Education Statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 2021

Information sources and comparability

Education statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are available in several ABS collections. This publication presents data from:

Census of Population and Housing (Census)
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS).

The Census and the NATSISS do not provide information about school enrolment and retention rates.

Data from the Census should not be compared to data from the NATSISS due to different collection methods. These differences are summarised in the Methodology.

See Information sources below for further information.

Information sources

ABS collections with education information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
	Census of Population and Housing (Census)	National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)	National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)	National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection (NECECC)(Preschool Education)	National Schools Statistics Collection (NSSC)(Schools)
Population	All people	15 years and over	All people	3 to 6 years of age	All people
Best For	Analysis at small disaggregation such as low-level geography or by age groups.	Cross-classifying education statistics with health, cultural, economic, and social data items.	Cross-classifying education statistics with health, cultural, economic, and social data items.	Analysis of enrolment and attendance with sector, geography and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) data.	Analysis of enrolment and retention rate by school sector or geography.
Education content	Highest year of school completed.	Level of highest educational attainment.	Current study and highest level of educational attainment (15 years and over).	Children enrolled at, and attending, preschool.	Schools by sector.
	Non-school qualification: field of study.	Highest year of school completed.	Vocational training (15-64 years).	Enrolled at or attending preschool by remoteness and preschool sector.	Enrolment in school, including both primary and secondary.
	Non-school qualification: level of education.	Whether has a non-school qualification.	Child education (2-14 years).	Children aged 3 to 6 years by month and year of birth.	Enrolment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
	Full-time/part-time student status.	Level of highest non-school qualification.	Cultural education (2 years and over).	Children enrolled at or attending by Year before full time schooling cohort.	Enrolments by sector.
	Type of educational institution attending.	Main field of highest non-school qualification (ASCED). Intentions and barriers to study (2 years and over).		Counts by Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA).	Participation, Continuation and Apparent retention rates.
	Educational institution: attendee status.			Counts by hourly fees charged.	Full time equivalent staffing levels.
	Educational institution: attendee status.			Counts by weekly hours enrolled or attended.	Full time equivalent staffing levels.
Geography	Available at all levels of geography.	Data quality better at higher levels of geography such as state and territory and remoteness.	Data quality better at higher levels of geography such as state and territory and remoteness.	State and territory.	State and territory.
				Remoteness.
				Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA).
				Indigenous Area (IARE).
				Indigenous Location (ILOC).
				Indigenous region (IREG).
				Local Government Area (LGA).
				State Electoral Division (SED) of child.
				Statistical Area level 2 (SA2) of child.
Timeseries	Collected every 5 years. Last collected in 2021.	2004-05, 2012-13, 2018-19, 2022-23 (data available from November 2024).	2002, 2008, 2014-15.	Collected every year.	Collected every year.
Comparability	Not comparable with other collections in this table.	Education data is comparable with the NATSISS.	Education data is comparable with the NATSIHS.	Not comparable with other collections in this table.	Not comparable with other collections in this table.
More information	Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary, 2021	National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2018-19	National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2014-15	Preschool Education, 2023	Schools, 2023

Population change over time

Closing the Gap and other national government reporting

ABS surveys, the Census of Population and Housing and administrative information are major data sources for a number of government reports that measure outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These include the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. ABS Education and training data is used in these reports. ABS data for Closing the Gap education and training related targets are available in ‘Closing the Gap targets’ from ‘Data downloads’.

An overview of ABS collections used in Closing the Gap and other national reporting is available in Closing the Gap and National Government Reporting.

Preschool education

Preschool is aimed primarily at children in the year or two before they commence full-time schooling. Preschool age requirements and settings differ across states and territories. Further information is available in the Preschool Education Methodology page.

In 2021, almost half (48.9%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 3 to 5 years were attending preschool, up from 31.4% twenty years earlier (in 2001).

The proportion of children aged 3 years attending preschool more than doubled between 2001 (19.1%) and 2021 (46.5%).

Graph 1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending preschool(a)(b) aged 3 to 5 years, Australia, 2001 and 2021
	2001 (%)	2021 (%)
3	19.1	46.5
4	44.5	68.1
5	30.8	32.1
Total	31.4	48.9

Graph 1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending preschool(a)(b) aged 3 to 5 years, Australia, 2001 and 2021

["","2001","2021"]

[["3","4","5","Total"],[[19.100000000000001],[44.5],[30.800000000000001],[31.399999999999999]],[[46.5],[68.099999999999994],[32.100000000000001],[48.899999999999999]]]

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Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Based on Place of Usual Residence. Includes Other Territories, No Usual Address and Migratory, Offshore and Shipping.

