The move from primary school to high school is one of the biggest steps in a child’s school life: a bigger campus, more teachers, a timetable, and often a new way of getting to school. Most children settle in well, especially with a little preparation. Here is what changes in Year 7, what Australian education departments themselves advise, and a calm checklist for starting high school.
When does high school start in Australia?
High school now starts in Year 7 in every state and territory, so most children make the move after Year 6.
| State or territory | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Victoria | “In Victoria, students start secondary school when they reach Year 7.” |
| New South Wales | Students start high school in Year 7, and orientation programs can begin “from as early as Year 4”. |
| Queensland | Junior secondary covers Years 7 to 10. |
| Western Australia | “starting Year 7 - the first year of secondary schooling” |
| South Australia | “If your child is in year 6 this year, you’ll need to register your interest for them to attend a secondary school next year.” |
| Tasmania | A child’s local high school “is determined by the primary school they attended when they finished Year 6”. |
| Australian Capital Territory | High school is “years 7 to 10”, then college for “years 11 to 12”. |
| Northern Territory | Year 7 starts the “middle years”, Years 7 to 9, often at a middle school. |
Last checked 17 October 2026. Enrolment steps and dates differ between states and between government and non-government schools, so check your state’s page and the school’s own information. If your family is also thinking about a selective school, our state-by-state guide to selective schools explains how entry works.
What changes in Year 7
The NSW Department of Education’s guide for families puts the biggest change simply: “In high school, students usually have eight or more teachers”. Instead of one classroom and one teacher, your child moves between rooms and subjects through the day.
That brings new jobs for your child:
- Reading a timetable. The NSW guide says students “need to check their timetables each night to make sure they have the correct books, equipment and homework completed for the next day’s classes.”
- Finding their way around. South Australia’s Department suggests you “Spend time teaching your child to read a map to help build their skills, so they can confidently navigate their way around their new school.”
- Getting there on their own. Many children walk, ride or catch public transport to high school for the first time.
- Organising homework. More subjects can mean more homework, set by different teachers on different days.
Rules about phones also change from school to school. In NSW public schools, for example: “Your child is not allowed to use their mobile phone or any personal digital device while they’re at school.” Check your own school’s rules before the first day.
What the education departments advise
The Raising Children Network, the Australian parenting website, has clear, practical advice for families:
- “Make sure your child goes to secondary school transition and orientation programs in the last year of primary school.”
- “Practise taking the route to secondary school together, so your child feels confident about travelling independently.”
- “Use a weekly planner to help your child learn the school routine.”
It also has a reassuring message for parents: “When children are making the move to secondary school, you have the biggest influence on how smooth the transition is. Your child’s friends influence how your child feels about the move, but your support has stronger and longer-lasting effects.”
The NSW guide encourages families to go to transition events: “Make sure your child attends these events so they become familiar with the school and know what to expect when they start Year 7.” In South Australia, “Most secondary schools will hold transition visits during term 4.”
A calm checklist, from Year 6 to the first weeks
- Year 6, early in the year: choose and apply. Find out how enrolment works in your state. In Victorian government schools, application forms for Year 7 in 2027 were due by Friday 8 May 2026, and families heard about placements on Wednesday 24 June 2026.
- Term 4 of Year 6: go to orientation. In Victoria, “All government secondary schools will host a Year 7 Orientation Day (for Year 6 students) on Tuesday 8 December 2026.” Other states and schools set their own transition days, so watch for the school’s invitation.
- Over summer: practise the journey. Do the trip together at the time your child will really travel. Then let them lead the way while you follow.
- The week before: set up the routine. A weekly planner on the fridge, a place for the school bag, and a regular bedtime help everyone.
- The first weeks: check the timetable together each night. Pack for tomorrow’s subjects, and ask one simple question: “What was the best part of today?”
Friendships and feelings
It’s normal for children to feel excited and nervous at the same time. Some worry about getting lost, finding friends or keeping up. Talk about it openly, share how you felt when you started something new, and remind them that every other Year 7 student is new too.
Keep an eye on how your child seems in the first term. If worries are getting bigger rather than smaller, talk to your child’s teachers or the school’s wellbeing staff early. Our post on calm-down strategies for kids has gentle ideas for big feelings at any age.
Phones, devices and staying safe online
For many families, starting high school is when a child gets their first phone or a laptop for school. It’s a good moment to agree on family rules together: where devices live overnight, how long, and what to do if something online feels wrong. Our guide to talking to your child about online safety has the words to use, and they work for older children too.
Questions parents ask
When does high school start in Australia?
High school starts in Year 7 in every state and territory. In the Northern Territory, Year 7 begins the “middle years”, which cover Years 7 to 9.
How do I prepare my child for Year 7?
Go to the school’s transition and orientation days, practise the route to school together, and use a weekly planner to learn the new routine. In the first weeks, check the timetable together each night so the right books and homework go in the bag.
What happens at Year 7 orientation day?
Orientation helps children become familiar with the school and know what to expect when they start Year 7. In Victoria, all government secondary schools hold a Year 7 Orientation Day for Year 6 students on Tuesday 8 December 2026, and in South Australia most secondary schools hold transition visits in Term 4.
Is it normal to feel anxious about starting high school?
Yes. Many children feel nervous and excited at once. Talk about it, practise the new routine, and remember that your support has a strong and lasting effect on how smoothly the move goes. If worries keep growing, talk to the school.
How many teachers will my child have in high school?
Usually many more than in primary school. The NSW Department of Education says that in high school, students usually have eight or more teachers.
Can my child use their phone at high school?
It depends on the school and state. In NSW public schools, students are not allowed to use their mobile phone or personal digital devices while they’re at school. Check your own school’s rules before the first day.
Sources
- Starting secondary school or high school, Raising Children Network
- Moving from primary to secondary school, Victorian Government
- Getting ready for high school, NSW Department of Education
- Register to start secondary school, South Australian Department for Education
- Preparing your child to start secondary school, South Australian Department for Education
- Enrol at a Western Australian school, WA Department of Education
- Junior secondary sites, Queensland Government Open Data Portal
- Find your local high school, Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People
- Enrol in a public school, ACT Government
- Stages of schooling, Northern Territory Government
