Bringing your family

Perth is a safe, clean vibrant and multicultural city set against a stunning backdrop of the Indian Ocean. There are an array of activities for you to enjoy together. The well-developed education system and reliable public transport system, make Perth a great place to raise a family.

Children’s schooling

Perth has a mix of government (public) schools, non-government (private) schools, including co-educational, single gender schools, schools with a religious focus, and schools that offer specialty programs such as music or sport. Children attend primary school from pre-primary level (aged five) through to year 6. They then attend high school from year 7 through to year 12, when they turn 18.

You can enrol your school-aged children in public or private schools, provided the school has the capacity to accept them. Schools normally require you to pay international tuition fees. These fees will be listed on your Confirmation of Placement (CoP) letter. Before you arrive, you will need to obtain a visa for your children from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

If your children require extra English language support, there may be additional fees and we recommend they have some English language training before arriving in Perth.

If your child has special needs or a disability, there may be additional fees so that your child can learn in an inclusive environment that meets their needs.

If you have a dependant child under the age of five and require childcare, Curtin University’s Early Childhood Centre provides a warm and caring environment for young children to grow and learn. Find out more about the childcare centre services.

For more information regarding visa processing, obtaining a CoP letter, school fees, enrolments and a list of schools, view the Curtin Dependent Schooling information sheet. [online pdf]