Multiple births represent 1.5 per cent of more than 286,000 births a year in Australia, with twins accounting for around 4,000 births and triplets much rarer with 45 births in 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Melbourne University’s Twins Research Australia reports that twins occur in one in every 70 births, with two-thirds of twins fraternal and one-third identical.

“The population of Australia is around 25.4 million, so we can estimate there are around 750,000 multiples (based on estimate of 3% of the population is a multiple),” Twins Research Australia explains on its website.

The ABS recorded 4,118 sets of multiples born in 2023 and this rate has remained consistent over the past decade.

At Albury High School the six sets of twins who just started Year 7 made the front page of the local newspaper, with relieving principal Damian Toohey saying it was the largest number of twins in his 13 years at the school of 900 students.

“It was a double dose of fun and so entertaining watching the twins being interviewed by the Border Mail,” he said.

“They were all incredibly engaging, and with four sets coming from Albury Public School, it was clear they were comfortable around each other.

“We can’t wait to see all our Year 7s grow, learn and create memories in their new school year.”

Twins Farren and Piper Hudson Triffitt and Sylvie Brown are also students at the virtual selective school, Aurora College.

As well as the Year 7 twins, Albury High has a roll call of multiple births.

There is one set of twins in Year 8, three sets in Year 9, one set in Year 11, and four sets in Year 12. In Year 9 there are triplets Montana, Reegan and Kienna Ryan.

Year 11 twins Blandine and Cesanne Mangara started at Albury High in February 2024 and have three younger siblings at the school. The Mangara family, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, are permanent Australian residents after arriving in Australia as refugees from Malawi.

Linda Doherty

Making memories

Mona Vale Public School in Sydney welcomed four sets of twins and one set of triplets to Kindergarten.

Mum Nicole Souter enrolled twins Ziggy and Brody at the same school where she started Kindergarten.

“There was a mix of excitement and butterflies, but they very quickly clicked,” she said.

“Their teacher, Mrs DuBois, who has her own set of twins, is certainly well prepared to handle their boundless energy.”

Grade Leader Kristy Waterhouse said the school start for all the new Kindergarten students was made easier with Mona Vale’s transition program where teachers visit local preschools to observe and connect with incoming students.

“This allows them to engage with current educators and gain insight into each child and how they learn and socialise,” she said.

“Towards the end of each year, students participate in three orientation sessions, giving them the chance to experience school life, explore the classroom and playground, and get a feel for ‘big school’.”

Tahlia Hailes, mum of twins Ava and Indi, also attended Mona Vale Public School as a student and felt nostalgic as her girls started Kindergarten.

“As their mum, it’s quite nostalgic about having the girls going to the same school I went to,” she said.

“I have so many fond memories here and we’re excited to watch the girls create their own.” 

And the verdict from the children after their first week at school was excitement – to learn in the classroom, to play in the playground, and to start reading.

Triplet Emma Knight said she was looking forward “to getting used to everybody and making new friends”, brother Oliver said he was loving reading, and sister Chelsea said her favourite thing about school was “everything”.

Jim Griffiths

In mum’s footsteps

When twins Callie and Oakley started Kindergarten at Dora Creek Public School, they joined a special club.

The school of 135 students on the shores of Lake Macquarie has three sets of twins across its six classes, which assistant principal Darren Carter said was unique so far in his career.

“I worked at East Maitland and we only had one set across 520 kids and at Kearsley at Cessnock with 120 kids we had two sets in the time I was there,” Mr Carter said.

“I’m not sure if there’s something in the water here – it's unusual.”

Identical twins Callie and Oakley, aged five, are following in the footsteps of their mum Stacey, who attended the century-old school.

The girls enjoy drawing and while Oakley said she was looking forward to exploring the playground, Callie said she was excited to be in the same class as her cousin, Georgia. 

Mr Carter said it could be difficult for teachers to tell twins apart, especially at the start of the year.

“It can be a 50-50 guess. But it’s like when you have siblings in the same class - even though they may look the same and act the same, they are different in different ways,” he said.

“They may have different interests and different hobbies and the trick is not to treat them exactly the same.

“When talking to parents at the front gate or over the phone we don’t talk about them together, we refer to each student.

“We make sure we treat them not as a package deal, but as individuals.”

The school’s other twins include two sets in year one: Star and Rory, aged six, and Arkie and Lotus, also aged six.

Star and Rory said they were happy to be returning to school, their teachers and friends and were looking forward to dancing.

Arkie said his favourite part of school was maths, while Lotus pointed to playtime.

Helen Gregory

To the Lighthouse

Barrenjoey High School welcomed an unprecedented number of twins to its Year 7 cohort for 2025.

Ari and Nate, Aashiyana and Hrithik, Isobel and Freya, and Olivia and Lucy are set to embark on their educational journey that will culminate in their graduation from Year 12 in 2030.

All eight students expressed a keen interest in making new friends, highlighting the social aspect in their secondary years.

Ari and Nate said they were looking forward to the diverse range of subjects offered at Barrenjoey.

Principal Brett Blaker said Barrenjoey High School offered a broad range of extra-curricular opportunities that fostered personal growth, built strong connections, and “enhance our sense of community”.

“These activities, alongside our academic programs, help us create a vibrant and inclusive school environment where every student feels supported and inspired,” he said.

“Student transition, especially Years 6 into 7, is crucial for success. We run a range of successful programs in collaboration with Avalon, Bilgola Plateau and Newport public schools.”

These include the Year 4 High School Experience Day, Year 5 Sports Day, Year 6 Orientation Day and the Mock High School Day, where Barrenjoey High staff teach incoming Year 6 students in their primary schools to better prepare them for the transition.

The highlight for Year 7 is the annual Year 7 Lighthouse Walk to Barrenjoey Lighthouse, held this year on Friday 14 February.

Jim Griffiths