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Education is one of Australia's strongest attributes. Having such a strong school system with good participation rates helps influence the literacy rate of Australia. The program is much stronger for urban and non-Aborigine students than for rural and Aborigine students. The government manages all aspects of schooling in Australia except for the university level. The federal government is responsible for the total funding of higher education. Children are required to attend school if they are between the ages of six and sixteen years old. Children can begin schooling at the age of four, which requires enrolling in a preschool center. About 72% of children are educated in government schools, where the tuition for the primary and secondary levels is free (General Shanghai, 1998). Students who wish to learn in a religious setting can attend one of the many private religious schools. These schools currently have an attendance rate of approximately one out of four students, since not all students can attend these schools because of the price (Homer-Center High School's Development of Man Class, 1998).

The Australian school year consists of four terms, each lasting about ten weeks. The school year begins in January or early February and finishes in the middle of December (Homer-Center High School's Development of Man Class, 1998). Australian children learn spelling, math, reading, and social studies, including geography, history, and different cultures. One of the most prominent cultures for the students to learn about is Asian culture. Since Australia is closest to Asia, the topic is very relevant for their everyday lives. The children also participate in art and gym, as well as learning another language (Commonwealth of Australia, 1998).

Uniforms have a positive effect on the learning environment of children, helping to reduce the amount of competition among them. Private school students are required to wear uniforms, while almost all public school students must wear them (Homer-Center High School's Development of Man Class, 1998). Each school has its own uniform with unique colors and styles. The typical uniform for a girl is a blouse with a skirt, while the typical uniform for a boy includes a shirt along with shorts in the summer and pants in the winter. Both boys and girls are permitted to wear sweaters in the winter. Children can wear T-shirts and sweat suits if they have the school logo clearly printed on them. One last addition to the uniform is a hat. The children use them to protect themselves from the harsh rays of the sun.

Australia has twenty public universities, approximately forty public colleges, and only one private university (Australian Consulate General Shanghai, 1998). University education at one point was free for Australian students, but today students pay a small amount after they graduate. After the age of fifteen, children may decide if they wish to pursue their education. Children are strongly encouraged to continue with their education. In fact, it is becoming less a choice of the children and more a choice of the society as a whole.