(a) Preschool is primarily aimed at children in the year or two before they commence full-time schooling.

(b) Denominator includes all educational institutions, including type of educational institution attending, not stated, and not applicable.

Source: 2001 and 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Children's progress at preschool

Other available data

Further information about preschool education, including enrolments and attendance, is available from the National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection (NECECC). See Preschool Education.

Primary education

Primary school education covers Pre-Year 1 to Year 6. Further information about primary school education, including enrolments, is available from the National Schools Statistics Collection (NSSC). See Schools.

In 2021, over half (61.4%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4 to 14 years were attending primary school, similar to 60.2% twenty years earlier (in 2001).

Graph 2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending primary school(a)(b) aged 4 to 14 years, Australia, 2001 and 2021
	2001 (%)	2021 (%)
4	6.4	5.1
5	50.5	59.0
6	83.9	92.8
7	86.2	95.3
8	87.2	95.2
9	86.7	95.0
10	86.9	94.8
11	85.1	93.6
12	53.1	35.3
13	14.5	6.0
14	7.7	3.4
Total	60.2	61.4

Graph 2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending primary school(a)(b) aged 4 to 14 years, Australia, 2001 and 2021

["","2001","2021"]

[["4","5","6","7","8","9","10","11","12","13","14","Total"],[[6.4000000000000004],[50.5],[83.900000000000006],[86.200000000000003],[87.200000000000003],[86.700000000000003],[86.900000000000006],[85.099999999999994],[53.100000000000001],[14.5],[7.7000000000000002],[60.200000000000003]],[[5.0999999999999996],[59],[92.799999999999997],[95.299999999999997],[95.200000000000003],[95],[94.799999999999997],[93.599999999999994],[35.299999999999997],[6],[3.3999999999999999],[61.399999999999999]]]

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Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Based on Place of Usual Residence. Includes Other Territories, No Usual Address and Migratory, Offshore and Shipping.

(a) Primary school includes Pre-Year 1 to Year 6.

(b) Denominator includes all educational institutions, including type of educational institution attending, not stated and not applicable.

Source: 2001 and 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Primary school attendance

Secondary education

Secondary school education covers Year 7 to Year 12. Further information about secondary school education, including enrolments and retention rates, is available from the National Schools Statistics Collection (NSSC). See Schools.

In 2021, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students aged 11 to 18 years attending secondary school was 60.3%, up from 45.4% in 2001.

Over the same time, the proportion of students aged 17 years increased from 33.0% to 58.6%.

Graph 3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attending secondary school(a)(b), Australia, 2001 and 2021
	2001 (%)	2021 (%)
11	4.7	2.1
12	37.8	60.5
13	77.0	88.3
14	80.3	90.3
15	69.3	85.5
16	50.2	74.3
17	33.0	58.6
18	7.8	17.7
Total	45.4	60.3

Graph 3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attending secondary school(a)(b), Australia, 2001 and 2021

["","2001","2021"]

[["11","12","13","14","15","16","17","18","Total"],[[4.7000000000000002],[37.799999999999997],[77],[80.299999999999997],[69.299999999999997],[50.200000000000003],[33],[7.7999999999999998],[45.399999999999999]],[[2.1000000000000001],[60.5],[88.299999999999997],[90.299999999999997],[85.5],[74.299999999999997],[58.600000000000001],[17.699999999999999],[60.299999999999997]]]

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Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Based on Place of Usual Residence. Includes Other Territories, No Usual Address and Migratory, Offshore and Shipping.

(a) Secondary school includes Year 7 to Year 12.

(b) Denominator includes all educational institutions, including type of educational institution attending not stated and not applicable.

Source: 2001 and 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Secondary school attendance

Highest year of school completed

Of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over in 2021:

39.0% had completed Year 12, up from 19.4% in 2001.
17.0% had completed Year 9 or below, down from 35.9% in 2001.
The Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of people who completed Year 12 (60.2%), followed by Queensland (45.0%) and Victoria (44.4%).
More females completed Year 12 than males (41.1% compared with 36.4%).

