In the wake of the financial crisis, Australians started saving more (see my post Retail trade restrained by stubbornly high saving rate), but it appears they are still willing to spend money on a private school education for their children. Here’s a chart based on today’s new ABS schools data:

The ABS media release notes:

Since 2002, Queensland has grown the fastest with an increase of 39.1 per cent in the number of students attending Non-government schools.

As per capita income continues to rise, I expect the trend toward private schooling will continue as, rightly or wrongly, there is a perception private schools offer a superior and safer school environment.