Pre-school in Australia begins at the young age of 3 with the majority of Australian children getting their first experience of learning with others in day care and playgroups. While pre-school education in Australia is not compulsory, the Australian Government has committed to increase participation in pre-school education to significantly encouraging results, with nearly 296,000 (90%) of eligible children in 2017 enrolled in a preschool program in the year before full-time school.

Compulsory education for students in Australia covers up to the Secondary level which is a continuation of what was taught at the primary level and consists of 4 years (3 years for South Australia) starting from Year 7 (Year 8 for South Australia). Students will receive the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) upon the completion of their Year 10 education.

Although senior secondary education is not compulsory for students in Australia, progression to the senior secondary level until Year 12 after the completion of their Year 10 education is the preferred option for most. Students will be issued a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education upon completion of their senior secondary education, which is the qualification required for entry into Australian universities.

Depending on academic performance and preferences, students have the option to pursue Vocational Education Training (VET) by choosing to further their education at a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institute after graduating from either secondary or senior secondary school. Such institutes are run by the Australia government and provide further education in vocational fields, equipping students with relevant skillsets to contribute to the workforce immediately upon graduation. The type of courses offered at TAFE institutes are extremely varied and range from Certificate I to diploma, advanced diploma and even undergraduate degree.

Students looking to further their studies and pursue a degree can choose to enrol into one of the numerous universities that the country has to offer, usually using their Year 12 qualification as an eligibility criterion.

The academic culture in Australia places a huge focus on student involvement whereby active participation, such as the asking of questions and offering of opinions (even when they are contrary to those of the professor), during lessons is strongly encouraged. Such forms of engagement are valued more than the simple copying of notes, and students are expected to demonstrate their ability to think critically during assessments rather than the mere memorisation of information.