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Curriculum Japanese Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English
Strengths Languages, STEM, Sport
Clubs Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Located in Caulfield South, The Japanese School of Melbourne is an independent school delivering Prep to Year 9 education under the Japanese national curriculum. Classes for all grades are taught by teachers dispatched from Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT) and use Japanese textbooks aligned with 学習指導要領. English education is by Japanese and native-English teachers, with after‑school clubs New Comer Club for recent arrivals and English Club for proficient students. Prep education introduces literacy (hiragana, katakana, and the alphabet) and numeracy through play. The campus features a library of over 10,000 books in Japanese and English, computers for every student, televisions, and ICT tools such as LoiroNote and Canva. A science laboratory, a music room with koto and taiko, and a grass field for soccer, basketball and tennis support learning and activity. EAL runs three days weekly in English; cross‑cultural exchanges enrich language learning. Melko Day is an annual event. The school aims to cultivate solid academic capabilities within a Japanese framework while leveraging the local environment for practical language skills and global awareness.
The Japanese School of Melbourne has 53 pupils, instruction in Japanese, English.
Location
Located at 6 Ellington St, Caulfield South VIC 3162, Australia.
Stages
Prep to Year 9; Primary and Middle School divisions.
Type
Independent school.
Additional learning support
EAL program and English education provided by both Japanese teachers and native-English teachers; language of instruction is Japanese; individualized support is provided to meet students' needs.
Country affiliation
Japan
Fees
Annual tuition at The Japanese School of Melbourne ranges from AUD 500 to AUD 24,228 for 2026/27.
Application fees and school bond
- Entrance (application) fee: AU$800. - School bond: AU$500 per student, payable on enrolment and refunded when the student leaves the school.
Tuition fees — Ordinary (non‑international) students — per term and annual totals (All amounts in Australian dollars)
- Prep (Primary — Prep) - Per term: Tuition A (general expenses) AU$1,956; Tuition B (materials) AU$45. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$7,824; Tuition B AU$180; Total annual AU$8,004.
- Primary Year 1 (小1) - Per term: Tuition A AU$1,956; Tuition B AU$111. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$7,824; Tuition B AU$444; Total annual AU$8,268.
- Primary Year 2 (小2) - Per term: Tuition A AU$1,956; Tuition B AU$114. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$7,824; Tuition B AU$456; Total annual AU$8,280.
- Primary Year 3 (小3) - Per term: Tuition A AU$1,956; Tuition B AU$129. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$7,824; Tuition B AU$516; Total annual AU$8,340.
- Primary Year 4 (小4) - Per term: Tuition A AU$1,956; Tuition B AU$132. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$7,824; Tuition B AU$528; Total annual AU$8,352.
- Primary Year 5 (小5) - Per term: Tuition A AU$1,956; Tuition B AU$147. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$7,824; Tuition B AU$588; Total annual AU$8,412.
- Primary Year 6 (小6) - Per term: Tuition A AU$1,956; Tuition B AU$141. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$7,824; Tuition B AU$564; Total annual AU$8,388.
- Middle School Year 1 (中1) - Per term: Tuition A AU$2,232; Tuition B AU$528 (charged as specified below). - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$8,928; Tuition B AU$528; Total annual AU$9,456.
- Middle School Year 2 (中2) - Per term: Tuition A AU$2,232; Tuition B AU$576. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$8,928; Tuition B AU$576; Total annual AU$9,504.
- Middle School Year 3 (中3) - Per term: Tuition A AU$2,232; Tuition B AU$492. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$8,928; Tuition B AU$492; Total annual AU$9,420.
Tuition fees — International student classification (留学生扱い) — per term and annual totals (The international classification applies to students holding visa subclasses that are not eligible for Australian government subsidies; amounts in Australian dollars.)
- Prep (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,637; Tuition B AU$45. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$22,548; Tuition B AU$180; Total annual AU$22,728.
