Education

School attendance is compulsory throughout Australia. Education is the responsibility of the individual states and territories[242] so the rules vary between states, but in general children are required to attend school from the age of about 5 up until about 16.[243][244] In at least some states (eg, WA)[245] children aged 16–17 are required to either attend school or participate in vocational training, such as an apprenticeship.

Australia has an adult literacy rate that is assumed to be 99 per cent. In the Programme for International Student Assessment, Australia regularly scores among the top five of thirty major developed countries (member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Catholic education accounts for the largest non-government sector.

Australia has 37 government-funded universities and two private universities, as well as a number of other specialist institutions that provide approved courses at the higher education level.[246] The University of Sydney is Australia's oldest university, having been founded in 1850, followed by the University of Melbourne three years later. Other notable universities include those of the Group of Eight leading tertiary institutions, including the University of Adelaide (which boasts an association with five Nobel Laureates), the Australian National University located in the national capital of Canberra, Monash University and the University of New South Wales.

The OECD places Australia among the most expensive nations to attend university.[247] There is a state-based system of vocational training, known as TAFE, and many trades conduct apprenticeships for training new tradespeople.[248] Approximately 58 per cent of Australians aged from 25 to 64 have vocational or tertiary qualifications, [203] and the tertiary graduation rate of 49 per cent is the highest among OECD countries. The ratio of international to local students in tertiary education in Australia is the highest in the OECD countries.[249]

Health

Life expectancy in Australia in 2006 was 78.7 years for males and 83.5 years for females.[250] Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, [251] while cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease.[252] Australia has one of the highest proportions of overweight citizens among developed nations.[253]

Total expenditure on health (including private sector spending) is around 9.8 per cent of GDP.[254] Australia introduced universal health care in 1975.[255] Known as Medicare it is now nominally funded by an income tax surcharge known as the Medicare levy, currently set at 1.5 per cent.[256] The states manage hospitals and attached outpatient services, while the Commonwealth funds the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (reducing the costs of medicines) and general practice.[255]