For boys the most common is Swimming (22.6%), and for girls it…
13 September 2026
The most common organised activity for children in New South Wales is Swimming, which 23.9% of all children take part in outside school hours. For boys the most common is soccer (26.6%), and for…
11 September 2026
If you want your child playing football this season, the fastest route is PlayFootball, Football Australia's official club finder. Enter your postcode and it returns the registered clubs near you,…
10 September 2026
If your child is not a sporty kid, the shortage you are running into is real and it is measurable. Across the 7,949 kids' activities listed on AroundSchools as at 5 September 2026, 87% are sport.…
9 September 2026
Sydney private school fees compared (2026) Private-school tuition in Sydney runs from about $2,500 a year at a Catholic systemic college to $52,410 at Sydney Grammar — a twenty-fold gap, and the…
4 September 2026
Canberra Grammar charges $33,705 for Year 7 tuition in 2026, rising to $34,880 by Year 12. Radford College charges $24,000. At the other end, the Islamic School of Canberra charges $3,800 across…
3 September 2026
Sydney private schools in every region — from Penrith to Chatswood, Hurstville to Hornsby — run scholarship rounds, and the 2028-entry season is starting now. We checked 24 schools' own scholarship…
3 September 2026
Five states and territories pay families a fixed amount per student towards school costs in 2026 — the ACT up to $750, Victoria $400, Queensland $100 to $357 depending on year level, Western…
1 September 2026
Sunshine Coast Schools in 2026: Every Private School Fee, the 14 State High Schools, and How Catchments Work Private-school fees on the Sunshine Coast run from about $5,500 to $25,000 a year once…
31 August 2026
Perth Private School Fees in 2026 Perth's best-known private schools charge between about $30,000 and $37,500 a year for Year 7 once you count the compulsory extras, while a Catholic systemic college…
30 August 2026
Adelaide Private and Catholic School Fees in 2026 Adelaide's best-known independent schools charge between about $16,800 and $33,000 a year once compulsory levies are counted, and the number a school…
26 August 2026
Eighteen of the 21 Perth private schools we checked run scholarship rounds, and most of them award 25% to 50% of tuition at Year 7 entry. For 2027 entry, the main academic rounds closed in February…
25 August 2026
Community sport costs an Australian family $4,567 a year per child on average. That is the headline of the first national study of what parents actually pay, published on 18 August 2026 in the…
24 August 2026
The Year 7 Cliff: When Australian Private School Fees Actually Jump Private school fees do not climb in a straight line. They sit almost flat through primary school, then step up the year your child…
23 August 2026
Single-Sex vs Co-Ed School Fees in Australia Single-sex schools in Australia do cost more than co-educational ones — but not for the reason the headline suggests. The premium is not a price on…
20 August 2026
Catholic vs Independent School Fees in Australia (2026) The fee gap between a Catholic school and an independent one is bigger than most families expect — but the honest version of the comparison is…
19 August 2026
What Six Years of Private School Actually Costs - and How Families Pay For It Important: this article is general factual information only, and is not financial advice. AroundSchools does not hold an…
17 August 2026
When should you start preparing for private school scholarships? Years before the exam, not months: registration opens in Year 5, exams run in Year 6. For Year 7 entry, the biggest scholarship intake…
13 August 2026
Private school scholarships in Australia can cut fees by 25% to 90% or more. This guide explains scholarship types, the tests, timelines and how to apply. With the Futurity Investment Group's 2026…
12 August 2026
ACER, EduTest and Academic Assessment Services run most Australian private school scholarship exams. Here's how the three tests differ and how to prepare. The part many parents miss: you don't choose…
11 August 2026
Places at Australia's top private schools are settled years ahead: some accept applications from birth, and scholarship exams sit about a year before entry. Scotch College Melbourne states plainly…
10 August 2026
Melbourne Private Schools: 2026 Fees and How to Choose Melbourne is Australia's most expensive city for independent schooling: Futurity Investment Group's 2026 index puts the 13-year cost of a…
9 August 2026
The highest-evidence scholarship preparation is free: daily reading, mental maths fluency, regular writing practice and genuine breadth beat paid drilling. That's not wishful thinking. It's what the…
7 August 2026
Twenty leading Australian private schools offer scholarships worth 25% to 100% of fees, and most open Year 7 applications between October and November. If you're weighing up an independent school for…
5 August 2026
Darwin is Australia's smallest capital market for kids' activities, and the numbers are honest about it. Across the Northern Territory, AroundSchools lists 102 kids' activity providers spread over 48…
3 August 2026
Greater Hobart is a small, close family market, and that is genuinely good news once you know where to look. Across Tasmania, parents can choose from 206 kids' activity providers spread over 107…
2 August 2026
Perth families have a lot to work with. Across Western Australia, AroundSchools lists 844 live kids' activity providers spread across 352 suburbs, and the busiest pockets sit right around the metro.…
29 July 2026
Canberra is a compact city, and its options for kids reflect that. AroundSchools lists 146 kids' activity providers across 67 ACT suburbs, plus a handful in the nearby NSW border towns of Queanbeyan…
28 July 2026
Adelaide is one of the easiest capital cities in Australia for raising kids. Commutes are short, beaches and hills sit within reach, and there is plenty on offer after school once you know where to…
