Schools in QLD / Brisbane. How does it work?

[Doing my best]

I grew up in nsw, so totally lost up here with schooling. lol.. But prep was brought in to get kids starting school at 5 instead of six. So the other grades seem to be inline to what it is down there. Have I just confused you more?

[Phteven]

My understanding from my brother is that prep is the first year of school (equivalent to our kindy) and that they have just made it compulsory to bring QLD in line with the other states. Prior to this it was optional and they could start in year 1.
The cut off date/age is 5 years by the 30th of June.

[AndiE]

We've got DS1, who is 5 next March, enrolled in prep next year at a Catholic primary school.
I think the "rules" for intake into public or private school prep are to do with when they turn 5 as they are supposed to have turned 5 by a cut-off date (not entirely sure of the date but presume it's 1 June or 1 July) the year they start Prep. So if DS1 was turning 5 after that date he'd have to wait until the 2014 intake. Hope that makes sense. Your son would be fine to start prep here next year.
Re: Catholic schools, I think they are all private - can't say I'm aware of a public Catholic primary or college up here. Maybe try the Catholic Education Qld website?

ETA: Kindy is not a formal part of school here in Qld - school definitely starts with Prep as the first year. Changes are under way to make kindy more structured in daycare, but essentially it's a parent's choice to have their child at kindy either via daycare or specialised kindergartens. At least that's been my experience and understanding.

[boomba]

I live here and still don't really get it :-/

Ds1 is 4 turning 5 this year and is in kindy which is not compulsory but prep is I think. It runs from June to June in ages?

[misty]

Thanks for the help everyone.