School enrolment by state and territory

Each state runs its own schools. Pick your state for the rules on zones, starting school and documents.

State	First year	Boundary
New South Wales	Kindergarten	local intake area
Victoria	Prep	school zone
Queensland	Prep	catchment area
Western Australia	Pre-primary	local-intake area
South Australia	Reception	school zone
Tasmania	Prep	school intake area
Australian Capital Territory	Kindergarten	Priority Enrolment Area (PEA)
Northern Territory	Transition	local school area

NSW public schools guarantee a place in the local intake area. The first year of school is called Kindergarten.

Victorian government schools each have a school zone. The first year of school is Prep (Foundation).

Many Queensland state schools have an enrolment management plan with a catchment area. The first year of school is Prep.

WA public schools have local-intake areas. Kindergarten is part-time; Pre-primary is the first full-time year.

Some SA government schools have zones because of demand. The first year of school is Reception.

Tasmanian government schools serve intake areas. Kindergarten is part-time, Prep is the first full-time year.

Canberra public schools use Priority Enrolment Areas and an annual enrolment round.

The NT has urban schools in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs and many remote schools. The first year is Transition.