School of the Air Locations and Providers
Where to find current School of the Air and distance education providers in Australia, with official state and territory links.
School of the Air is not a single national network. Providers, names, year levels and enrolment categories are managed by states and territories and can change.
Use official education department directories for a current result. Do not assume that the closest provider accepts every student or year level.
Northern Territory
Alice Springs School of the Air is the original School of the Air, established in 1951 and still operating. The Northern Territory Department of Education reported its 75th anniversary in 2026.
Search the Northern Territory government school directory or contact the department for current service areas, year levels and enrolment requirements.
Queensland
Queensland currently identifies seven state schools of distance education:
- Brisbane
- Cairns
- Capricornia
- Charleville
- Charters Towers
- Longreach
- Mount Isa.
The department provides links to each provider on its current schools of distance education list. It also explains support for rural and remote students on the rural and remote education page.
Programs and eligibility vary, so check with the individual school.
New South Wales
New South Wales uses several distance education providers. Its system includes the School of the Air in Broken Hill as well as other primary and secondary providers.
Use the NSW Department of Education’s distance education page for the current provider list, eligibility information and enrolment procedures.
Western Australia, South Australia and other jurisdictions
Names differ across Australia. A provider might be called a School of the Air, School of Distance Education, Open Access College, School of Isolated and Distance Education, or Virtual School.
Start with the education department for the child’s state or territory and search its official school directory for “distance education”, “School of the Air” or “open access”. Ask the department which provider covers the home address and circumstances.
This approach is more reliable than a fixed national list because schools can be renamed, reorganised or assigned new service areas.
Questions to ask a provider
Before applying, confirm:
- eligible enrolment categories
- year levels and subjects offered
- whether the student must live in a defined service area
- application evidence and deadlines
- tuition or resource charges
- technology and internet requirements
- the learning supervisor’s expected hours
- disability adjustments and student wellbeing support
- camps, visits and in-person activities
- what happens if the family moves.
For an overview of the daily model, read how School of the Air works.