Education and Training Reform Act 2006

The State provides universal access to education and training through the establishment and maintenance of a Government education and training system.

All persons employed or engaged in the provision of Government education and training by the State or in the administration of Government education and training by the State must apply or have regard to the following principles—

Government schools—

will provide a secular education and will not promote any particular religious practice, denomination or sect; and

are open to adherents of any philosophy, religion or faith;

instruction in the learning areas in Schedule 1 is to be provided free of charge for all students (except overseas students) attending a Government school to the completion of year 12 if the student is under 20 years of age on 1 January in the year that the person undertakes instruction;

every student has the right to attend a designated neighbourhood Government school with the exception of selective Government schools that are determined by the Minister;

a student has a guaranteed place at a TAFE institute or other public training provider to the completion of year 12 of schooling or its equivalent if the student is under 20 years of age on 1 January in the year that the person undertakes study at the TAFE institute or other public training provider;

a student has a guaranteed vocational education and training place for a government-subsidised course if—

the student is under 20 years of age on 1 January in the year the study is undertaken; or

the student is 20 years of age or older on 1 January in the year the study is undertaken, and the study leads to a higher vocational education and training qualification than the highest such qualification already obtained by the student—

the course of study is available and has been approved to receive a Government subsidy; and

the student meets the admission requirements for the course of study; and

the student meets any citizenship or residency requirements to undertake the course of study and the student is not an overseas student.