Australian school holidays 2024

Looking for details on the Australian school holidays in 2024? Whether you’re planning a trip that will avoid the peak times of school holidays or need to align your vacay with the kids’ time off, planning ahead is always the best bet.

That can be easier said than done given that holiday dates vary depending on the state or territory you’re in or travelling to.

To make your 2024 plans flow as smoothly as possible we’ve put together a guide to school term dates and Australian school holidays 2024.

Term dates across Australia

Like so many things in Australia, what’s true for one state or territory isn’t necessarily true for another. School holidays and term dates are one of those things that differ across the country.

Find the key dates for your region in the headings below:

VIC school terms 2024

School holidays in Victoria

NSW school terms 2024

School holidays in NSW

WA school terms 2024

School holidays in Western Australia

QLD school terms 2024

School holidays in QLD

ACT school terms 2024

NOTE: The first day of each term is a student-free day in ACT. More on this below.

School holidays in ACT

Tasmania school terms 2024

School holidays in Tasmania 2024

Public Holidays in 2024

In addition to the scheduled school holidays each year there are a number of public holidays that kids get off too. While some of these public holidays land within the school break, not all of them do.

For a full list of Australian public holidays broken down by state or territory, see Navigating public holidays 2024.

Pupil free days

Just when you thought you’d got a grasp on all of the important holiday and school-free days of the year, pupil-free days add another point for consideration.

Pupil free days are reserved for teacher training and personal development, and schools can utilise up to 6 extra days a year when the kids don’t come to class.

Again, the number of days will depend on the state or territory, and each school has the power to operate under its own discretion.

Student free days QLD 2024

Staff professional development days for Queensland teachers are 18th and 19th January, 11th and 12th April and 30th August 2024.

Schools are able to decide when they undertake the required hours for professional development for the flexible days, as long as they are on the flexible days, in the school holidays or out of school hours.

Student free day NSW 2024

Staff professional development days for NSW teachers are:

• Eastern division schools: Tuesday 30th January to Wednesday 31st January

• Western division schools: Tuesday 6th February to Wednesday 7th February

• All NSW Schools: Monday 29th April, Monday 22nd July, Thursday 19th December to Friday 20th December

Student free day VIC 2024

Victorian schools may schedule up to 5 student-free days for professional development, school planning and administration or curriculum development, subject to the following requirements:

• The first day of term 1 each year must be a student-free day in all Victorian government schools to allow for appropriate planning to take place for the arrival of students.

• One student-free day is to be nominated for assessment and reporting.

• School councils have the flexibility to schedule 2 additional student-free days based on local school needs.

• If the principal determines to hold a common professional practice day (PPD) for teachers at the school, school councils will also schedule an additional, fifth student-free day, for use as a common PPD.

Student free day WA 2024

In WA three student free days are scheduled over the Christmas/New Year break, an additional three days are scheduled throughout the school year.

The dates are different for each school and are chosen in consultation with the school council/board and the school community.

Chat to your school directly to find out when its school development days have been rostered.

Student free days ACT 2024

There will be 4 student-free days for ACT public schools in 2024. These are the first day of each school term:

• Term 1, Monday 29th January 2024

• Term 2, Monday 29th April 2024

• Term 3, Monday 22nd July 2024

• Term 4, Monday 14th October 2024

Student free day TAS 2024

There will be 5 student-free days for Tasmanian public schools in 2024.

• Thursday 28th March 2024 (Years 11 & 12 only)

• Friday 7th June 2024 (Kindergarten to Year 10 only)

• Friday 6th September 2024 (Years 11 & 12 only)

• Friday 25th October 2024 (Southern regions only)

• Friday 1st November 2024 (Northern regions only)

Student free day NT 2024

There will be 4 student-free days for Northern Territory public schools in 2024.

• Monday 29th January

• Monday 15th April

• Monday 15th July

• Monday 7th October

Planning a move in the Australian school holidays?

If you’re making plans to move house in the school holidays, use the above dates to tee up dates that align with the school calendar. And, if you need a hand getting your belongings to your new destination, Upmove can help. You’ll find the best removalists at the best possible prices just a few clicks away.