Search for schools
Visit Find my School(opens in a new window) to find your school zone and designated neighbourhood school (referred to as ‘local school’) and other nearby government schools. All government primary, secondary and specialist schools can be found on the Find my School(opens in a new window) website.
For more information about school zones and how they work, refer to: School zones(opens in a new window).
For information about enrolling in other types of schools, including Catholic and independent schools, refer to: Types of schools(opens in a new window).
Get to know your local school
Before submitting an enrolment application, you should contact your local school. You should also contact any other schools you are considering enrolling your child in.
Schools welcome enquiries and can organise a time for you and your child to visit. Contact a school for information about school tours, visits and enrolment information.
Schools can also indicate if they have spare places for students who do not live within the school zone.
When to enrol
When to enrol in primary school
The first year of primary school is called Foundation or Prep. Your child can start school and enrol in Foundation (Prep) if they turn 5 years old by 30 April in the year they start school.
School is compulsory once your child turns 6 years old.
For more information about when and how to enrol your child in Foundation (Prep), visit: Enrolling in Foundation (Prep)(opens in a new window).
If you need to enrol at a different time of the year, or into another year level, contact the primary school directly.
When to enrol in secondary school
Moving from primary to secondary school is an important step in a child’s education. For more information, visit: Moving from primary to secondary school(opens in a new window).
If you need to enrol at a different time of the year, or into another year level, contact the secondary school directly.
Your child must be enrolled in school (or registered for home schooling) between the ages of 6 and 17.
Submit an application
For Foundation (Prep) enrolment:
Contact the school you are wanting to enrol in to find out if they use an online (VicStudents(opens in a new window)) or paper-based enrolment process.
If the school is using the paper process, an application form is available in the ‘Foundation (Prep) Enrolment Information Pack for Parents and Carers’. This is available on the Enrolling in Foundation (Prep)(opens in a new window) page.
For Year 7 placement:
Contact your child’s primary school for assistance with the Year 6 to Year 7 placement process. An application for Year 7 placement is also available in the 'Year 6 to 7 Placement Information Pack for Parents and Carers’ available on the Moving from primary to secondary school(opens in a new window) page.
If you need an interpreter to help fill out an application form, school staff can help organise this for you.
Confirm your address for your application
Schools may ask for information to confirm your child’s permanent address.
Your child’s permanent address is the place where they live at the time of seeking enrolment. If your child lives at multiple addresses, their permanent address is the address at which they spend most of their weekdays.
Schools may request that you provide supporting documentation to assist them in verifying your child’s permanent address. Documents should show the same full name and address of a parent or/carer as recorded on the application form.
If you are unsure of the documents you need to provide, ask your local school, or refer to:
Applications may not be successful if the required information is not provided or is not genuine.
If you are unable to provide proof of permanent address because of your individual circumstances, speak to your local school. You may also contact the Department of Education(opens in a new window) and ask to speak with a Community Liaison Officer in the regional office.
Understand how applications are prioritised
All children have the right to attend their local school. You can also apply to a school that is not your local school. Sometimes, a school may not have enough space to enrol students from outside their zone. Where this is the case, schools must manage enrolments using the Placement Policy’s ‘priority order of placement’.
The priority order of placement for out-of-zone enrolments is:
- students with a sibling at the same permanent address who are attending the school at the same time.
- all other students in order of closeness from their permanent address to the school.
In exceptional circumstances, a child may be enrolled on compassionate grounds. Applications on compassionate grounds are considered on a case-by-case basis and must outline why a child’s local school is not suitable for them. If your circumstances are challenging and your local school is not suitable for your child, you should talk to the school principal or contact the Department of Education(opens in a new window) and ask to speak with a Community Liaison Officer in the regional office.
Enrolment appeals
If a school decides not to accept your application, you can appeal the decision. This may happen if you apply to a school that is not your local school and there are limited places.
You can appeal an enrolment decision at any year level (Foundation to Year 12) when enrolling for the first time in a Victorian government school, or when seeking a transfer from one government school to another. This may also include students moving from non-government schools.
To appeal an enrolment decision, you should lodge a written appeal with the school using the Appeal Form. For further information and to access the Appeal Form, refer to:
- Appeals information pack for parents and carers (DOCX, 77KB)
- Appeals information pack for parents and carers (PDF, 268KB)
If your appeal with a school is not successful, you can escalate it to a Regional Director. The school will let you know how to do this. Appeals to the Regional Director will not be considered if you have not appealed to the school in the first instance.
Supporting documentation for enrolment
An enrolment form must be completed if you are accepting an offer at a school and enrolling your child for the first time in the Victorian government school system. Most often this is when you are enrolling your child in Foundation (Prep).
You will be required to provide the following information and documentation to your child’s school:
- evidence of your child’s name and date of birth (for example, a birth certificate or passport), and
- an Immunisation History Statement, and
- any relevant supporting documents, such as medical plans, court orders or care arrangements.
Schools will let you know exactly which documents are required and when to provide them. You do not need to provide original documents — copies can be provided in person or digitally. For more information, you may refer to the: Enrolment documentation checklist for parents/carers (DOCX)(opens in a new window).
If your child has a disability
Every student has the right to attend their local school(opens in a new window). Students with disability have the same right to enrol in their local school as students without disability. All schools must make reasonable adjustments(opens in a new window) so that students with disability can access the curriculum on the same basis as other students.
All Victorian government schools get help to support students with disability. Most Victorian students with disability and high needs attend local schools.
You can also apply to another local school that is not your zoned school. Read information about how these applications are prioritised(opens in a new window).
You can also seek enrolment for your child at a government specialist school. Your child may be enrolled if they meet the eligibility requirements for the school and there is a place available.
Specialist schools
There are a range of Victorian government specialist schools. These schools provide education for eligible students aged from 5 to 18 with specific disability and high needs.
On this page, the term ‘specialist school’ means both specialist schools and specialist campuses. They can be co-located with local schools or operate as standalone facilities.
Specialist schools provide specialised support for students with:
- intellectual disability
- autism
- physical disability
- hearing impairment.
They have specific eligibility criteria related to the type of disability that they specialise in. For more information about specialist schools and eligibility, refer to: Specialist schools(opens in a new window).
Enrolling in a specialist school
To enrol in a specialist school, students must meet the school's eligibility criteria. Even if a student meets the eligibility criteria of a specialist school, enrolment cannot be guaranteed. This is because specialist schools have a limited number of places available.
For more information about enrolling in a specialist school, refer to: Specialist schools(opens in a new window).
Supported Inclusion Schools
Supported inclusion schools are different to specialist schools. They are local schools with specialised facilities to support students with disability. These facilities may include sensory areas, accessible play spaces and wider corridors. Children who live outside the zone of a supported inclusion school may be prioritised for enrolment if they meet the school’s specialist eligibility criteria.
For more information, refer to: Supported inclusion schools. You can also contact a supported inclusion school directly to discuss their enrolment process.
Inclusive education
To learn more about inclusive education in all government schools, refer to: Disability and inclusive education.
Further advice
If you have questions, contact your child's school or the Department of Education(opens in a new window) and ask to speak with a Community Liaison Officer in the regional office.
You can also read tips for starting school and refer to the Enrolment FAQs:
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