 School attendance , or registration for home schooling , is compulsory throughout Australia . Education is the responsibility of the individual states and territories so the rules vary between states , but in general children are required to attend school from the age of about 5 until about 16 . In some states ( e.g. , Western Australia , the Northern Territory and New South Wales ) , children aged 16 – 17 are required to either attend school or participate in vocational training , such as an apprenticeship . 
