If you’ve moved interstate, contact the public school your child is likely to attend about enrolment, year-level placement and their start date. School entry ages, local-school boundaries and paperwork differ between states.
The age cut-offs below mostly concern children starting their state’s first year of school. If your child has already started school, the receiving school should consider their previous year level and school records when deciding placement.
Contact the destination school
Give the school your child’s date of birth, current year level, previous school and expected arrival date. Ask which year level is appropriate, what documents it needs, whether your new address is in its intake area and when your child can start.
A local or priority-area school may have different enrolment arrangements from an out-of-area school. A place at a preferred school is not guaranteed, and availability depends on the school and year level. Ask the school or the relevant state education authority about the options for your address.
State guidance summarised below was checked on 17 October 2026. For a child already enrolled, the receiving school uses their previous schooling and records to assess placement.
Check the destination state’s school starting age
Year names are not consistent across Australia. For example, Kindergarten is the first year of primary school in New South Wales, while in Western Australia it comes before Pre-primary. Use the destination state’s year name when speaking with the school.
| Destination | Usual first-year age rule | State-specific point |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | A child who turns 5 on or before 30 April can attend Kindergarten from the first day of Term 1 that year. | Public-school enrolments use Priority Enrolment Areas. The ACT Education Directorate says enrolment opens on the first day of Term 2 in the year before the child starts. |
| New South Wales | A child may start Kindergarten at the beginning of the year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. Children must be in compulsory schooling by their sixth birthday. | The designated intake-area public school is the entitlement school for an eligible child. |
| Northern Territory | Compulsory schooling begins in the year a child is 6 before 30 June. A child who turns 6 after 30 June starts the following year. | Transition at age 5 is available but is not compulsory. |
| Queensland | A child must be 5 by 30 June in the proposed year of attendance to enrol in Prep under the usual rule. | The Queensland Department of Education recognises exceptions, including equivalent Prep education completed in another jurisdiction. |
| South Australia | A child who turns 5 before 1 May can start Reception in Term 1. A child who turns 5 from 1 May to 31 October can start in Term 3. A child who turns 5 after 31 October starts the following year. | These intake bands apply to government-school Reception. Mid-year starters generally complete six Reception terms, compared with four for children starting at the beginning of the year. |
| Tasmania | A child who turns 5 on or before 1 January must be enrolled in Prep that year. A child who turns 4 on or before 1 January may attend Kindergarten that year. | A child previously enrolled in school interstate may qualify under a Mobile Category Agreement for early entry. Acceptance is conditional under Tasmania’s Ministerial Instruction No. 15, which took effect on 27 January 2023. |
| Victoria | A child must be 5 by 30 April in the year they start Foundation, also called Prep. School is compulsory from age 6. | Victorian government-school Foundation enrolments have a statewide timeline. In-year transfers need to be discussed with the receiving school. |
| Western Australia | A child who is 4 by 30 June can attend Kindergarten. A child who is 5 by 30 June starts Pre-primary, the first year of compulsory schooling. | Many public schools have local-intake areas. Kindergarten applications follow an advance process. |
Gather the documents
Ask the receiving school for its current document list. Requirements vary by state and school. Prepare the following where relevant:
- Proof of your child’s identity and date of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport.
- Proof of your new residential address. Accepted documents differ; South Australia, for example, specifies different evidence for owners and renters.
- Recent school reports and information about previous year levels, learning adjustments or support needs.
- Relevant health information, including allergies, medication instructions and care plans.
- Parenting, court or care documents that affect who can enrol or collect your child.
- Visa or residency documents, if relevant, because eligibility and fees can depend on immigration status.
Ask the previous school for the child’s records before leaving, including reports and details of support. New South Wales and Queensland have interstate data-transfer arrangements for government schools, but do not assume records will arrive without your consent or follow-up.
Immunisation paperwork is also destination-specific. Western Australia’s public-school guidance requires an Australian Immunisation Register statement no more than two months old when accepting a place. That is a Western Australian requirement, not a national rule. Check the receiving school’s current requirements.
Agree on the application and start date
Contact the school as soon as your move is known, especially if your child will start during the school year. Ask whether the school has approved the enrolment and confirmed a start date before making plans around attendance. There is no single national application deadline or guarantee of a place at any chosen school.
For an in-year transfer, ask the school how to apply and what it needs to assess placement. New South Wales schools assist with enrolment enquiries throughout the year, and South Australia accepts transfer applications at any time during the year. Western Australian families seeking a place for the current year are advised to contact the school.
If your move is close to a year-level transition, ask how the change affects subjects and progression. Year structures differ between states, and some states use different year names for similar stages.