mmarkmet

Hi everyone,
Wondered if anyone out there has any idea what the school leaving age is in australia. im thinking its 18. My querie is that by the time we emigrate our son will be 16 and will have left school in this country. Would he have to go to school for another 2 years in oz. He is not too happy about this so we are hoping that this is not the case.





Thanx
Chris.T

paul30

found this on Wiki hope it helps
Australia
The current age which a child can leave compulsory education in the state of New South Wales is currently 15. However, the Government of New South Wales started considering raising the age to 16 or 17 in November 2006, with the Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt mentioning "all the research shows that if students either get their Higher School Certificate or an equivalent vocational qualification, then their employment opportunities in later life are far greater and so is their income-earning capacity." She mentions the change to the school leaving age is being combined with more subject options to make sure school remains relevant for all students.[2]

The state of South Australia also suggested similar proposals in March 2006, saying that their school minimum age should be raised to from 16 17 by 2008. Independent state MP Bob Such suggests that it may not happen for at least another four years, whilst in the meantime, too many children are leaving school without any qualifications. The age will be raised by law on January 1st 2009 to 17.[3]

Tasmania has for decades had their school leaving age set at 16, this was recently changed to 17.[4]

The Western Australian government is pushing the minimum school leaving age up from 15 in 2006 to 17 in January 2007 and to 17 in January 2008. This should stay set in place for many years to come.

Victoria changed their school leaving age from 15 to 16 in 2006.

The minimum ages from 2009 will be.

Northern Territory - 15 ACT - 15 (possibly changing to 17), South Australia - 17, Queensland - 17, Victoria - 16, Western Australia - 17, NSW - 15 (possibly changing to 16), Tasmania - 17

Some states allow exemptions for students of a certain age normally 15-16 to work fulltime instead of school

Timber Floor Au

My son is 17 and finished just before xmas. Completing his school certificate. Has a place in Tafe now, with a view to further edu. via uni. He could have left a year earlier, with no high school diploma, but must have had a job/college place to do so.

Ste

loubiegreen

He he, that will please my eldest as he will have to do an extra year at school. Not that in my opinion it will do him any harm. Next one down will do better as he will do a year less than the proposed 18 they are trying to change it to here.

Oh well, at least they will have more chance of a decent future than here
(as it stands here (UK) at the moment).

Lou xx

quoll

Interesting that young Aussies flock to UK (mine included) because the career opportunities are better for them there!!! Mine went on a gap year nearly 6 years ago and hasnt come back - not likely to for at least another 6 years either. Meanwhile he is doing very nicely.

Amazulu

The fact is that the UK has fantastic career prospects and is a land of opportunity for many people. It was the case when I moved there in the mid '90s and I guess it is today too.

Amazulu

It's good that this is changing in Australia. 15 is too young to leave school. It's an almost 3rd world situation.

NickyC

Just because you 'can' leave school at 15 - doesn't mean that most kids do.

At my kids school, of approx 150 kids in the year, two left at 16 and the rest of them stayed until Year 12.

Amazulu

Fair point. I just think there should be on option to leave school at 15.