Graph 4. Highest year of school completed(a) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over, by State and Territory, 2021
	Year 12 or equivalent (%)	Year 11 or equivalent (%)	Year 10 or equivalent (%)	Year 9 or below (%)	Did not go to school (%)
New South Wales	37.3	9.7	33.5	18.7	0.8
Victoria	44.4	14.7	23.7	16.0	1.2
Queensland	45.0	10.4	28.9	14.7	1.0
South Australia	36.1	21.3	25.3	16.1	1.3
Western Australia	34.8	15.1	34.7	13.6	1.8
Tasmania	34.8	11.3	38.8	14.6	0.6
Northern Territory	25.2	17.2	27.7	25.9	4.0
Australian Capital Territory	60.2	8.0	22.2	9.1	0.5
Australia	39.0	12.1	30.7	17.0	1.3

Graph 4. Highest year of school completed(a) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over, by State and Territory, 2021

["","Year 12 or equivalent","Year 11 or equivalent","Year 10 or equivalent","Year 9 or below","Did not go to school"]

[["New South Wales","Victoria","Queensland","South Australia","Western Australia","Tasmania","Northern Territory","Australian Capital Territory","Australia"],[[37.299999999999997],[44.399999999999999],[45],[36.100000000000001],[34.799999999999997],[34.799999999999997],[25.199999999999999],[60.200000000000003],[39]],[[9.6999999999999993],[14.699999999999999],[10.4],[21.300000000000001],[15.1],[11.300000000000001],[17.199999999999999],[8],[12.1]],[[33.5],[23.699999999999999],[28.899999999999999],[25.300000000000001],[34.700000000000003],[38.799999999999997],[27.699999999999999],[22.199999999999999],[30.699999999999999]],[[18.699999999999999],[16],[14.699999999999999],[16.100000000000001],[13.6],[14.6],[25.899999999999999],[9.0999999999999996],[17]],[[0.80000000000000004],[1.2],[1],[1.3],[1.8],[0.59999999999999998],[4],[0.5],[1.3]]]

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Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Based on Place of Usual Residence. Includes Other Territories, No Usual Address and Migratory, Offshore and Shipping.

(a) Excludes not stated.

Source: 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Data available in table 6.1 in 'Secondary School Education' in 'Data downloads.'

Assistance required to help complete Year 12

Non-school education

Non-school education covers schooling that is not preschool, primary, or secondary school. It includes education at universities, tertiary institutions, vocational education (including TAFE and private training providers) or other higher education providers.

In 2021, 49,491 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were attending a non-school education institution.

Of those attending a non-school education institution in 2021:

42.6% were studying at universities or other higher education institutions, up from 32.8% in 2001.
42.8% were studying at vocational education institutions such as TAFEs, down from 56.5% in 2001.
45.5% were studying full-time, down from 55.4% in 2001.
54.5% of people were studying part-time, up from 44.6% in 2001.

Females were more than twice as likely as males to be studying at universities or other higher education institutions (67.6% compared with 32.4%).

Graph 5. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attending non-school education institutions(a)(b), Australia, 2001 to 2021
	Technical or Further Educational Institution (including TAFE Colleges) (%)	University or other Tertiary Institutions (%)	Other (%)
2001	56.5	32.8	10.7
2006	51.9	35.8	12.3
2011	48.9	37.8	13.3
2016	40.9	44.9	14.2
2021	42.8	42.6	14.5

Graph 5. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attending non-school education institutions(a)(b), Australia, 2001 to 2021

["","Technical or Further Educational Institution (including TAFE Colleges)","University or other Tertiary Institutions","Other"]

[["2001","2006","2011","2016","2021"],[[56.5],[51.899999999999999],[48.899999999999999],[40.899999999999999],[42.799999999999997]],[[32.799999999999997],[35.799999999999997],[37.799999999999997],[44.899999999999999],[42.600000000000001]],[[10.699999999999999],[12.300000000000001],[13.300000000000001],[14.199999999999999],[14.5]]]

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Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Based on Place of Usual Residence. Includes Other Territories, No Usual Address and Migratory, Offshore and Shipping.

(a) Non-school education is education other than preschool, primary or secondary education.

(b) Denominator is people attending a non-school institution. Excludes those whose institution and/or student status was not stated.

Source: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Data available in table 1.1 in 'Non-School Education' in 'Data downloads.'

Highest educational attainment

In 2021, more than half (58.8%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over had attained a Year 12 or equivalent or a Certificate III or above level of education (up from 30.9% in 2001).

