The short answer
A pupil-free day (also called a student-free day, curriculum day or school development day depending on the state) is a day during term time when a school is open for staff but closed to students. Teachers typically use the day for professional learning, planning, report writing or staff meetings. These days are separate from the term dates and public holidays shown on this site’s state pages, and they usually aren’t published in one single national list, which is why families often find them harder to plan around than school holidays.
What each state calls them, and who sets the dates
The name and the process both vary by state. In some states the dates are set centrally by the education department and apply to every government school; in others, each individual school or its governing council chooses its own dates within broader guidelines. As a general guide:
| State / territory | Common name | Who typically sets the dates |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Student Free Day / Curriculum Day | Each school council, within department guidelines |
| New South Wales | School Development Day | NSW Department of Education, centrally |
| Queensland | Student Free Day | Queensland Department of Education, centrally |
| South Australia | Student Free Day / Closure Day | Each school’s governing council |
| Western Australia | Student Free Day | Individual schools, with department approval |
| Tasmania | Student Free Day | Department for Education, Children and Young People, centrally |
| Australian Capital Territory | Student Free Day | Each school, within ACT Education Directorate guidelines |
| Northern Territory | Pupil Free Day | Individual schools |
This table describes the general pattern in each state. The exact number of days and the process can change, and Catholic and independent schools often set their own pupil-free days separately from the government-school pattern shown here. Always confirm the specific dates directly with your child’s school — this is the one part of the school calendar that genuinely is not one-size-fits-all, even within the same state.
Why this matters for parents
Pupil-free days catch families out more often than public holidays or school holiday breaks, for a simple reason: they usually aren’t listed on a single government calendar the way term dates are, and in states where individual schools choose their own dates, a day off at one school might be a normal school day at another school down the road, or at a sibling’s school in a different sector.
If you rely on before and after school care or vacation care, it’s worth checking whether your provider runs a full-day program on pupil-free days, since some do and some don’t. See our guide to vacation care and outside school hours care for how that side of things generally works.
How to find your school’s pupil-free days
- Check your school’s own calendar or newsletter — this is the most reliable source, especially in states where individual schools set their own dates.
- Check your state education department’s website for states that publish dates centrally, such as New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.
- Don’t assume dates match a sibling’s school, a friend’s school, or even another school in the same suburb, unless you’ve confirmed it.
- Ask early if you’re moving schools or states — see our guide on moving interstate with school-aged kids for more on this.
Related pages
Check a specific state’s term dates, or browse the other planning guides on this site.