Brisbane Inner - West · Sub-region (SA3)

Education & Qualifications in Brisbane Inner - West

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

Over half of all adults in Brisbane Inner - West hold a university degree, a figure far above the national average. This is a highly educated area where high school completion rates have risen steadily over the last decade. The community's strong academic profile is reflected in both the qualifications of its residents and the performance of its local schools.

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📍 Brisbane Inner - West, Sub-region (SA3)

Where Brisbane Inner - West sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

52.7% ▲ +19.9%
  • 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 Brisbane Inner - West — higher than 99% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Brisbane Inner - West52.7%
Greater Brisbane 27.0%
Queensland 21.9%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

High school completion is very high here, with 85.5% of people finishing Year 12. This is far above the Queensland figure of 57.1% and has risen by 6.6 percentage points since 2011.

85.5% ▲ +8.3%

Higher than 99% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 79.0%
  • 2016: 80.2%
  • 2021: 85.5%

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

Highest year of school

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In Brisbane Inner - West, Year 12 is the majority at 89%; Year 10 is next at 6%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

A bachelor degree or higher is held by 52.7% of adults, which is far above the 26.3% national average. This represents a significant increase from 2011, with postgraduate degrees making up 18.8% of the total.

52.7% ▲ +19.9%

Higher than 99% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 44.0%
  • 2016: 46.9%
  • 2021: 52.7%

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 Brisbane Inner - West, the largest group is Bachelor degree at 48%, followed by Postgraduate degree (20%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (12%).

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common fields of study are management and commerce at 22.5%, followed by society and culture at 15.8% and health at 12.6%.

Schools

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

Local schools have some of the highest advantage scores among similar areas. There are 20 schools in the area, with 50% being government run and 60% being primary schools.

1,164

Higher than 99% 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 Brisbane Inner - West — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Brisbane Inner - West

20 schools — 11,258 students, average ICSEA 1,164.

By sector: Government 10 · Catholic 7 · Independent 3

By type: Primary 12 · Combined 5 · Secondary 3

Schools serving Brisbane Inner - West, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Marist College Ashgrove, Ashgrove Catholic Combined — 1,827 1,139
Brisbane Boys' College, Toowong Independent Combined — 1,393 1,164
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology, Toowong Government Secondary — 1,358 1,220
Mt St Michael's College, Ashgrove Catholic Combined — 849 1,155
Stuartholme School, Toowong Catholic Combined — 815 1,159
Ashgrove State School, Ashgrove Government Primary — 626 1,183
Milton State School, Milton Government Primary — 607 1,151
Ithaca Creek State School, Bardon Government Primary — 604 1,170
Rainworth State School, Bardon Government Primary — 590 1,206
Oakleigh State School, Ashgrove Government Primary — 496 1,153
Toowong State School, Toowong Government Primary — 463 1,121
St Joseph's School, Bardon Catholic Primary — 368 1,170
St Ignatius School, Toowong Catholic Primary — 272 1,158
Petrie Terrace State School, Paddington Government Primary — 257 1,130
Bardon State School, Bardon Government Primary — 254 1,147
St Finbarr's School, Ashgrove Catholic Primary — 187 1,151
Mater Dei Catholic Primary School, Ashgrove West Catholic Primary — 118 1,160
Red Hill Special School, Red Hill Government Combined — 83 1,090
Hubbard's School, Milton Independent Secondary — 58 1,143
Omni Academies of Learning, Toowong Independent Secondary — 33 1,151

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 Brisbane Inner - West

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Brisbane Inner - West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/30504/brisbane-inner-west/topic/education