- Primary Year 1 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,637; Tuition B AU$111. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$22,548; Tuition B AU$444; Total annual AU$22,992.
- Primary Year 2 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,637; Tuition B AU$114. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$22,548; Tuition B AU$456; Total annual AU$23,004.
- Primary Year 3 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,637; Tuition B AU$129. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$22,548; Tuition B AU$516; Total annual AU$23,064.
- Primary Year 4 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,637; Tuition B AU$132. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$22,548; Tuition B AU$528; Total annual AU$23,076.
- Primary Year 5 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,637; Tuition B AU$147. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$22,548; Tuition B AU$588; Total annual AU$23,136.
- Primary Year 6 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,637; Tuition B AU$141. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$22,548; Tuition B AU$564; Total annual AU$23,112.
- Middle School Year 1 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,913; Tuition B AU$528. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$23,652; Tuition B AU$528; Total annual AU$24,180.
- Middle School Year 2 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,913; Tuition B AU$576. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$23,652; Tuition B AU$576; Total annual AU$24,228.
- Middle School Year 3 (international) - Per term: Tuition A AU$5,913; Tuition B AU$492. - Annual totals: Tuition A AU$23,652; Tuition B AU$492; Total annual AU$24,144.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is billed and payable by term. - For primary (小学部), Tuition B (textbook/materials) is charged each term; for students who join mid‑term the applicable term's Tuition B is charged. - For middle school (中学部), Tuition B (materials) is charged as a single payment for the full year in Term 1; students who join mid‑year are required to pay the full year's Tuition B at enrolment. - A sibling discount applies: where three or more siblings are enrolled concurrently, Tuition A for the third and subsequent siblings is charged at 50%.
Boarding
- The school operates as a full‑time day overseas Japanese school (no boarding programme); boarding fees are not applicable.
Other costs and typical additional fees
- School supplies and recommended items are listed in a supply list; some textbooks and class notebooks are supplied by the school for primary students and some items are recommended to be brought from Japan. Field trips, excursions and other activity costs are charged separately and will be advised when applicable. - Short trial/observation (paid trial days): Primary AU$46 per paid day; Middle School AU$53 per paid day (one day is free). - Uniforms: there is no compulsory school uniform, indoor shoes, or specified gym uniform; students attend in suitable, comfortable clothing as guided by the school's dress code.
Refund information
- The AU$500 school bond is refundable when a student leaves the school. - A general tuition refund policy (for mid‑term withdrawal or other circumstances) is not specified on the school's public fees pages searched; no explicit term‑by‑term tuition refund rules are published in the fee summaries referenced here.
Fee payment options and contact for payment queries
- Accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, BPAY/EFT, etc.) are not specified on the public fees and admissions pages examined. For confirmation of accepted payment methods and billing procedures, contact the school office by telephone: within Australia 03 9528 1978; from Japan +61 3 9528 1978.
Brief note on completeness
- The figures above reflect the school's published fee schedules for the Reiwa 8 (2026) school year for ordinary and international classifications (entrance fee, AU$500 school bond, per‑term Tuition A and Tuition B and annual totals). The school's published pages list the items and billing schedule above; the school's public pages do not publish a detailed list of accepted payment methods or an explicit tuition refund formula for mid‑term withdrawals.
Academics
The Japanese School of Melbourne teaches Japanese Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum.
Curriculum
The Japanese School of Melbourne delivers education from Prep to Year 9 following the Japanese national curriculum. Classes for all grades are taught by teachers dispatched from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), using Japanese textbooks to align with the 学習指導要領 (the Course of Study). English education is provided by both Japanese teachers and native English-speaking teachers, with after-school English clubs: New Comer Club for recent arrivals and English Club for more proficient students. Prep education forms the foundation of the elementary program, introducing literacy (hiragana, katakana, and the alphabet) and numeracy through play and guided activities.
