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Home > Life > Bringing your family

Bringing your family

Build close relationships with your children when studying in Adelaide.

Students that choose to study in Adelaide can bring their families with them while studying. You can include your family members in your visa application, which may include your partner, children, or partner's children.

There are a number of different factors when you consider bringing family with you, including financial considerations.

The Department of Home Affairs has information about what to consider when bringing your family with you when you study in Australia.

Image: City of Adelaide

Bringing young children

If you have a child under school-age, many private childcare centres care for children aged six weeks to school-age. If your child is four years old, you may be able to enrol them in kindergarten (or preschool) to help prepare them for starting school.

Childcare (0-6 years)

There are two types of childcare - Long Day Care and Family Day Care.

Both Family Day Care and Long Day Care operate under the same National Quality Framework (NQF) which sets the benchmark for education and care services in Australia. The framework covers areas such as quality standards, health and safety, educational programs, staffing, and governance amongst others.

You can search for a children's education and care service on StartingBlocks.

Long day care

Long day care is generally a centre-based service (sometimes called a child care centre) that provides care and education for children from birth until the age of 6. Child care centres are usually open from very early in the morning until late in the afternoon, and operate most weeks of the year. This gives parents the flexibility to study or work.

Family day care

Family day care is generally based at a home with a small group of no more than four children under school age at any one time.

Kindergarten and pre-school (4-5 years)

South Australian schools provide quality education and internationally recognised qualifications with pathways to tertiary education. You can send your child to a public school, independent or Catholic school. Learn more about schools in South Australia.

In South Australia, children must be enrolled at school by the age of 6. Most children start school in the year they turn 5.

Bringing school-aged children

If you plan on bringing dependent children with you while studyingh in Australia, you can enrol your children in a school for the duration of your student visa (subclass 500).

There are two types of schools to consider - South Australian Government Schools, and independent schools (sometimes called private schools).

Your children must be between 5 and 18 years of age. 

Students studying high school have the option of studying for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) or International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

High school students that study either SACE or IB can gain entry to university once they have graduated.

Family activities in Adelaide

Adelaide is a very family-friendly study abroad destination with lots of activities for parents and children.

The best thing is that many of these activities are free or low-cost, meaning you can build a lifetime of family memories for your children without spending much.

Find out more

Image: Tourism Australia | Adrian Brown

Bringing your partner

You are able to bring your partner with you if you study in Adelaide. You will need to declare your family members in your student visa application even if they do not plan to travel with you to Australia. If you do not do this, then your family members will not be eligibile for a student visa to join you in Australia.

The best source of information is the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs which provides detailed information about bringing your family on a student visa.

Schools in Adelaide

SA Government Schools

SA Government schools are run by the Government of South Australia.  There are many government schools spread across Adelaide. If you are bringing your children to Adelaide while you study, and would like to enrol them in a Government School, then you will need to contact SA Government Schools rather than contacting individual schools directly.

Children of SA Government endorsed scholarship holders

If you have been awarded a tuition fee waiver for your South Australian government endorsed scholarship, your dependent children will also be eligible for a tuition fee waiver equal to the same percentage.

For example if you have been awarded a 50% scholarship, then your children will be eligible for a 50% tuition waiver if attending a government school in South Australia.

South Australian government endorsed scholarships include:

  • Flinders University scholarships
  • The University of Adelaide scholarships
  • University of South Australia scholarships

To enrol your children and apply for the waiver, you will need to apply through SA Government Schools.

Children of full fee-paying international students

If you don't have a South Australian endorsed scholarship, then you will need to pay tuition fees. In 2024, the tuition fees for dependants of full fee-paying international students at a government school are AUD $6,720 per child for primary school to AUD $7,920 per child for high school. These tuition fees are per year.

You can apply to enrol your children through SA Government Schools.

Other school expenses

There are other school expenses to take into consideration, which are not included in the tuition fees. These expenses may apply regardless of whether you receive a fee waiver or are a full fee-paying international student.

The other school expenses includes things like application fees, stationery, school and sports uniforms, calculators, special interest program fees and excursions.

