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The Education and Training Directorate
delivers high quality education services through government schools; registers non government schools; and administers vocational education and training in the ACT.

Major Changes to the Education Act 2004 (ACT)

Policies Supporting Changes to the Education Act

Background

The ACT Government is committed to ensuring all children and young people living in the ACT receive a quality education that meets their individual needs. The Education Act 2004 (the Act) requires all children and young people of compulsory education age to be enrolled with an education provider or registered for home education or to have an Approval Statement to undertake post-year 10 alternative options. A child or young person must meet the full-time participation requirement (except where an Exemption Certificate has been issued).
The Directorate, alongside parents and the community, plays a key role in ensuring that young people in the ACT are making the most of these opportunities through compliance with the Acts education participation requirements.

Directorate Policy and Procedures

The Directorate’s Education Participation (Enrolment and Attendance) policy and suite of procedures implement the education participation requirements of the Education Act 2004.

Is your child thinking of leaving school?

From 1 January 2010, a new compulsory education age will replace the existing ACT compulsory school age.

While students are currently able to leave school at age 15 in the ACT, from next year young people will be required to remain in education until achieving Year 10 and then participate full-time in education, training or employment until completing Year 12 or equivalent, or reaching age 17, whichever occurs first.

The change will not affect students who are leaving school this year either at the end of Year 10 or aged fifteen.

The reform follows recent amendments to the Education Act 2004 (ACT). These changes aim to increase educational opportunities for all young people and lead to improved employment prospects.

Many ACT students choose to continue in education until Year 12. These changes will not impact on them.

However, students who have not turned 17 and who are looking to undertake work-related training or employment after Year 10 will need to seek an Approval Statement from the ACT Department of Education and Training to do so. This is required to ensure the training or employment meets the new legislative requirements and the Department's guidelines.

Parents and students can find out more about the changes by emailing ACTYouthCommitment@act.gov.au or phone (02) 6205 6759.

Reforms to the Education Act 2004 (ACT): What you need to know

What are the changes?

From 1 January 2010, a compulsory education age will replace the ACT compulsory school age (which currently ends at age 15). Young people will be required to remain in education until achieving Year 10 and then participate full-time in education, training or employment until completing Year 12 or equivalent, or reaching age 17, whichever occurs first.

Why has it changed?

The reform follows recent amendments to the Education Act 2004 (ACT).

These changes ensure that every young person in the ACT has every opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to participate in the community. It will lead to improved employment capacity and prospects, and increased earning potential for all young people.

It is also in line with the ACT Government's commitment to increase the proportion of 19-year-olds with a Year 12 certificate or equivalent from 90 per cent to 95 per cent by 2013.

What if I am staying at school full-time until Year 12?

Things will remain largely unchanged. You can still have a part-time job in addition to your studies and you can still choose to combine paid work and training through an Australian School Based Apprenticeship (ASBA) as part of your education program.

What if I want to leave school to enter the workforce, do work-related training or get an apprenticeship or traineeship?

You and your parents will need to seek an Approval Statement through the ACT Department of Education and Training to ensure the training you receive or employment you undertake meets the Department's guidelines.

What if I want to study up to Year 12 but not in a school setting?

You can choose to study with an education provider such as the Canberra Institute of Technology. For more information about non-school options visit www.det.act.gov.au

If I am a full-time student do I need permission to work in a part-time job?

No. You do not need permission to undertake part-time work in addition to your full-time studies.

What if I want to engage in full-time work, education or training interstate or overseas and I'm under 17 years old?

The legislative changes do not affect a child or young person of compulsory education age who is not living in the ACT.

If you are a child or young person of compulsory education age wishing to study, train or work interstate or overseas, you should contact the Department to discuss your individual circumstances.

Will this affect my Centrelink payments or other benefits?

Young people without Year 12 or equivalent will need to meet the new participation requirements in order to be eligible for income support. More information about Centrelink payments is available from the Centrelink website: www.centrelink.gov.au

Where can I get more information?

You can visit the website www.det.act.gov.au/actyc, email ACTYouthCommitment@act.gov.au or phone (02) 6205 6759 for further information.