Like many families, we pack up the kids every Easter and head away to enjoy the school holidays and cooler autumn weather.
Good Friday marks the start of our annual week-long holiday. This usually works perfectly, being the start or middle of Queensland school holidays, except for this year.
In 2025 it falls on the final weekend of school holidays in both Queensland and Victoria, a move that's been dubbed "a bit strange" by some tourism providers and parents alike.
In New South Wales, the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, the Easter long weekend will be part-way through their school holidays.
While kids in the Northern Territory will already be back in the classroom before Easter after a one-week break.
So why do school holidays differ in states and territories? And what challenges does it create?
Why school holidays aren't the same
Each state and territory education department is responsible for its holidays "because they're all responsible for their own education", according to Dr Rebecca English.
She's a former teacher and education researcher at the Queensland University of Technology on Turrbal and Yugara lands.
"The curriculum (except for NSW who do their own thing) is set at national level through the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority," she says.
"But each state is responsible, through various mechanisms, for implementing the curriculum.
"So, they can modify and alter things … and holidays seem to be a natural extension of that."
We asked each state and territory education department how they decide the dates for school terms and holidays.
There were some commonalities.
- They all set the dates three to five years in advance.
- They all consult with other sectors, such as Catholic education, independent schools and, where possible, other Australian jurisdictions.
- And they try to have consistent term lengths and examination periods each year.
In Queensland, term dates are set approximately three years ahead.
"To help schools, school communities, and the public with long-term planning," an Education Queensland spokesperson says.
"Each element is carefully considered to ensure a well-structured and balanced school calendar."
The South Australia Department for Education told us that setting holiday dates takes in a number of considerations.
"Such as, 40 weeks of instruction time for the year, divided into four terms of equal length, with two weeks of holiday between them," a spokesperson says.
"The Easter holiday period is normally taken into account, depending on where it falls.
"The Christmas holiday extends until the first non-public holiday after Australia Day, if possible."
The number of working days for teachers also needs to be consistent with the relevant industrial agreements, which may be different for each state or territory.
While there is a general pattern of 190-200 school days per year for government schools, public holidays create their own localised interruptions.
"The other issue, of course, is with different public holidays in different states," Dr English says.
"I think all of it depends on so many different factors and each state and territory would be in the same boat."
Private school holidays different again
Paul Kidson, a senior lecturer in educational leadership, Australian Catholic University, says , which can also differ within states and territories.
"In the early days of these schools, they needed an earlier finishing date so rural students could return home.
"And the tradition has stuck."
Seasonal factors when determining holidays
Where you live in Australia can also have an impact on the length of school holidays.
The Northern Territory has a longer mid-year break (three weeks) during the northern dry season to allow Territorians to take advantage of milder weather conditions.
Where school holidays fall in a calendar year can also have an impact on tourism providers, according to Shane O'Reilly, chairman of Queensland Tourism Industry Council.
Mr O'Reilly also manages a rainforest retreat on Yugambeh lands at the edge of Lamington National Park on the Scenic Rim.
"I do remember when Easter was at the end of the holidays many years ago, and it was a bit of a quieter school holidays than normal," he says.
"So, it's better when it's sort of near the beginning or in the middle at least but having it right at the very end is a bit strange."
The New South Wales education department told us that the timing of Easter "should not determine the end of Term 1 vacation".
"If Easter falls outside the school vacation period, it should be observed as a separate four-day holiday,” a spokesperson said.
If you're like me and your kids will miss a bit of school after Easter for holidays or to visit family and friends, Dr English says not to worry.
"They will learn so much more from being away with their family on holidays," she says.
"You all are doing important stuff like building relationships, negotiating where you're going to go, working together as a family."
