
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 Adelaide. The resources below may help you locate the right child care service for your family.
Generic school teacher
Primary school girl sitting next to her teacher
Generic school teacher

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.
Adelaide has a wide range of schooling options within the state public and the private school systems. In metropolitan Adelaide, all state high schools and an increasing number of primary schools have a school zone. Catholic and independent schools are not zoned.
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The Australian Schools Directory 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 Adelaide.
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In addition to an outstanding selection of universities, Adelaide offers students a wide choice of higher education alternatives in business, technology, and other specialist areas.
SA School Terms
Click here to see the school terms observed in SA from 2018-2021.
Enrolment Information
Defence School Mentors
The Defence School Mentor Program provides support to children of ADF families, particularly when changing schools on posting or during parental absences due to deployment, exercises or courses.
The in-school mentors in primary and secondary schools are funded by the Department of Defence through Defence Community Organisation (DCO). 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 Mentors
- Catherine McAuley School, Craigmore
- Golden Grove Primary School, Golden Grove
- Greenwith Primary School, Greenwith
- Hewett Primary School, Hewett
- Largs Bay School, Largs Bay
- Mark Oliphant College, Munno Para
- Mawson Lakes School, Mawson Lakes
- Our Lady of Hope Catholic School, Craigmore
- Playford Primary School, Craigmore
- Nairne School, Nairne
- St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, Evanston
- Trinity College, Blakeview
- Trinity College, North School, Evanston South
- Trinity College, South School, Evanston
High schools with Defence School Mentors
- Gleeson College, Golden Grove
- Golden Grove High School, Golden Grove
- Mark Oliphant College, Munno Para
- Pedare Christian College, Golden Grove
- Trinity College, Blakeview
- Trinity College North School, Evanston South
- Trinity College, Senior School, Evanston South
Universities
Adelaide is home to a number of major universities:
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Australian Catholic University – Adelaide campus
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CQ University – Adelaide campus