Graph 6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over with Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or above qualifications, Australia, 2001 to 2021
	Attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or above (%)
2001	30.9
2006	37.8
2011	44.8
2016	53.8
2021	58.8

Graph 6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over with Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or above qualifications, Australia, 2001 to 2021

["","Attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or above"]

[["2001","2006","2011","2016","2021"],[[30.899999999999999],[37.799999999999997],[44.799999999999997],[53.799999999999997],[58.799999999999997]]]

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Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Based on Place of Usual Residence. Includes Other Territories, No Usual Address and Migratory, Offshore and Shipping.

Source: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Data available in table 1.1 in 'Closing the Gap targets' in 'Data downloads.'

Level of highest non-school qualification completed

In 2021, nearly half (46.0%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over had completed a non-school qualification (up from 19.7% in 2001).

Between 2001 and 2021, there were increases in the proportion of people who had completed:

Certificate III and/or IV (from 9.4% in 2001 to 24.0% in 2021).
Advanced Diploma and Diploma (from 3.4% in 2001 to 8.0% in 2021).
Postgraduate Degrees (from 0.4% in 2001 to 1.5% in 2021).

Graph 7. Level of highest non-school qualification completed(a)(b) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over, Australia, 2001 and 2021
	2001 (%)	2021 (%)
Certificate I & II Level	2.2	2.7
Certificate III &IV Level	9.4	24.0
Advanced Diploma and Diploma Level	3.4	8.0
Bachelor Degree Level	3.1	6.6
Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate Level	0.5	1.3
Postgraduate Degree Level	0.4	1.5

Graph 7. Level of highest non-school qualification completed(a)(b) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over, Australia, 2001 and 2021

["","2001","2021"]

[["Certificate I & II Level","Certificate III &IV Level","Advanced Diploma and Diploma Level","Bachelor Degree Level","Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate Level","Postgraduate Degree Level"],[[2.2000000000000002],[9.4000000000000004],[3.3999999999999999],[3.1000000000000001],[0.5],[0.40000000000000002]],[[2.7000000000000002],[24],[8],[6.5999999999999996],[1.3],[1.5]]]

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Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.

Based on Place of Usual Residence. Includes Other Territories, No Usual Address and Migratory, Offshore and Shipping.

(a) Excludes those currently studying at secondary school or below.

(b) Denominator excludes level of education not stated and inadequately described.

Source: 2001 and 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Data available in table 3.1 in 'Non-school education' in 'Data downloads.'

Past and future intentions to study

The 2014-15 NATSISS collected information about past and future intentions to study, and barriers to study. This information can provide further insights into non-school education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Past intentions to study

Of people aged 20 years and over who were not currently studying:

Around one-quarter (25.5%) wanted to study for an educational qualification in the last 12 months but did not.
The most common reported barrier to studying for a/another qualification was that it was too expensive/financial reasons (20.4%).

Graph 8. Reasons for not studying for a/another educational qualification in the last 12 months for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over(a), Australia
	Reasons for not studying (%) (%)	95% confidence interval (%) (low)	95% confidence interval (%) (high)
Too much work	13.3	10.1	16.5
Caring for family members	15.7	13.1	18.3
Waiting to hear from educational facility	17.9	14.4	21.4
Too expensive / financial reasons	20.4	16.8	24.0

Graph 8. Reasons for not studying for a/another educational qualification in the last 12 months for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over(a), Australia

["","Reasons for not studying (%)","95% confidence interval"]

[["Too much work","Caring for family members","Waiting to hear from educational facility","Too expensive \/ financial reasons"],[[13.300000000000001],[15.699999999999999],[17.899999999999999],[20.399999999999999]],[[10.1,16.5],[13.1,18.300000000000001],[14.4,21.399999999999999],[16.800000000000001,24]]]

[]

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Cells in this table containing data have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

(a) Not currently studying.

Source: 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS).

Future intentions to study

Of people not currently studying:

More than one-third (42.7%) aged 20 years and over intended to study in the future.
Almost two-thirds (64.6%) aged 20-24 years intended to study in the future.

A large proportion of those aged 25 years and over were interested in future study, including:

Almost half (48.4%) of people aged 35-44 years old.
Almost one-third (30.9%) of people aged 45-54 years.

The main reasons for intending to study in future were to improve knowledge or skills (56.2%), improve qualifications (42.0%), get a better job (30.6%) and to get a job (29.0%).

