Junior Secondary School Studies (Years 7–10) is a foundational phase of the Australian education system catering to students aged approximately 12 to 16. It bridges the structured environment of primary school with the more specialised senior secondary years, and is sometimes referred to as 'middle school' or the 'junior years'. Across all Australian states and territories, this phase is delivered within secondary schools, with Year 7 now part of secondary schooling nationally. Students follow the Australian Curriculum across eight key learning areas — English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, The Arts, Languages, Health and Physical Education, and Technologies — while increasingly exploring elective subjects aligned with individual interests and future pathways from Year 9 onwards. In the context of teacher education and mixed-field programmes, this course category refers to qualifications that prepare educators, learning support professionals, and curriculum specialists to teach and support young people in Years 7–10 settings across government, Catholic, and independent schools.

For prospective educators, programmes targeting junior secondary education develop specialist subject knowledge across two teaching areas aligned with the Australian Curriculum, alongside deep grounding in adolescent development, inclusive education, behaviour management, and evidence-based pedagogy. Graduates are qualified to seek registration with the relevant state or territory teacher regulatory authority (such as NESA in NSW, VIT in Victoria, or the Queensland College of Teachers) and to work across a diverse range of school settings. Employers include state and territory government school systems — which educate approximately 62.8% of all Australian students — as well as Catholic school networks and independent schools nationwide. Other employers include tutoring organisations, educational consultancies, government education departments, and non-school education providers.

Domestic applicants to junior secondary teacher education programmes typically need to have completed senior secondary schooling (Year 12) with a competitive ATAR score — usually in the range of 65–80 depending on the provider and state — or hold an equivalent qualification such as a Diploma (AQF Level 5) or higher from a registered training organisation, or previous higher education study. Most programmes also require the successful completion of a non-academic assessment component. In many states, this takes the form of a Teaching Capabilities Statement (TCS) of 400–600 words in which applicants describe their motivation to teach and demonstrate interpersonal skills, resilience, and organisational ability. In Victoria, applicants must complete the CASPer test or an equivalent online assessment of personal and professional attributes. Graduate-entry pathways (such as a Master of Teaching) require a prior undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline area.

All students enrolled in initial teacher education (ITE) programmes in Australia must sit and pass the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) — a test ensuring that ITE graduates perform in the top 30% of the adult population for both literacy and numeracy skills. This must be attempted in the first year of study and passed before the final professional experience placement. Students are also required to obtain a state-specific Working with Children Check (known as a Blue Card in Queensland, WWCC in NSW and WA, Working with Vulnerable People Registration in the ACT, etc.) prior to commencing any supervised placement involving contact with minors under 18 years of age. International students must additionally meet English language proficiency requirements, typically an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 overall (with no band below 7.0), and demonstrate equivalent Year 12 completion from their home country.