Schools and education

For families, schools are often the deciding factor in where to live. Tasmania has government, Catholic and independent schools, along with home education. This guide outlines the rules on starting and leaving school, and the practical steps when you move.

This is general information to help you research a move. It isn't legal, financial or migration advice, and we don't recommend particular suburbs, agents or businesses.

Starting school

Under the Education Act 2016, a child who is at least five years old on 1 January must be enrolled at a school, or provided with registered home education, for that year. The Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) explains that children from five to 17 must be enrolled and attend school or an approved home education program. If you don't think your child is ready for Prep at five, DECYP suggests discussing options with your local school's principal.

Thirteen years of education

The Act provides for 13 years of compulsory education and training, from Prep to Year 12. After Year 10, young people must keep participating in education or training until the first of:

• finishing Year 12,
• gaining a Certificate III qualification, or
• turning 18.

DECYP lists the options after Year 10: Years 11 and 12 at a school or college, a vocational education and training (VET) qualification, or an apprenticeship or traineeship. Exemptions can be sought in specific circumstances.

Years 11 and 12

In parts of Tasmania, Years 11 and 12 have traditionally been taught at separate colleges, while other schools now offer senior years too. Ask schools in your area which pathway applies, and what subjects and VET options are available.

Enrolling when you move

Contact schools early. Bring or send your child's latest reports, any support plans, and proof of address and identity. Government schools generally have local intake areas, so your address can affect which school your child attends. Non-government schools set their own enrolment processes and fees.

Home education

Parents can register as home educators. The Office of the Education Registrar manages registration.

Tertiary study

The University of Tasmania has campuses in Hobart, Launceston and the north-west, and TasTAFE provides vocational training across the state. Interstate students moving with their families should check how prior study and results transfer.

Questions to ask a school

• Which intake area applies to the address?
• What support is available for students changing states mid-year?
• What subjects, languages and VET options are offered?
• How do students get to school: buses, walking, driving?

Moving with children

Moving with children adds steps but can also be a great adventure. Involve them in researching the new area, contact schools early, and keep routines as steady as possible around moving day. Ask schools how they support students who change states, and look for local sport, music or scouting groups so children can make friends quickly. Teenagers in particular may find leaving friends hard; staying connected online and planning visits can help.

Visit before you commit

If you can, spend time in Tasmania before you sign a lease or buy. A week in winter will tell you more about everyday life than a summer holiday: how cold the mornings are, how early it gets dark, how quiet the towns become, and what the roads are like in rain and frost. Use the trip to inspect homes, drive the commutes you'd make, visit schools, and talk to locals at the shops, the library or a sports club. Keep notes and photos so you can compare places once you're home. If a visit isn't possible, ask someone you trust to look on your behalf, and use video calls to inspect homes.

Choosing a region

Tasmania is small on the map, but its regions feel different. The south centres on Hobart and its valleys and peninsulas; the north on Launceston, the Tamar Valley and farming country; the north-west on coastal towns from Devonport to Smithton; the West Coast on remote harbour and mining towns; and the east coast on beaches and holiday towns. Think about what matters most to you, such as work, schools, health care, climate, community or landscape, and rank the regions against those needs. Our region guides describe each area in more detail.

Update your details

Moving interstate means updating your address in many places. Common ones include Medicare and Centrelink through Services Australia, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Electoral Commission, your bank, super fund, insurers, employer, phone and internet providers, and any subscriptions. The Australian Electoral Commission lets you update your enrolment online. Redirect your mail for a few months to catch anything you miss. Keeping a simple checklist and ticking items off as you go makes this much easier.

Finding your community

Settling in is about people as much as places. Many newcomers find friends through work, schools, sporting clubs, volunteer groups, community gardens, churches, Men's Sheds, choirs, bushwalking clubs and local markets. Neighbourhood houses run activities and are a good place to ask about what's on. In small towns, turning up regularly and joining in tends to matter more than anything else. Give yourself time: it's normal for a move to feel lonely before it feels like home, and staying in touch with friends and family back home helps during the first year.

Renting before buying

Renting for six to twelve months before buying gives you time to learn the area, experience the seasons and find out which suburbs or towns suit you. It costs more in moving and can be competitive, but it reduces the risk of buying in the wrong place. If you do rent first, read the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services rental guide, keep good records of the property's condition, and understand your notice obligations so you can move again when you're ready.

Internet and mobile coverage

Reliable internet matters for remote work, study, telehealth and staying in touch. Coverage varies a lot in Tasmania's hills and valleys, so check what's available at the exact address rather than the town in general. Ask the current occupants or neighbours how well their connection works, and test mobile reception inside the home. For rural properties, compare fixed wireless, satellite and other options before you commit. If good internet is essential to your income, make it a deal-breaker in your property search.

A quick checklist

Before you commit to a move:

• visit in winter if you can;
• compare regions against your work, school, health and lifestyle needs;
• budget for shipping, bonds, inspections and heating;
• check internet at the exact address;
• plan biosecurity steps for food, plants, gear and pets;
• diarise the three-month registration and six-month licence deadlines;
• update your address with key agencies.

Where our information comes from

We base the rules and deadlines in this guide on official sources, including Service Tasmania, Transport Services Tasmania, Biosecurity Tasmania, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services, the Department for Education, Children and Young People, the Bureau of Meteorology, Healthdirect and Services Australia, listed at the end of the page. Descriptions of places are general and written in our own words. Rules change, so we show the date we last checked the page; follow the source links before relying on any detail.

Taking it one step at a time

A move across Bass Strait involves many decisions, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Breaking the move into stages helps: first research and visit, then choose a region and housing, then book transport and removalists, then handle biosecurity and packing, and finally the paperwork after you arrive. Tackling one stage at a time, with a written list for each, keeps things manageable and makes it less likely that an important deadline slips through the cracks.

Key points

• A child five or older on 1 January must be enrolled (Education Act 2016).
• Tasmania provides for 13 years of education, Prep to Year 12.
• Young people stay in education or training until Year 12, Certificate III or 18.
• Contact schools early with reports and proof of address.
• Home education is registered through the Office of the Education Registrar.