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Highest School Qualification
At the time of the 2006 Census, 19% (or more than 55,000) of Indigenous persons aged 15 years and over reported Year 12 as their highest level of school completed, compared to 45% of non-Indigenous persons.
For Indigenous persons across all age levels (15 years and over) the most common level of school completed was Year 10 (28% or 79,000 persons) whereas for non-Indigenous persons the most common level of school completed was Year 12.
However younger Indigenous persons completed a higher level of education than older Indigenous persons. 32% of Indigenous persons aged 18 to 24 years and 28% of those aged 25 to 34 years had completed Year 12. Only 8% of Indigenous persons aged over 55 years had completed Year 12. The rate of Year 12 completion for non-Indigenous persons also declined with age, (71% of non-Indigenous 18 to 24 year olds and 27% of non-Indigenous persons over 55 years of age, completed Year 12).
Highest Level of School Completed by Indigenous status and age, 2006
Age group | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-54 | 55 and over | Total(a) |
| Highest level | Indigenous (%) |
| Year 12 or equivalent | 32 | 28 | 15 | 8 | 19 |
| Year 11 or equivalent | 14 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Year 10 or equivalent | 25 | 26 | 34 | 16 | 28 |
| Year 9 or equivalent | 11 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 13 |
| Year 8 or below | 8 | 8 | 14 | 38 | 14 |
| Did not go to school | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Total | 90 | 88 | 88 | 83 | 88 |
| Not stated | 10 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 12 |
 | Non-Indigenous (%) |
| Year 12 or equivalent | 71 | 68 | 46 | 27 | 45 |
| Year 11 or equivalent | 10 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 10 |
| Year 10 or equivalent | 13 | 16 | 29 | 26 | 24 |
| Year 9 or equivalent | 2 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 7 |
| Year 8 or below | 1 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 7 |
| Did not go to school | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 97 | 97 | 97 | 90 | 95 |
| Not stated | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 5 |
Note: Cells have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data
(a) persons aged 15 years and over
Source: Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006 (cat. no. 4713) |
The 2006 Census also showed that 14% of Indigenous people reported Year 8 or below to be their highest year of school completed. This was double the rate for non-Indigenous persons (7%). A similar difference between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons was seen for those who reported Year 9 as their highest school qualification (13% for Indigenous and 7% for non-Indigenous persons).
Highest Year of School Completed by Indigenous status (a), 2006
(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
Source: Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4713.0).
Overall, Indigenous females were slightly more likely than Indigenous males to stay at school until either years 10, 11 or 12.
Highest Year of School Completed by Indigenous status and sex (a), 2006
| Indigenous % | Non-Indigenous % |
| School year level | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | Total |
| Year 12 or equivalent | 17.8 | 20.9 | 19.4 | 44.5 | 45.3 | 44.9 |
| Year 11 or equivalent | 10.0 | 11.4 | 10.8 | 10.8 | 10.2 | 10.5 |
| Year 10 or equivalent | 27.4 | 28.5 | 28.0 | 24.2 | 23.6 | 23.9 |
| Year 9 or equivalent | 13.3 | 12.9 | 13.1 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| Year 8 or below | 14.8 | 13.5 | 14.1 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.3 |
| Did not go to school | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| Not stated | 14.3 | 10.7 | 12.4 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.3 |
(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing, Australia, 2006
Further Information:
Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Australia, 2006 (cat. no.4713.0)
Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4713.55.001)
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