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Enrolment categories

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​​​​​Please review the enrolment categories below before commencing your application.

Please ​ note: If you are enquiring on behalf of a Queensland State or Non-State School, please ​refer to the Sch​ool B​ased Enrolments ​pag​e.

Home based (By Choice)

Students are eligible to enrol under this category if they:

  • Are an Australian Citizen, a child of an Australian Citizen, a Permanent Resident of Au​stralia. Temporary visa holders can enrol under select visa subclasses. Please contact enrolments with your visa subclass to confirm if the student is eligible to enrol; and
  • Do not meet any other enrolment category but choose distance education as the preferred education provider.

Fees: Please see our Resour​ces page for further information. Distance Edu​cation fee and subject and resource fees apply.

Travelling overseas (By Choice)

Students are eligible to enrol under this category if they:

  • Are an Australian Citizen or a child of an Australian Citizen; and
  • Travelling overseas for a continuous period of 80 or more consecutive school days (approximately 6 months or longer) and planning to return to Australia.

Fees: Please see our Resources p​age for further information. Distance​ Education fee and subject and resource fees apply.

Supporting documents: A Cairns SD​E Itinerary form (PDF, 235.49KB) must be completed. Families are required to submit a copy of relevant flight details. 

Travelling within Australia (By Choic​e)

Students are eligible to enrol under this category if they:

  • Are an Australian Citizen or a child of an Australian Citizen, a Permanent Resident of Australia; and
  • Travelling within Australia for a continuous period of 80 or more consecutive school days (approximately 6 months or longer).
  • If you reside at one location within Australia for 3 months or more you are no longer considered eligible for enrolment and are required to attend a local school or: review/switc​h to Home based (By choice) category - see above.

Fees: Please see our Resources p​age for further information. Distance E​ducation fee and subject and resource fees apply.

Supporting documents: A Cairns SDE Iti​nerary form (PDF, 235.49KB) must be completed.

Travelling​ overseas - Itinerant (Limited Choice)

Students are eligible to enrol under this category if they:

  • Are an Australian Citizen or a child of an Australian Citizen; and
  • Travelling overseas for a continuous period of 80 or more consecutive school days (approximately 6 months or longer) and planning to return to Australia; and
  • They are travelling due to Parent/Guardian work commitments.

Fees: Please see our Resources p​age for further information. Subject and resource fees apply.

Supporting documents: A letter from the employer stating that the Parent/Guardian is working overseas. This letter must be on business letterhead and include the parent/guardian's name, travel dates and ABN number (if it is an Australian business). A Cairns SDE Itin​erary form (PDF, 235.49KB) must be completed. Families are required to submit a copy of relevant flight details. 

Living remotely (Limited Choice)​​

Students are eligible to enrol under this category if they:

  • Are an Australian Citizen or a child of an Australian Citizen, a Permanent Resident of Australia; and

Fees: Please see our Resources ​page for further information. Subject and resource fees apply.

Supporting documents: ​Proof of ​principal place of residence is required to be submitted with the application i.e. a utilities bill in the family name; a map showing that the principal place of residency is at least 16 km from the nearest applicable school; a copy of the bus/transport schedule from the nearest applicable state school.​

Medical (Lim​ited Choice)

Students are eligible to enrol under this category if they:

  • Are an Australian Citizen or a child of an Australian Citizen, a Permanent Resident of Australia; and
  • The student has a medical condition that is preventing them from attending their local state school for 80 consecutive school days (approximately 6 months or longer.

Fees: Please see our Resourc​es page for further information. Subject and resource fees apply.

Supporting documents: ​A Medical ​Certificate (PDF, 512.68KB) is required and must be completed and signed by a relevant medical practitioner (registered under the Medical Practitioners Registration Act 2001 and/or registered under the Psychologists Registration Act 2001). The document must state that the student's medical condition is preventing them from attending their local state school for 80 consecutive school days.​

Carer (Limited Choice)​​

Students are eligible to enrol under this category if they:

  • Are an Australian Citizen or a child of an Australian Citizen, a Permanent Resident of Australia; and
  • Student is a carer for a child/parent/guardian; or
  • If extenuating circumstances exist please contact Enrolments by email: admin@cairnssde.eq.edu.au​

Fees: Please see our Resources​ page for further information. Subject and resource fees apply.

Supporting documents: We require a 'doctor's letter', completed a​nd signed by a relevant medical practitioner (registered under the Medical Practitioners Registration Act 2001 and/or registered under the Psychologists Registration Act 2001).​

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Last reviewed 27 January 2026
Last updated 27 January 2026