Queensland families can choose between state schools and non-state schools. Non-state schools are operated by their respective governing bodies and include Catholic and Independents schools, often referred to as private schools.
Approximately 550 non-state schools, including around 50 boarding schools, operate in Queensland.
You can find a Queensland non-state school or boarding school in the Department of Education’s
schools directory, and a list of governing bodies on the
Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) website.
Non-state school accreditation
Non-state schools can only operate in Queensland if they are accredited by the NSSAB.
NSSAB is an independent statutory body which decides whether a non-state school is accredited and eligible for government funding based on criteria set by the
Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017 and Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2017.
More information about how NSSAB accredits and regulates non-state schools is available on the NSSAB website.
Non-state schools accreditation framework review
An independent review of the non-state schools accreditation framework (NSSAF) has been completed, with recommendations to support a contemporary regulatory framework that prioritises student safety and the delivery of high-quality education. More information regarding the NSSAF is available at the
NSSAF review website.
State Government support for non-state schools
The State Government provides
recurrent funding to non-state schools under the
Better and Fairer Schools Agreement—Full and Fair Funding (2025–2034), as well as
capital assistance to new schools and campuses, and for upgrades to existing infrastructure.
The Department of Education also provides funding to Catholic Education Queensland Limited and Independent Schools Queensland to deliver a range of sector programs and initiatives for non-state schools, including student support and parent engagement initiatives.
Non-state school students with disability
The Department of Education funds a range of services to support non-state school students with disability, including the
Specialist Disability Support in Schools Program, the
Non-State Special Needs Organisations Program, and services delivered through Catholic Education Queensland Limited and Independent Schools Queensland under the
students with disability program.
Non-state school students with disability and their families can also access the department’s state-wide services, including the Autism Hub.
To find out more about support available to non-state schools and their families, visit the
support to non-state schools page.
You can also contact: