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If you have the right visa then government school education is free. However, there may be "voluntary contributions" which you are strongly advised to pay. These may be a few hundred dollars a year - ball park about $200 - 400 is not unusual. Because it is government they cannot actually FORCE you to pay but emotional blackmail is a powerful thing. On top of that of course you do have to pay school supplies and occasionally in later years you may have to pay for some particular courses, usually those with high cost supplies like photography etc.
Non government - private - education is a fee for service set up and fees can vary from about $3000 pa to $20,000 pa depending on the school you chose. There is a parallel Catholic system which would charge fees at the lower end of the scale.
As has been said on this board before, Australian government schools have a specified catchment area and only the school designated for the area in which you live is OBLIGED to enrol a child regardless of how full they are. Parents can try and negotiate for a place in an out of area school if they wish but there are no guarantees that they will get a place. Non government schools will take anyone they want, regardless of where they will live as long as they pay their fees!
I always reckon the best way to find a school is to look at their websites then go and visit so you can get a feel for what is going to suit your child because different things suit different kids.
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