Back to School
Get ahead of the school term with lunch box prep ideas and after-school recipes that kids will love, and stock up on all your lunch box essentials.
Frequently asked questions
The summer school holidays (the break between Term 4 and Term 1) typically takes place across December and January, varying between each state and territory. For the 2026-2027 summer break, the holiday dates for students are:
NSW: Friday 18 December 2026 to Tuesday 2 February 2027 (for Eastern division) and Tuesday 9 February 2027 (for Western division)
VIC: Saturday 19 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027
QLD and SA: Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027
WA: Friday 18 December 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027
TAS: Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 3 February 2027
ACT: Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027 (for new students) and Monday 1 February (for continuing students)
NT: Friday 11 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027
Students return to the classroom for Term 1 in late-January or early-February, depending on their state or territory. In 2027, Term 1 begins on:
NSW: Wednesday 3 February 2027 (for Eastern division) and Wednesday 10 February 2027 (for Western division)
VIC, QLD, SA and NT: Wednesday 27 January
WA: Monday 1 February
TAS: Thursday 4 February
ACT: Monday 1 February (for new students) and Tuesday 2 February (for continuing students)
After Term 1 commences, students across Australia have three mid-year school holiday periods before the next summer break begins in December.
While dates vary between states and territories, the general periods for 2027 are:
Autumn holidays (between Term 1 and Term 2) begin in late-March or April
Winter holidays (between Term 2 and Term 3) begin in late-June or early-July
Spring holidays (between Term 3 and Term 4) begin in mid- or late-September
Summer holidays (after Term 4) begin in mid-December
Topping up school essentials every school holidays helps keep the term running smoothly. Here are some recommended essentials for every school term:
Stationery: make sure kids have plenty of pens and pencils, erasers, highlighters, rulers and exercise books
Storage: lunch boxes and drink bottles come in a range of sizes, and insulated options are also available
Snacks: muesli bars and crackers can be bought in bulk because they have a long shelf life, while fruit, yoghurt and sandwich ingredients should be bought more frequently to ensure they’re fresh
Cooking a batch of kid-friendly treats will keep the kids fuelled on day trips and outings over the school holidays. Another option is pairing cut-up vegetables such as carrot, celery and capsicum with dips for an easy snack.