Childcare
Defence childcare centres
Children of mobile Defence families can receive priority of access to Defence childcare centres around Australia. Defence Community Organisation (DCO) also provides individual case management to help parents with childcare placement. For more information click here.
More childcare resources
There are a number of child care facilities in Townsville. The resources below may help you locate the right childcare service for your family.
Schools
DCO provides a range of services and resources for Defence children to assist with the transition between schools and education systems when families move, and to provide support for the unique needs of Defence students. You can find information on schooling, including aides and mentors on the DCO website on Education or Your Community pages.
Townsville has both public and private schools for all levels. In Queensland, children under six years of age attend preschool, children from six years onwards attend primary school (years 1-7) and children 12 years and over attend high school (years 8-12).
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The Good Schools Guide is a helpful tool to search for all primary and secondary schools in the region.
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The Private Schools Directory provides a guide to private schools in Townsville.
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There is also a number of tertiary institutions in Townsville, including the James Cook University, TAFE Queensland North, and Tec-NQ (formerly Australian Technical College North Queensland).
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For all other information on education services, visit the Queensland Department of Education and Training website.
QLD School Terms
Click here to see the school terms observed in QLD from 2018-2020.
Enrolment Information
Schools with Defence Aides and Mentors
The Defence School Transition Program provides support to children of ADF families, particularly during their transition into and out of a school on posting or during parental absences due to deployment, exercises or courses.
The in-school aides (for primary schools) and mentors (for high schools) are funded by the Department of Defence through DCO (Defence Community Organisation). They are employed as a member of the school staff by respective schools or education systems within each State or Territory.
Primary schools with Defence School Transition Aides (DSTAs)
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Annandale State School, Annandale
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Bluewater State School, Bluewater
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Bohlevale State School, Bohlevale
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Good Shepherd Catholic School, Rasmussen
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Heatley State School, Townsville
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Holy Spirit School, Cranbrook
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Kirwin State School, Kirwin
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Mundingburra State School, Hermit Park
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Oonoonba State School, Idalia
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Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale
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St Clare’s Catholic School, Burdell
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The Willows State School, Kirwan
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Weir State School, Kirwin
High schools with Defence Transition Mentors (DTMs)
- Annandale Christian College, Annandale
- Calvary Christian College, Mt Louisa
- Kirwan State High School, Kirwin
- Ignatius Park College, Cranbrook
- Northern Beaches State High, Deeragun
- Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan
- Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale
- St Anthony’s Catholic College, Deeragun
- Thurwingowa State High School, Condon
- Townsville Grammar School, Townsville
- William Ross State High School, Annandale