Exam Results
NAPLAN results indicate that students perform on a par with or higher than local Australian school students, with particularly strong performance in mathematics.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has a Support Room established in 2023 to assist students who require special support. The Support Room provides Social Skills Training (SST) to help students reflect on their feelings and develop appropriate behaviors in various settings. It also offers learning-method guidance tailored to individual students. The environment aims to create a safe and supportive space for students who need additional support.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has a Support Room for students needing special support. The Support Room provides SST, individualized instruction for limited hours when needed, and guidance on learning methods tailored to each student. Admissions decisions for Support Room use are made by a Special Support Committee and the principal, based on the student's needs, the school's capacity, and input from parents and professionals. The school notes that not all cases can be accommodated due to the realities of being an overseas private school.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school has English education consisting of English lessons taught by Japanese teachers and EAL (English as an Additional Language) lessons taught by native-speaking teachers. The EAL curriculum is designed to raise English proficiency during life in Australia and to enable use of English after returning to Japan. EAL lessons run for 3 hours per week across all year levels and include practical conversation practice, social-skills/dialogue practice, vocabulary, basic grammar, reading, writing, and speaking.
Safeguarding
The school has a Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and a Child Safety Code of Conduct, available in Japanese and English PDFs. It also lists related safeguarding policies such as Attendance, Bullying Prevention, and Duty of Care, among others.
Admissions
Admissions
1. The Japanese School of Melbourne is officially recognized by the Victorian Department of Education and is formally recognized by the Government of Japan as a primary and secondary school. It is operated by the Melbourne Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry's school management board. Admission is open to people coming from Japan as well as permanent residents. If there are special circumstances such as difficulty communicating in Japanese, please inquire in advance; some visa subclasses may affect transfer admission.
2. Trial enrollment is available at any time. A one-day trial is free; from the second day onward, trials are paid, with a maximum of ten days available. A one-day trial can be followed by a paid trial if desired. To request a trial, submit the trial enrollment form.
3. Enrollment and transfer applications are submitted through the enrollment application form. The enrollment guide provides details on procedures.
4. Tuition information is provided on the regular tuition page and the international student tuition page. Policies are available in Japanese and English. These documents define the terms of enrollment and are available in both languages.
FAQs
What year levels does the school serve?
The Japanese School of Melbourne serves Prep through Year 9, covering both primary and middle school divisions, with approximately 53 students.
What curriculum does the school follow?
The school follows the Japanese national curriculum (Course of Study) with MEXT-dispatched teachers and Japanese textbooks. English is taught by both Japanese and native English-speaking teachers.
What are the tuition fees?
The entrance fee is AUD 800 with a AUD 500 refundable bond. Annual tuition ranges from AUD 8,004 for Prep to AUD 8,184 for middle school students. International students pay AUD 24,228 per year.
Does the school have a uniform?
No, there is no school uniform. Students wear comfortable clothing to school.
Are lunches provided?
No, lunch is not provided. Students bring a packed lunch from home each day.
What learning support is available?
A Support Room established in 2023 provides Social Skills Training, individualised instruction, and learning-method guidance. A Special Support Committee decides admissions to the programme.
What English programmes are offered?
English education includes curriculum lessons by Japanese teachers and EAL lessons by native speakers. After-school clubs include New Comer Club for recent arrivals and English Club for further practice.
What are the NAPLAN results?
NAPLAN results indicate students perform on par with or above local Australian school students, with particularly strong mathematics performance.
Is the school recognised by the Japanese government?
Yes, the school is a full-time overseas educational facility recognised by MEXT and approved by the Victorian Government since 1986.
What is the school's history?
It began as Melbourne Japanese Language School in 1968, becoming a full-time school in 1986 with Victorian Government approval. It is operated by the Melbourne Japanese Chamber of Commerce.
What facilities are available?
The library has over 10,000 books in Japanese and English. Each student has a personal computer. Facilities include a science room, grass sports field, playground, and sand area.
How do I apply?
Contact the school for admissions. The school accepts students who will benefit from the Japanese curriculum with English support. Enrolment decisions are made by the principal and management board.