27 July 2026
The best suburbs for families in Brisbane in 2026, ranked by how much there is for kids to actually do, are led by Yeronga, Cleveland and Sunnybank. Yeronga tops the metro list with 12 live kids'…
25 July 2026
Melbourne is Australia's most active metro for kids' activities, and the gap between suburbs is wider than most parents expect. Victoria alone lists 2,046 live activities across 570 suburbs on the…
24 July 2026
Choosing where to raise kids in Sydney usually comes down to a practical question: what's actually on for them nearby? Here's the short answer. Sydney CBD, Castle Hill and Marrickville lead for the…
23 July 2026
The best suburbs for families in Australia in 2026, ranked by how much there is for kids to actually do, are led by Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. Melbourne tops the national list with 50 live kids'…
23 July 2026
You're standing in the car park at 9.15am on a Saturday, your kid has mysteriously forgotten their jumper already, and a cheerful staff member is herding you towards the gymnasium. You know you…
22 July 2026
You're scrolling through real estate listings at 10pm, comparing two houses. Both are lovely. Both are the same price. The only difference? One listing says "in catchment for Roseville PS" and the…
20 July 2026
You're scrolling through the parent Facebook group at 11pm, and someone's just posted: "Just got the email — my Year 5 child needs to be on three waiting lists by next month or we'll regret it…
17 July 2026
You're at the school gate on enrolment day, clutching the application form, and your brain has gone to static. Private? Catholic? Public? And does it actually matter, or are you just overthinking it…
16 July 2026
You're standing in the school car park on a random Tuesday in July, watching Year 1s tumble out of classrooms, and it hits you: that's going to be your kid in eighteen months. Then panic sets in.…
14 July 2026
You're at the playground, your four-year-old is still in nappies part-time, and another parent leans over and asks: "So when does yours start school?" And you freeze, because you genuinely don't know…
14 July 2026
Your child's NAPLAN results arrived in the email last week, and you've read them twice and still have no idea if 'Developing' means your Year 3 is cruising or if you need to panic-call the tutor.…
14 July 2026
Your kid used to sprint to basketball training on Wednesday nights. Now they drag their feet, say their stomach hurts, or ask if they really have to go. They're quieter after. Maybe they won't tell…
12 July 2026
Your child sits down to do their maths homework. Within ninety seconds, they've found a crayon, remembered they're thirsty, and asked you how to spell "the". You look around your kitchen…
11 July 2026
Your kid's been home for a week. Maybe two. The cough's finally gone, or the gastro fairy has moved on to terrorise someone else's household. And now you're staring at next Monday thinking: do we…
10 July 2026
If you're considering an independent or Catholic school but worried about fees, you're not alone. Many families assume private education is out of reach financially—but thousands of schools across…
9 July 2026
The co-ed versus single-sex debate tends to bring out strong opinions at the school gate. One parent swears by the "real world" preparation of mixed schools; another insists their child flourished in…
8 July 2026
That moment when your child asks to go on their first overnight trip can feel both exciting and terrifying. Whether it's a school sports tour, activity-based camp, or weekend away, knowing they're…
8 March 2026
Recent events and unsettling news are affecting many children’s sense of safety — and schools are seeing the consequences. As parents, you may notice changes in your child’s mood, behavior or…
22 February 2026
A major new national study has found that racism is common and built into many Australian university campuses — affecting large numbers of students and staff and altering the day‑to‑day experience of…
15 February 2026
As the 2026 school year begins, many parents are feeling the familiar mix of excitement and apprehension — new classes, shifting expectations, and fresh challenges. This year, two themes stand out:…
11 February 2026
The new school year brings fresh routines, new teachers and a different set of challenges than a few years ago. Here’s a clear, practical guide for parents to help children start 2026 confident, safe…
8 February 2026
Australian families are feeling the squeeze when it comes to educating their kids. Between compulsory fees, uniforms, school excursions, technology needs and the increasing expectation of paid…
1 February 2026
From this week, most Australian families can access three days of subsidised early childhood education and care each week under the federal government’s new “three‑day guarantee.” Here’s what parents…
31 January 2026
We've Reached 150 Activity Providers – Thank You! When we launched AroundSchools, our mission was simple: help Australian families discover the best activities for their children, right in their…
25 January 2026
From 5 January 2026 the federal government’s new “3 Day Guarantee” for early childhood education comes into effect. For parents this is a practical change that can reduce weekly child-care bills and…
18 January 2026
New research shows the real cost of raising a school-aged child in Australia is putting many families under growing financial strain. For a child starting school in 2026 in a major city, estimates…
17 January 2026
New research shows the true cost of sending a child through school is rising fast, and many families are feeling the squeeze. For a child starting school in 2026, households in major cities face…
17 January 2026
For many Australian families the price of schooling is no longer a background worry — it’s a major household expense shaping work, budgets and everyday choices. New analysis shows how steep those…