Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander profile - Highest level of schooling
In Australia 35% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 15 years have completed Year 12 schooling (or equivalent).
School completion data is a useful indicator of socio-economic status. With other indicators, such as Education Institute Attending, the data informs planners and decision-makers about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community’s likely literacy levels and ability to access services. Combined with Highest Education Attainment and Employment Status, it also allows assessment of the skill base of the population.
Due to the young age structure of most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, there are likely to be a higher proportion of people with less than year 12 completion. This may imply a lower education level, but may simply be due to younger age.
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?'
Persons aged 15 years and over
Highest level of secondary schooling completed | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - Australia | 2021 | 2011 | Change | |||||
Level of schooling | Number | % | New South Wales - First Nations % | Number | % | New South Wales - First Nations % | 2011 to 2021 | |
Year 12 or equivalent | 191,175 | 34.9 | 41.2 | 5101 | 83,776 | 23.9 | 29.8 | +107,399 |
Year 11 or equivalent | 69,255 | 12.7 | 12.5 | 5102 | 41,796 | 11.9 | 12.6 | +27,459 |
Year 10 or equivalent | 158,739 | 29.0 | 27.5 | 5103 | 100,981 | 28.8 | 27.9 | +57,758 |
Year 9 or equivalent | 57,616 | 10.5 | 9.3 | 5104 | 43,245 | 12.3 | 10.9 | +14,371 |
Year 8 or below | 37,352 | 6.8 | 5.2 | 5105 | 38,229 | 10.9 | 7.4 | -877 |
Did not go to school | 5,834 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 5106 | 5,230 | 1.5 | 0.8 | +604 |
Not stated / inadequately described | 27,199 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 5108 | 37,864 | 10.8 | 10.5 | -10,665 |
Total people age 15+ | 547,170 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 351,137 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +196,033 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Usual residence data)
![Highest level of schooling completed, 2021](https://profile.id.com.au/australia/chart/241-Index-1-profile-False-10-australia-400-10000-page-1-UR-10120-2011-1-20-first-nations-schooling-10-False-2021-9ffd95b8-92c7-4668-989e-8216765e4a01-10.png/first-nations-schooling?BMID=10&WebID=190&submissionguid=9ffd95b8-92c7-4668-989e-8216765e4a01)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
![Change in highest level of schooling completed, 2011 to 2021](https://profile.id.com.au/australia/chart/242-Index-1-profile-False-10-australia-400-10000-page-1-UR-10120-2011-1-20-first-nations-schooling-10-False-2021-9ffd95b8-92c7-4668-989e-8216765e4a01-10.png/first-nations-schooling?BMID=10&WebID=190&submissionguid=9ffd95b8-92c7-4668-989e-8216765e4a01)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
Analysis of the highest level of schooling attained by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Australia in 2021 compared to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in New South Wales shows that there was a higher proportion of people who had left school at an early level (Year 10 or less) and a lower proportion of people who completed Year 12 or equivalent.
Overall, 47.4% of the population left school at Year 10 or below, and 34.9% went on to complete Year 12 or equivalent, compared with 42.9% and 41.2% respectively for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in New South Wales.
The major differences between the level of schooling attained by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in New South Wales were:
- A larger percentage of people who completed year 8 or below (6.8% compared to 5.2%)
- A larger percentage of people who completed year 10 or equivalent (29.0% compared to 27.5%)
- A larger percentage of people who completed year 9 or equivalent (10.5% compared to 9.3%)
- A smaller percentage of people who completed year 12 or equivalent (34.9% compared to 41.2%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the level of schooling attained by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia, between 2011 and 2021 were:
- Year 12 or equivalent (+107,399 people)
- Year 10 or equivalent (+57,758 people)
- Year 11 or equivalent (+27,459 people)
- Year 9 or equivalent (+14,371 people)