Education and Schools in Melbourne

One of the foremost concerns for expat parents will be ensuring that their children have access to high-quality education and schools in Melbourne. The city has a number of good government schools and also a few highly rated private and independent schools.

With few schools in Melbourne offering the curriculum of a foreign country, only some nationalities have the option of continuing with their home country’s schooling. A good alternative for expats is the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, which is recognised worldwide and offered by several schools in Melbourne.

Government schools in Melbourne

Public schools in Melbourne are open to any child regardless of their parents’ visa status. Education is free for citizens and residents, but non-residents may be required to pay tuition fees. It is best for expat parents to consult with government websites to find out whether they will need to pay fees and how much.

Certain residential zones belong to specific catchment areas in Australia. The division of these areas is strict, and an expat’s inclusion in an area may come down to which side of the road they live on. It is possible to attend a school outside an assigned area, but only if that school has space available. For this reason, it is often best to base accommodation on desired school zones. Information on catchment zones is available online.

Useful links

• Victoria Department of Education
• Melbourne Public School Zone Map

Non-government schools in Melbourne

Most of Melbourne’s non-government schools are Catholic schools. These schools are managed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). Although Catholic students from the area around the school are given preference, non-Catholic students may be admitted if there is space.

Non-Catholic private schools are commonly called ‘independent schools’ and are represented by an organisation known as Independent Schools Victoria (ISV). Independent schools follow a particular religious or educational philosophy or curriculum.

Useful links

• MACS
• ISV

International schools in Melbourne

With just a handful of international schools available in Melbourne, many parents who want their children to continue studying their home curriculum may be out of luck.

Most of the city’s international schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) – a standard international programme – which means these schools are an ideal solution for expat parents who move around a lot. Among the international schools are Japanese, German and French schools.

Melbourne’s international schools offer high-quality education at high prices, but in some cases, parents may be able to negotiate an education allowance with their employers. This kind of financial support can be very helpful, although parents should keep in mind that there may be additional expenses above and beyond school fees, such as for uniforms and textbooks.

Special-needs education in Melbourne

Melbourne has a comprehensive programme for students with special educational needs. Working with schools and health specialists, parents can draw up an ‘individual education plan’ for their child. This plan is tailored to the individual’s needs, focusing on developing strengths and identifying weaknesses, and is reviewed at least once per school term.

While special education services in Melbourne aim for inclusion, there are also separate facilities available for children whose needs can’t be accommodated in mainstream schools.

Useful links

• Victoria Government – Inclusive Education

Tutors in Melbourne

There are a number of reputable tutor companies in and around Melbourne offering a range of services. Tutors can be useful to expat children struggling with a particular subject or who just require a bit of help getting into the swing of a new schooling system.

Children who don’t speak English as their first language can also benefit from private tutoring, whether to strengthen their English skills or with a native speaker of their home language, to ensure that fluency is retained.

Useful links

• Superprof
• Alchemy Tuition