Australian School Zones & Catchment Maps
Most government schools in Australia enrol students from a defined geographic area — known as a school zone or catchment. If your home address sits inside a school’s zone, your child is usually guaranteed a place there, though the exact rules vary by state and territory. Find My School lets you check the zone for any residential address and see the local schools tied to it, so you can make housing and enrolment decisions with the facts in front of you.
Find your school zone by state
Choose your state or territory to open its zone finder. Enter any residential address and we’ll show the government primary and secondary school zones it falls in, plus the closest schools to that address.
How school zones work in Australia
School zones are set by each state and territory education department, not by individual schools. A few things are worth knowing before you rely on a zone:
- Zones apply to government schools. Living in a school’s zone usually means your child is eligible to enrol there, subject to the school having capacity.
- Primary and secondary zones can differ. The zone for your local primary school often won’t match the zone for your local secondary school, so check both.
- Out-of-zone enrolment is possible but not guaranteed. Schools accept out-of-zone applications based on available places and their own priority order.
- Boundaries can change. Departments review and redraw zones over time, so always confirm against the current official boundary before making a decision.
Government, Catholic and independent schools
Government zoning doesn’t apply to non-government schools. Catholic and independent schools set their own enrolment criteria — things like parish boundaries, faith, sibling enrolment, and fees — rather than a government catchment. If you’re considering a Catholic or independent school, check that school’s enrolment policy directly.
Where the zone data comes from
Our zone boundaries are sourced from the relevant state and territory education departments and shown on the map for each address you search. Because boundaries are reviewed periodically and address matching is indicative, always confirm your zone with the official department source before committing to a school or a property.