Cardinia · Sub-region (SA3)

Education & Qualifications in Cardinia

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

A growing number of people in Cardinia are staying in school longer, though educational attainment still trails state levels. While 54.8% of residents have now completed Year 12, the area's qualification rates remain well below the Victorian average.

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📍 Cardinia, Sub-region (SA3)

Where Cardinia sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

19.1% ▲ +68.5%
  • 0.0%–2.1%: 0 areas
  • 2.1%–4.3%: 1 area
  • 4.3%–6.4%: 0 areas
  • 6.4%–8.6%: 6 areas
  • 8.6%–10.7%: 29 areas
  • 10.7%–12.9%: 49 areas
  • 12.9%–15.0%: 34 areas
  • 15.0%–17.1%: 26 areas
  • 17.1%–19.3%: 31 areas
  • 19.3%–21.4%: 23 areas
  • 21.4%–23.6%: 18 areas
  • 23.6%–25.7%: 13 areas
  • 25.7%–27.9%: 11 areas
  • 27.9%–30.0%: 10 areas
  • 30.0%–32.1%: 11 areas
  • 32.1%–34.3%: 16 areas
  • 34.3%–36.4%: 5 areas
  • 36.4%–38.6%: 7 areas
  • 38.6%–40.7%: 8 areas
  • 40.7%–42.9%: 7 areas
  • 42.9%–45.0%: 10 areas
  • 45.0%–47.1%: 8 areas
  • 47.1%–49.3%: 6 areas
  • 49.3%–51.4%: 4 areas
  • 51.4%–53.6%: 8 areas
  • 53.6%–55.7%: 6 areas
  • 55.7%–57.9%: 3 areas
  • 57.9%–60.0%: 0 areas

All sub-region (sa3) areas, 2021. The marker is Cardinia — lower than 52% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Cardinia19.1%
Greater Melbourne 32.8%
Victoria 29.2%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion has risen 13 points since 2011 to 54.8%, yet this is still well below the 61.8% seen across Victoria.

54.8% ▲ +32.6%

Higher than 54% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 41.3%
  • 2016: 46.6%
  • 2021: 54.8%

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

Highest year of school

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In Cardinia, Year 12 is the majority at 58%; Year 10 is next at 17%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

University degrees are less common here than elsewhere, with only 19.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the 29.2% state figure, though the number has climbed 7.8 points over the last decade.

19.1% ▲ +68.5%

Lower than 52% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 11.3%
  • 2016: 13.8%
  • 2021: 19.1%

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 Cardinia, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 40%, followed by Bachelor degree (24%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (21%).

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common qualifications held by residents are in management and commerce at 16.5%, followed by engineering at 15.2%.

Schools

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

Cardinia has a large school system with 42 schools and 21,948 enrolments, which is larger than about 85% of similar areas. However, there are only 1.57 schools per 1,000 children, a figure that is lower than most areas.

1,017

Higher than 51% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

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

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

Schools serving Cardinia

42 schools — 21,948 students, average ICSEA 1,017.

By sector: Government 30 · Catholic 7 · Independent 5

By type: Primary 31 · Secondary 6 · Combined 5

Schools serving Cardinia, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Beaconhills College, Pakenham Independent Combined 2,965 1,035
St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield Catholic Secondary 2,797 1,043
Pakenham Secondary College, Pakenham Government Secondary 1,030 962
Officer Secondary College, Officer Government Secondary 998 1,012
John Henry Primary School, Pakenham Government Primary 981 1,020
Koo Wee Rup Secondary College, Koo Wee Rup Government Secondary 846 964
Pakenham Lakeside Primary School, Pakenham Government Primary 704 1,007
Pakenham Springs Primary School, Pakenham Government Primary 687 995
Lakeside College, Pakenham Independent Combined 647 1,034
Emerald Secondary College, Emerald Government Secondary 620 1,005
Edenbrook Secondary College, Pakenham Government Secondary 614 1,002
Beaconsfield Primary School, Beaconsfield Government Primary 603 1,046
Pakenham Consolidated School, Pakenham Government Primary 594 965
St Clare's Primary School, Officer Catholic Primary 584 1,040
Bridgewood Primary School, Officer Government Primary 570 1,054
Pakenham Hills Primary School, Pakenham Government Primary 499 978
Emerald Primary School, Emerald Government Primary 445 1,061
Pakenham Primary School, Pakenham Government Primary 420 999
St Brigid's School, Officer Catholic Primary 375 1,082
Orchard Park Primary School, Officer Government Primary 359 1,023
Officer Specialist School, Officer Government Combined 355 999
Kurrun Primary School, Officer Government Primary 321 1,054
St Patrick's School, Pakenham Catholic Primary 318 982
Beaconsfield Upper Primary School, Beaconsfield Upper Government Primary 317 1,039
Koo Wee Rup Primary School, Koo Wee Rup Government Primary 314 972
Cockatoo Primary School, Cockatoo Government Primary 306 1,009
Columba Catholic School, Bunyip Catholic Primary 291 1,009
Gembrook Primary School, Gembrook Government Primary 261 1,030
St Thomas Aquinas College, Tynong Independent Combined 204 1,030
St John the Baptist's School, Koo Wee Rup Catholic Primary 203 1,013
Nar Nar Goon Primary School, Nar Nar Goon Government Primary 192 983
Cardinia Primary School, Cardinia Government Primary 189 976
Lang Lang Primary School, Lang Lang Government Primary 182 960
Bunyip Primary School, Bunyip Government Primary 176 994
Bayles Regional Primary School, Bayles Government Primary 161 998
Dandenong Ranges Steiner School, Emerald Independent Primary 151 1,080
Officer Primary School, Officer Government Primary 141 1,010
Garfield Primary School, Garfield Government Primary 130 996
Kuyim Primary School, Pakenham Government Primary 115 1,019
Kurmile Primary School, Officer Government Primary 107 1,008
St James School, Nar Nar Goon Catholic Primary 98 1,031
Fernbrook School, The Basin Independent Combined 78 1,049

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 Cardinia

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Cardinia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/21201/cardinia/topic/education