Graph 9. Reasons for intentions to study in the future(a) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over(b), Australia
	Reasons for intentions to study in the future (%) (%)	95% confidence interval (%) (low)	95% confidence interval (%) (high)
Requirement of current job	4.5	3.2	5.8
To gain a promotion	8.2	6.5	9.9
Update training	18.8	16.1	21.5
Interest	27.4	24.0	30.8
To get a job	29.0	25.6	32.4
To get a better job	30.6	27.7	33.5
Improve qualifications	42.0	37.9	46.1
Improve knowledge or skills	56.2	52.5	59.9

Graph 9. Reasons for intentions to study in the future(a) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 years and over(b), Australia

["","Reasons for intentions to study in the future (%)","95% confidence interval"]

[["Requirement of current job","To gain a promotion","Update training","Interest","To get a job","To get a better job","Improve qualifications","Improve knowledge or skills"],[[4.5],[8.1999999999999993],[18.800000000000001],[27.399999999999999],[29],[30.600000000000001],[42],[56.200000000000003]],[[3.2000000000000002,5.7999999999999998],[6.5,9.9000000000000004],[16.100000000000001,21.5],[24,30.800000000000001],[25.600000000000001,32.399999999999999],[27.699999999999999,33.5],[37.899999999999999,46.100000000000001],[52.5,59.899999999999999]]]

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Cells in this table containing data have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

(a) Includes those whose intentions to study are unknown.

(b) Not currently studying.

Source: 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS).

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture taught in school

The 2014-15 NATSISS collected information about whether students had learnt about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture in school. This is an important aspect of education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

According to the 2014-15 NATSISS:

More than one-third (43.1%) of people aged 20 years and over had learnt about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture at school.
Younger people aged 20-24 years were more likely to report they had learnt about culture at school (60.5%) than people aged 55 years and over (19.9%).
People aged 35-44 years were more likely to have learnt about culture at school in remote areas (48.5%) compared with people in that age group living in non-remote areas (37.3%).
Just over half (51.4%) of all people aged 20 years and over in the ACT and Tasmania (50.4%) had learnt about culture at school.

Graph 10. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that learnt about culture at school by Age, Australia
	Learnt about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture at school (%)	Confidence interval 95% (%) (low)	Confidence interval 95% (%) (high)
20-24 years	60.5	55.2	65.8
25-34 years	57.3	52.6	62.0
35-44 years	40.1	35.9	44.3
45-54 years	32.5	28.0	37.0
55 years and over	19.9	16.5	23.3

Graph 10. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that learnt about culture at school by Age, Australia

["","Learnt about Aboriginal and\/or Torres Strait Islander culture at school","Confidence interval 95%"]

[["20-24 years","25-34 years","35-44  years","45-54 years","55 years and over"],[[60.5],[57.299999999999997],[40.100000000000001],[32.5],[19.899999999999999]],[[55.200000000000003,65.799999999999997],[52.600000000000001,62],[35.899999999999999,44.299999999999997],[28,37],[16.5,23.300000000000001]]]

[]

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Cells in this table containing data have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Source: 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS).

Available data

Information used in this publication is available by time series and geography in the Data Downloads section. Please see tables below by topic for information about how to locate this information in the downloads.

Further education information is available from ABS collections in the 'Information sources' section. Customised data are also available on request. Please see Contact the ABS.

Preschool education

Topic	Disaggregation	Collection	Table number
Children attending preschool	State/territory, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.1
Remoteness, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 1.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 1.6
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.7
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 1.8
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.9
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 1.10
Whether missed days at school last week	State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 2.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 2.2
How well school advised of child's progress	State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 3.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 3.2
Whether culture is being taught school	Remoteness	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 4.1

Primary education

Topic	Disaggregation	Collection	Table number
Children attending primary school	State/territory, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.1
Remoteness, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 1.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 1.6
State/territory	Census 2021	Table 1.7
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.8
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 1.9
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.10
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 1.11
Type of primary school education institution attending	State/territory	Census 2021	Table 1.7
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.8
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 1.9
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.10
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 1.11
Whether missed days at school last week	State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 2.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 2.2
How well school advised of child's progress	State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 3.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 3.2
Whether culture is being taught at school	State/territory	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 4.1
Remoteness	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 4.2

