Moving to Brisbane with children
A school that fits. A manageable morning. A place to feel at home. Start with the choices that shape your family's everyday life.
Find schools & suburbsSchools, then suburbs
Start with your family's daily rhythm
Brisbane's river, school locations and work destinations all influence where a family settles. Consider schools, the school run and housing costs together rather than choosing a home and hoping everything else falls into place.
There is no single best school or suburb for every family. Your children's ages, learning needs, friendships and activities matter as much as proximity. This guide offers an overview; schools confirm places and eligibility.
A calmer family move
3–6 months before
Contact shortlisted schools about vacancies, entry dates and learning needs. Bring your work destination and housing budget into the same conversation.
1–3 months before
Confirm enrolment requirements and your arrival plan. Gather school reports and ask about uniforms, after-school care and the transition into a new year group.
Your first month
Leave time for settling in. Get familiar with the school journey, local parks and activities, and help children build routines and friendships.
State school catchments
The address matters, not just the suburb
A catchment is the geographical area served by a state school. Enrolment management plans can affect out-of-catchment applications, especially at high-demand schools. Living nearby is not the same as living inside the boundary.
Primary and secondary catchments can differ. Before signing a lease or buying, check the exact address on the official map and ask the school about its current enrolment policy and required evidence of residence.
Check Queensland EdMapPrivate & Catholic schools
Non-state schools have their own application processes rather than state-school catchments. Ask each school about availability, entry years, learning support and transport. A short distance on a map may still mean a complicated school run.
Your school shortlist
Brisbane school finder
Explore state schools and nearby suburbs, or compare private-school options against your school run and housing budget. These are selected schools, not a complete register. Suburb suggestions do not establish a catchment or an available school place.
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S · school campus. H · approximate suburb centre. Locations are indicative; no catchment boundaries or enrolment eligibility are shown.
18 schools
Queensland state schools give enrolment priority to families living inside the school's catchment boundary. Some high-demand schools only accept out-of-catchment students through selective programs. Always check the school's current EdMap boundary — and confirm an exact address — before you buy or rent.
Brisbane State High School
South Brisbane · Inner south · Secondary · State school
Queensland's largest and most sought-after state high school. Catchment property carries a real premium: many families buy or rent specifically to get in.
$1.30m – $1.60m
Indicative house medians
$760 – $850
Per week, houses
Annerley
About 13 min to school
These are general suburb suggestions, not verified catchments. Confirm the exact address on Queensland EdMap and with the school.
AnnerleyInner South~13 min$1.30m$760/wk+
Genuine neighbourhood, strong rental demand.
Lifestyle & amenities. Suburban and diverse. Coorparoo Square and Annerley's village feel provide local centers for dining and shopping.
Getting around. Twelve to twenty minutes to the CBD via the Beenleigh/Cleveland lines or the busway.
Housing. Post-war brick and timber homes. Tarragindi and Holland Park are family strongholds with larger blocks.
Watch for. Pockets of flooding near Oxley and Norman Creeks - elevation changes quickly.
Read the Inner South guideFairfieldInner South~13 min$1.38m$770/wk+
Close in, well priced, check flood overlays.
Lifestyle & amenities. Suburban and diverse. Coorparoo Square and Annerley's village feel provide local centers for dining and shopping.
Getting around. Twelve to twenty minutes to the CBD via the Beenleigh/Cleveland lines or the busway.
Housing. Post-war brick and timber homes. Tarragindi and Holland Park are family strongholds with larger blocks.
Watch for. Pockets of flooding near Oxley and Norman Creeks - elevation changes quickly.
Read the Inner South guideYerongaInner South~14 min$1.40m$780/wk+
Parkland, train, short run to Somerville House.
Lifestyle & amenities. Suburban and diverse. Coorparoo Square and Annerley's village feel provide local centers for dining and shopping.
Getting around. Twelve to twenty minutes to the CBD via the Beenleigh/Cleveland lines or the busway.
Housing. Post-war brick and timber homes. Tarragindi and Holland Park are family strongholds with larger blocks.
Watch for. Pockets of flooding near Oxley and Norman Creeks - elevation changes quickly.
Read the Inner South guideTarragindiInner South~19 min$1.50m$820/wk+
Hills, big backyards, family favourite.
Lifestyle & amenities. Suburban and diverse. Coorparoo Square and Annerley's village feel provide local centers for dining and shopping.
Getting around. Twelve to twenty minutes to the CBD via the Beenleigh/Cleveland lines or the busway.
Housing. Post-war brick and timber homes. Tarragindi and Holland Park are family strongholds with larger blocks.
Watch for. Pockets of flooding near Oxley and Norman Creeks - elevation changes quickly.
Read the Inner South guideCoorparooInner South~15 min$1.60m$850/wk+
Busway, Coorparoo Square, Loreto on the hill.
Lifestyle & amenities. Suburban and diverse. Coorparoo Square and Annerley's village feel provide local centers for dining and shopping.
Getting around. Twelve to twenty minutes to the CBD via the Beenleigh/Cleveland lines or the busway.
Housing. Post-war brick and timber homes. Tarragindi and Holland Park are family strongholds with larger blocks.
Watch for. Pockets of flooding near Oxley and Norman Creeks - elevation changes quickly.
Read the Inner South guideCatchment suburb lists are indicative summaries, not official boundaries — the Department of Education's EdMap is the only authoritative source. Travel times are distance-based estimates, not live traffic. House medians and rents are drafted guides for comparison, not valuation advice.
Family moving questions
Does living in a suburb mean we are in its school catchment?
No. Catchment boundaries can divide a suburb, and primary and secondary boundaries differ. Check the exact address in Queensland EdMap and confirm enrolment requirements with the school before committing to a home. The suburb suggestions in this guide are not proof of eligibility.
Should we choose the school or the home first?
Start with the school options, your work destination and a realistic housing budget together. For state schools, confirm the address requirements. For private schools, ask about vacancies and the school bus network before settling on a suburb.
Is renting first a sensible option for a relocating family?
Renting can give you time to settle and decide whether an area suits your family. A rental address still needs to meet the school's enrolment requirements; a temporary stay should not be assumed to establish catchment eligibility.
Can children arriving from overseas attend a Brisbane state school?
Eligibility and possible tuition fees depend on the child's circumstances and visa. Ask the school and Education Queensland International about your visa before budgeting or accepting a place. Our UK moving guide includes an overview for overseas families.
Buying a home or renting first?
Buying a Brisbane home
Home Scouts offers local buyer's-agent support for families relocating to Brisbane. Sandra Connors brings more than 40 years of Brisbane knowledge to the conversation about your family's move.
Buying? Talk to Home ScoutsRenting a Brisbane home
If you want to settle in before buying, Executive Relocations offers rental-search and relocation support. Speak with them about finding a rental that suits your family's arrival and everyday needs.
Renting? Talk to Executive RelocationsMoving to Brisbane is associated with Home Scouts. This is a general relocation guide, not an independent school ranking or a property recommendation. School eligibility must be confirmed with the school; prices, rents and travel times are indicative.