Tiwi Islands · Council (LGA)

Education & Qualifications in Tiwi Islands

How far people went at school, the qualifications they hold and what they studied.

Few residents in the Tiwi Islands have finished secondary school or earned a degree, which shapes the local job market and daily life. While only 31.2% of people have completed Year 12, this figure has risen by 11 points since 2011.

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📍 Tiwi Islands, Council (LGA)

Where Tiwi Islands sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

5.6% ▼ -6.3%
  • 0.0%–2.1%: 3 areas
  • 2.1%–4.3%: 11 areas
  • 4.3%–6.4%: 18 areas
  • 6.4%–8.6%: 44 areas
  • 8.6%–10.7%: 94 areas
  • 10.7%–12.9%: 111 areas
  • 12.9%–15.0%: 65 areas
  • 15.0%–17.1%: 38 areas
  • 17.1%–19.3%: 31 areas
  • 19.3%–21.4%: 21 areas
  • 21.4%–23.6%: 20 areas
  • 23.6%–25.7%: 5 areas
  • 25.7%–27.9%: 11 areas
  • 27.9%–30.0%: 8 areas
  • 30.0%–32.1%: 5 areas
  • 32.1%–34.3%: 13 areas
  • 34.3%–36.4%: 1 area
  • 36.4%–38.6%: 9 areas
  • 38.6%–40.7%: 5 areas
  • 40.7%–42.9%: 5 areas
  • 42.9%–45.0%: 11 areas
  • 45.0%–47.1%: 6 areas
  • 47.1%–49.3%: 6 areas
  • 49.3%–51.4%: 1 area
  • 51.4%–53.6%: 7 areas
  • 53.6%–55.7%: 6 areas
  • 55.7%–57.9%: 3 areas
  • 57.9%–60.0%: 1 area

All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Tiwi Islands — lower than 95% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Tiwi Islands5.6%
Rest of NT 14.5%
Northern Territory 21.5%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion is far below the national figure of 58.8%, and much lower than most other areas. About 27.4% of residents peaked at Year 10, while 23.7% reached Year 11.

31.2% ▲ +51.7%

Lower than 88% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 20.5%
  • 2016: 23.5%
  • 2021: 31.2%

Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.

Highest year of school

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Tiwi Islands splits fairly evenly between Year 12 (34%) and Year 10 (30%), with Year 11 at 26%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Only 5.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, a rate far below the 26.3% seen across Australia. The most common qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 21.5% of people.

5.6% ▼ -6.3%

Lower than 95% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 5.9%
  • 2016: 4.9%
  • 2021: 5.6%

Share of people aged 15+ whose highest qualification is a bachelor degree or above (incl. graduate and postgraduate).

Highest qualification level

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In Tiwi Islands, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 43%, followed by Bachelor degree (25%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (10%).

Field of study

What people studied.

Education is the most common field of study at 14.7%, followed by society and culture at 9.5%. Other common qualifications include health and management and commerce, both at 7.9%.

Schools

Schools in the area and how many children they serve (ACARA).

The islands have 5 schools with small average sizes of 82 students. There are 9.33 schools per 1,000 children, which is much higher than most areas, and the school advantage score is among the lowest.

682

Lower than 98% of council (lga) areas.

Enrolment-weighted average ICSEA — an index of socio-educational advantage, centred near 1000 (context, not a quality ranking).

Schools in and around Tiwi Islands — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Tiwi Islands

5 schools — 412 students, average ICSEA 682.

By sector: Catholic 2 · Government 2 · Independent 1

By type: Combined 3 · Primary 1 · Secondary 1

Schools serving Tiwi Islands, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School, Wurrumiyanga Catholic Primary — 167 684
Xavier Catholic College, Bathurst Island Catholic Secondary — 92 636
Tiwi College, Tiwi Islands Independent Combined — 77 738
Milikapiti School, Milikapiti Government Combined — 44 688
Pularumpi School, Pirlangimpi Government Combined — 32 663

Sources

  • Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
  • Australian Schools List — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025 (CC BY 4.0).

More for Tiwi Islands

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Tiwi Islands [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA74050/tiwi-islands/topic/education