AUSTRALIA · EIGHT LOCAL GUIDES
Australia school entry calculator
School starting ages and first-year names vary across Australia. Choose the state or territory where your child will attend school, rather than the place they were born.
Find your state or territory ↓PLAN THE YEARS AHEAD
Calculate your child's school timeline
Plan school entry or estimate Year 12 completion for a child already at school. Birth dates stay in this browser.
THEIR NEXT CHAPTER
- Country
- Australia
- State or territory
- Date of birth
| School year | Year level | Age on 1 January | Age turning that year | Stage |
|---|
Choose your local calculator
Queensland
Five by 30 June · Prep
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗NSWNew South Wales
Five by 31 July · Kindergarten
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗VICVictoria
Five by 30 April · Foundation (Prep)
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗ACTAustralian Capital Territory
Five by 30 April · Kindergarten
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗WAWestern Australia
Five by 30 June · Pre-primary
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗NTNorthern Territory
Five by 30 June · Transition
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗TASTasmania
Five by 1 January · Prep
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗SASouth Australia
Term 1: before 1 May · Term 3: 1 May–31 October · Reception
Calculator, examples and local guide ↗Compare the standard entry rules
These rules cover the first full-time government-school year. Preschool and kindergarten programs can use different ages and names. Eligibility does not decide readiness, admission priority or an individual exception.
| State or territory | First year | Birthday cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Prep | Five by 30 June |
| New South Wales | Kindergarten | Five by 31 July |
| Victoria | Foundation (Prep) | Five by 30 April |
| Australian Capital Territory | Kindergarten | Five by 30 April |
| Western Australia | Pre-primary | Five by 30 June |
| Northern Territory | Transition | Five by 30 June |
| Tasmania | Prep | Five by 1 January |
| South Australia | Reception | Term 1: before 1 May · Term 3: 1 May–31 October |
South Australia has two Reception intakes. A Term 3 starter spends six terms in Reception, so the later timeline differs from a Term 1 start. Tasmania uses a January boundary for its Prep starting year.
Moving between states?
A birthday can produce different first-entry years in neighbouring states. Once a child has started school, placement also depends on completed learning and the receiving school's assessment. Do not use this first-entry tool as a transfer decision.
Readiness and compulsory attendance
The earliest standard entry year is not always the compulsory starting date. Discuss a later start, early entry or special circumstances directly with the school. Each local guide explains the distinctions and links to the relevant authority.
What the projection covers
Timelines show the ordinary school route to Year 12. Future years assume the checked rules remain unchanged. Actual term dates, repeated years, acceleration and alternative senior pathways can change the result.
Australian school planning questions
Can I calculate when an older child will finish Year 12?
Yes. Enter the birthday to see an estimated pathway and Year 12 completion year. For older children use current entry rules, so compare the projected year level with the student’s actual schooling. A later start or repeated or skipped year can change the result.
Why does the starting year change between Australian states?
Each jurisdiction sets its own birthday cutoff. The first school year also has different names. Use the state or territory where the child will attend, then confirm any individual circumstances with that school.
Do I need to enter a name or send my child’s birthday anywhere?
No name is needed. The birthday is calculated in your browser and is not sent to our server. It appears in a printed or downloaded copy only when you choose to create one.
Are Prep, Kindergarten, Transition and Reception the same thing?
In this comparison they identify the first school year in their respective systems, but Kindergarten means an earlier program in some states. Read the local guide rather than matching class names alone.
Does the calculator show the actual first day of school?
No. It estimates the entry year and, where applicable, intake term. Contact the school for the actual attendance date. The January or July date shown with an age is only a comparison date.
How we check the rules
Each local guide links to official education sources and records when they were checked. The calculations are tested around birthday boundaries, including South Australia’s mid-year intake. Exceptions and a student’s actual placement need individual confirmation.
READ & PLAN
