The uniform is still in its bag. The hat has no name in it. Your mother in Manchester wants a photo of the first day, and you are not sure which gate to use. School goes back in late January or early February, so summer is the time to sort all of it. This guide gives the first day for every state, a checklist from now to the first week, and a way to share the jobs and the photos with your family, near or far.
When does school go back in 2027?
Government schools run four terms, and Term 1 does not start on the same day everywhere. These are the students' first days, read from each state's education department on 6 November 2026. Non-government schools can set their own dates, and a school can differ, so check with yours.
| State or territory | Students' first day in 2027 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | Wednesday 27 January |
| South Australia | Wednesday 27 January |
| Victoria | Thursday 28 January |
| Western Australia | Monday 1 February |
| Australian Capital Territory | Monday 1 February for new students, Tuesday 2 February for everyone else |
| New South Wales | Wednesday 3 February (Eastern division), Wednesday 10 February (Western division) |
| Tasmania | Thursday 4 February |
| Northern Territory | Check the NT Government's school term dates page |
Your plan, from now to the first week
- November and December: sort what has a queueAsk the school for its start date, booklist and uniform list. If you need before or after school care, ask about a place now. Ask the office what the year will cost, and which requests are voluntary.
- Early January: buy and labelUniform, shoes, a bag, a drink bottle and a hat the school accepts. Many schools sell uniforms, some of them second hand, so ask before you buy new. Put a name on everything, including the hat.
- The week before: practise the dayDo the trip at the time you will really leave. Find the gate, the classroom and the pick-up spot. Move bedtime earlier a little each night.
- The first day: keep it simplePack the lunch the night before. Take the photo at home, away from the school sign. Agree who does pick-up, and who steps in if that person cannot.
- The first weeks: learn how the school talks to youFind out whether notices come by app, email or paper, how to tell the school when your child is away, and when parent teacher interviews are.
A job list to share out
- Uniform, shoes and a hat the school accepts
- Books, stationery and the bag
- Lunch box and drink bottle
- Names on everything
- Before or after school care
- Allergy and medical details for the school
- Who does drop-off and pick-up each day
- A backup person for a sick day
If this is your first year in Australia
The first year of school has a different name from state to state: Kindergarten, Prep, Reception, Pre-primary or Transition. NAPLAN is a national test for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, and in 2027 it runs from 10 to 22 March. Public schools can ask families for a voluntary contribution, and if money is tight, talk to the school. A parent teacher interview is a normal part of the year, and it does not mean something is wrong.
Share the jobs with the family
A school start goes better when one person is not holding the whole list. Put the first day in one family event with the jobs beside it, so your partner and your parents can see who is doing what. When a grandparent asks how they can help, there is a job with their name on it.
Keep grandparents in the first day
Grandparents overseas miss the walk to the gate. A photo and a call close some of that gap. Pick a time that works at both ends, the same way you would plan Diwali across time zones: a call before school in Sydney is the evening before in London, and a call after school is the morning in India.
Frequently asked questions
- When does school go back in 2027?
- For government schools: Queensland and South Australia on Wednesday 27 January, Victoria on Thursday 28 January, Western Australia on Monday 1 February, the ACT on Monday 1 February for new students and Tuesday 2 February for everyone else, New South Wales on Wednesday 3 February (Eastern division) or Wednesday 10 February (Western division), and Tasmania on Thursday 4 February. Check the Northern Territory's date on its government page, and check any date with your school.
- What is the first year of school called in each state?
- Kindergarten in New South Wales and the ACT, Prep in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, Reception in South Australia, Pre-primary in Western Australia and Transition in the Northern Territory.
- When is NAPLAN in 2027?
- NAPLAN runs from Wednesday 10 March to Monday 22 March 2027, for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
- Do I have to pay a school's voluntary contribution?
- Public schools can ask for one. In New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland it is voluntary, so you can say no. If money is tight, talk to the school.
- How do I share first day of school photos privately?
- Share them with your family rather than on a public feed, and leave out badges and street signs if a photo might travel further. In Kunbaa, a photo goes to your family space, where the people you invited can see it.
