Hi,
we're planning to take a year out starting Sept 2010, with our 2 daughters (who will be 6 & 3). We were thinking of renting a place in Australia for a few months while we're on the road to give the girls a bit of stability & grounding in between the moving from place to place.
Has anyone done this? And if so, has anyone had success with getting their little one into a school? I wondered if a state school would take her, or is private/international schools our only option?
I'm not sure where we stand with visa's, my husband is dual nationality (born in Oz to UK parents, lived there until he was 13) - he can get an Australian passport (as well as British) - any ideas how this works with visas and the possiblity of schoolling for our eldest daughter? Or any idea on where I cna get that sort of information from?
Thanks

I read somewhere (a blog of someone who'd done it, but can't remember which one) that foreign children can attend Australian state school for three months, with very few restrictions. Have you tried the Australian gov website?

Thank-you. I've had a scout around and found something saying that in NSW there is a scheme which would be suitable. I'll make some more enquiries - it's good to know it's a possibility at this stage.

I don't know the exact rules but we've had an influx of French actors/crew into our local area (rural Queensland) to make a film. Many of them brought their children along as they will be in town for a few months and these kids are all attending one of the local state schools.

A lot of independent schools have overseas nationals attending but I think they need a visa. best to check Oz immigration to see if the visa you use to enter Australia will enable the kids to attend school?

Thanks saoghalbeag. Made some more enquiries and found we can get our eldest into school for up to 3 months on a tourist visa - there's a small fee, I can't rememeber if it was £100 or $100 (aus) per week, but we've added it to the budget and will make more enquiries when we decide where we'll go.

I think the Cohen's did this in their book 'One Year Off'. You should be able to find it in your local library.

I am a teacher in Sydney when we are not travelling. Kids from travelling parents complete part of their education in Australian schools all the time.

Students need to show birth certificate, passport with visa and immunisation certificates when enrolling. If you are living in the catchment of the local government school they will take your child.

In NSW the website you want is www.nsw.edu.gov.au which is the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Good luck

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have put the Cohens book on my Xmas list That's good to hear that it isn't too unusual & interesting about the immunisation cert.
Thanks again.

Good choice huh... I'm planning to buy one too but I'm not sure which one to get.

m&pg wrote:Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have put the Cohens book on my Xmas list That's good to hear that it isn't too unusual & interesting about the immunisation cert.
Thanks again.