Push for Queensland school year to follow Australia Day holiday permanently

Industry leaders say delaying the school year until after Australia Day holiday permanently would be a huge boost to tourism with the new Education Minister considering it. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Chef Jake Nicolson with three-year-old Monte and eight-year-old Alba at South Bank, Brisbane, Friday, January 24, 2025 - Picture: Richard Walker

Calls for the Queensland school year to permanently start after the Australia Day holiday have gathered steam with the long weekend set to deliver a gold mine to the state’s tourism sector.

Industry leaders say delaying the school year until after Australia Day would be a huge boost to tourism while Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said he would “always consider” any proposal to support the sector.

Typically returning to school in mid-January, Queensland was dealt a reprieve this year with the holidays running until January 28 in a move forecast to add up to $250 million to the state economy.

Accommodation data for regions across the state shows double digit increases in bookings compared to the same time last year – when the Australia Day long weekend came four days after the start of the school year.

The experience of settling kids into a new school year only to take more time off just a few days later has long been a bugbear for parents, particularly as Queensland is the only jurisdiction in the country to regularly commence classes before Australia Day.

Griffith University Institute for Tourism professor of practice Daniel Gschwind said “it just makes sense” for school to start after the Australia Day holiday.

“It’s the last flourish of holiday excitement and a chance for people to take a short break away together,” he said.

“How much serious work is done in the first day or two of school when you know you’re about to about to have another day off anyway.

“For the tourism industry and for parents and for school staff, it just makes sense (to make the school year start after Australia Day).”

His comments were backed by Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Natassia Wheeler.

“Shifting the school year to start after the long weekend would give families and holiday-makers more time to travel and create meaningful memories,” she said.

“The move would give a welcome boost to Queensland’s tourism industry and visitor economy at a critical time when every tourism dollar counts.

“Extending the January holiday period is a clever move – families enjoy a less disrupted holiday and tourism operators benefit from stronger visitor numbers during a key period.”

Mayra Leardini at Soleil Pool Bar at Rydges South Bank is ready for a summer long weekend. Picture: Richard Walker

In Brisbane, holiday bookings for this weekend are up 20 per cent on last year, though a pair of sold-out concerts from country music star Luke Combs at Suncorp Stadium has added to the rush for the River City.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane businesses were getting ready for a big economic boost over the Australia Day long weekend.

“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and long weekends are the perfect time for visitors to come and explore our great city and all it has to offer,” he said.

Experience Gold Coast boss John Warn said bookings on the Glitter Strip were up 12 per cent on the same weekend last year with strong crowds expected to flock to the region’s beaches and theme parks for one last holiday rush.

On the Sunshine Coast, hotels and resorts are at almost full capacity, an increase of 10 per cent on the same period last year.

Brett Thompson, general manager at Mooloolaba’s Landmark Resort and Spa, said having the Australia Day holiday fall into a long weekend was “a huge boost”.

“When it falls midweek it’s a lot quieter, so this is very welcome, no doubt about it,” he said.

Ruby Pinn from Auchenflower with Bridie Roche from Bardon, ready for the Australia Day weekend at the Story Bridge Hotel as holiday bookings predict a blockbuster weekend for the Queensland tourism industry. Picture: Steve Pohlner

At this stage, Queenslanders will receive another Australia Day long weekend for the next two years before reverting to earlier starts for the school year for the rest of the decade.

Mr Langbroek said his focus would “always be on what is best for students, families, teachers, and the education sector as a whole” but did not rule out a change to the school calendar in the future.

“I look forward to working with the Department and stakeholders to map out the following years,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Education said setting school year dates was” a complex process that considers multiple factors including balancing the timings of public holidays and school holidays with term lengths and delivery of the Australian curriculum”.

“The Department of Education conducts extensive consultation with key stakeholders including Independent Schools Queensland, Queensland Catholic Education Commission, Principals’ Associations, Unions, and regions, in the development of school calendars,” the spokesperson said.

Originally published as Push for Queensland school year to follow Australia Day holiday permanently