Learner licence
Learner permit, logbook hours and driving lessons cost money before a car does.
Sourceaustralia.gov.au
Mountain View row · ages 12 to 21
Learner permit, logbook hours and driving lessons cost money before a car does.
Weekend and after-school shifts pay junior rates that rise with each birthday.
Earnings under the tax-free threshold usually mean a refund if a return is lodged.
Saving for a car, a trip or a laptop builds the savings habit.
Year 11 and 12 choices lead to university, TAFE, an apprenticeship or work.
Search these names on the department sites below. Links go to each department's home page.
Figures from published research for the age groups that cover 16–17. Sources often publish wider age groups, so the group shown is the one that includes these ages. They describe groups of people, not any one person. Checked 23 October 2026.
May 2025. Persons. Enrolled in study includes school.
August 2025. Employees only.
Calendar year 2025. Top two scam types by total loss among reports that included a loss. Unreported scams are not counted.
Income for July 2020 to June 2021. Census 2021 linked with tax and payment records. The ABS cautions that incomes for older age groups are likely under-recorded.
30 June 2024. Per account, not per person, because many people hold more than one account. Median is the middle account; average is pulled up by large balances.
2022. Share of people in the age group who provide informal care. About 11.9% of all Australians living in households (3.0 million) were carers.
2022. Share of people in the age group with disability. Overall 21.4% of Australians (5.5 million) had disability in 2022.
Dollar figures are in the dollars of the year shown. Average and median are not the same: the median is the middle value. Not financial advice.
Illustrative gross incomes: lower about $50,000, middle about $100,000, higher about $200,000 a year. For ages under 18, read these as household incomes. For retirement ages, read them as lower, middle and higher income and savings. They are examples, not official brackets.
A part-time job is likely needed to pay for the car, the phone and some school costs. Lessons may be shared with a supervising family driver.
Work pays for fuel and outings, while the family helps with lessons and insurance. A savings goal is set for a first car.
A car may be gifted or heavily subsidised. Study pathways can include private tuition, exchange years or interstate boarding.