Independent schools

Independent schools (sometimes called private schools) are schools that are not run by the government. They are generally not-for-profit organisations that are accountable to a governing body.

Many independent schools are associated with a particular religion or teach according to a particular philosophy. Many are also non-denominational which means they don't identify with any particular religion.

All schools in Australia, whether they are government or independent, must operate within the law and government policy in each state and territory of Australia.

Tuition fees at independent schools can vary greatly depending on the type of school, year level of study and many other factors.

If you are considering sending your child to an independent school, you may wish to consider a range of different elements such as the campus location, range of facilities available, student support services available, facilities and school community.


Blackfriars Priory School
Concordia College
Immanuel College
Mercedes College
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College (OLSHC)
Prince Alfred College
Pulteney Grammar School
Scotch College
Seymour College
St. Aloysius College
St John's Grammar School
University Senior College
Walford Girls School
Westminster School
Woodcroft College
Adelaide International School (AIS)

SA Government Schools

SA Government schools are run by the Government of South Australia.  There are many government schools spread across Adelaide. If you are bringing your children to Adelaide while you study, and would like to enrol them in a Government School, then you will need to contact SA Government Schools rather than contacting individual schools directly.

Children of SA Government endorsed scholarship holders

If you have been awarded a tuition fee waiver for your South Australian government endorsed scholarship, your dependent children will also be eligible for a tuition fee waiver equal to the same percentage.

For example if you have been awarded a 50% scholarship, then your children will be eligible for a 50% tuition waiver if attending a government school in South Australia.

South Australian government endorsed scholarships include:

  • Flinders University scholarships
  • The University of Adelaide scholarships
  • University of South Australia scholarships

To enrol your children and apply for the waiver, you will need to apply through SA Government Schools.

Children of full fee-paying international students

If you don't have a South Australian endorsed scholarship, then you will need to pay tuition fees. In 2024, the tuition fees for dependants of full fee-paying international students at a government school are AUD $6,720 per child for primary school to AUD $7,920 per child for high school. These tuition fees are per year.

You can apply to enrol your children through SA Government Schools.

Other school expenses

There are other school expenses to take into consideration, which are not included in the tuition fees. These expenses may apply regardless of whether you receive a fee waiver or are a full fee-paying international student.

The other school expenses includes things like application fees, stationery, school and sports uniforms, calculators, special interest program fees and excursions.

Independent schools

Independent schools (sometimes called private schools) are schools that are not run by the government. They are generally not-for-profit organisations that are accountable to a governing body.

Many independent schools are associated with a particular religion or teach according to a particular philosophy. Many are also non-denominational which means they don't identify with any particular religion.

All schools in Australia, whether they are government or independent, must operate within the law and government policy in each state and territory of Australia.

Tuition fees at independent schools can vary greatly depending on the type of school, year level of study and many other factors.

If you are considering sending your child to an independent school, you may wish to consider a range of different elements such as the campus location, range of facilities available, student support services available, facilities and school community.


Blackfriars Priory School
Concordia College
Immanuel College
Mercedes College
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College (OLSHC)
Prince Alfred College
Pulteney Grammar School
Scotch College
Seymour College
St. Aloysius College
St John's Grammar School
University Senior College
Walford Girls School
Westminster School
Woodcroft College
Adelaide International School (AIS)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about bringing your family to Adelaide while studying.

Yes. Family members of student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight, which is a period of 14 days starting on a Monday. 

If you are studying a masters or doctorate degree, then family members can work unrestricted hours.

The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs provides details about work restrictions for Family members coming to Australia on a Student visa (subclass 500). 

StudyAdelaide's Job Shop connects international students with leading employers in Adelaide who have casual and part-time work opportunities. There are hundreds of jobs available.

Each of the employers listed on Job Shop have adjusted their recruitment processes to specifically cater for international students, and are a great place to start searching for a job.

The national average fees for centre-based day care in Australia is AUD $123.64 per child per day. For family day care, the average cost is AUD $90.23 per child.

Source: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, July 2023