Secondary education

Topic	Disaggregation	Collection	Table number
Persons attending secondary school	State/territory, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.1
Remoteness, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 1.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 1.6
State/territory	Census 2021	Table 1.7
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.8
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 1.9
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.10
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 1.11
Type of secondary school education institution attending	State/territory	Census 2021	Table 1.7
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.8
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 1.9
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.10
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 1.11
Whether missed days at school last week	State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 2.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 2.2
How well school advised of child's progress	State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 3.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 3.2
Whether culture is being taught at school	State/territory	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 4.1
Remoteness	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 4.2
Highest year of school completed	State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15; NATSIHS 2012-13, 2018-19	Table 5.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15; NATSIHS 2012-13, 2018-19	Table 5.2
State/territory, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 6.1
Remoteness, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 6.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 6.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 6.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 6.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 6.6
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 6.7
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 6.8
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 6.9
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 6.10
Types of assistance that would help students complete year 12	Remoteness	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 7.1

Non-school education

Topic	Disaggregation	Collection	Table number
Persons attending non-school education institution	State/territory, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.1
Remoteness, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 1.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 1.6
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.7
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 1.8
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.9
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 1.10
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15; NATSIHS 2012-13, 2018-19	Table 2.1
Level of highest non-school qualification	State/territory, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 3.1
Remoteness, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 3.2

Closing the Gap targets

Topic	Disaggregation	Collection	Table number
Whether attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or above	State/territory, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.1
Remoteness, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 1.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 1.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 1.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 1.6
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.7
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 1.8
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 1.9
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 1.10
State/territory, Age groups, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15; NATSIHS 2012-13, 2018-19	Table 2.1
Remoteness, Age groups, Timeseries	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15; NATSIHS 2012-13, 2018-19	Table 2.2
Whether has a non-school qualification at Certificate III or above, 25-34 years	State/territory, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 3.1
Remoteness, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 3.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 3.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 3.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 3.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 3.6
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 3.7
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 3.8
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 3.9
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 3.10
State/territory, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15; NATSIHS 2012-13, 2018-19	Table 4.1
Remoteness, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15; NATSIHS 2012-13, 2018-19	Table 4.2
Whether is engaged in employment, education and training	State/territory, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 5.1
Remoteness, Age groups, Time series	Census 2001-2021	Table 5.2
Local Government Areas	Census 2016	Table 5.3
Indigenous Regions	Census 2016	Table 5.4
Indigenous Areas	Census 2016	Table 5.5
Indigenous Locations	Census 2016	Table 5.6
Local Government Areas	Census 2021	Table 5.7
Indigenous Regions	Census 2021	Table 5.8
Indigenous Areas	Census 2021	Table 5.9
Indigenous Locations	Census 2021	Table 5.10

Education intentions and culture taught in schools

Topic	Disaggregation	Collection	Table number
Educational intentions	State/territory, Age groups, Time series	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 1.1
Remoteness, Age groups, Timeseries	NATSISS 2008, 2014-15	Table 1.2
Whether culture taught at school	State/territory, Age groups	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 2.1
Remoteness, Age groups	NATSISS 2014-15	Table 2.2

Data downloads

Preschool education tables, 2001 to 2021

Data files

Download xlsx [239.49 KB]

Primary school education tables, 2001 to 2021

Data files

Download xlsx [428.68 KB]

Secondary school education tables, 2001 to 2021

Data files

Download xlsx [2.3 MB]

Non-school education tables, 2001 to 2021

Data files

Download xlsx [3.18 MB]

Closing the Gap targets, 2001 to 2021

Data files

Download xlsx [1007.5 KB]

Education intentions and culture taught in school, 2008 and 2014-15

Data files

Download xlsx [79.87 KB]

APA

Education Statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

APA

Key statistics

Information sources and comparability

Information sources

Population change over time

Closing the Gap and other national government reporting

Preschool education

Children's progress at preschool

Other available data

Primary education

Primary school attendance

Secondary education

Secondary school attendance

Highest year of school completed

Assistance required to help complete Year 12

14 years and under

15-19 years

Non-school education

Highest educational attainment

Level of highest non-school qualification completed

Past and future intentions to study

Past intentions to study

Future intentions to study

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture taught in school

Available data

Preschool education

Primary education

Secondary education

Non-school education

Closing the Gap targets

Education intentions and culture taught in schools

Data downloads

Preschool education tables, 2001 to 2021

Primary school education tables, 2001 to 2021

Secondary school education tables, 2001 to 2021

Non-school education tables, 2001 to 2021

Closing the Gap targets, 2001 to 2021

Education intentions and culture taught in school, 2008 and 2014-15

Methodology

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