Almost two centuries since its establishment in South Australia, Catholic education continues to grow
Alot has changed in the 180 years since Catholic education was established in South Australia but one thing remains the same – the original vision. That vision, outlined in 1844 by Bishop Francis Murphy, was to enable every child across the state to have access to high-quality Catholic education.
Today, that legacy continues. South Australia is now home to 101 Catholic schools, with more than 9000 members of staff caring for more than 53,000 students.
And the growth continues. Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) recently announced the development of two new schools in the state, one in Strathalbyn and the other at Riverlea Park in Adelaide’s north.
“It’s not the first time Catholic education has been in Strathalbyn,” CESA executive director Dr Neil McGoran says, referring to St Joseph’s Catholic School, which was established in the town in the 1880s.
But the new school will be very different from the old. A $30m development in partnership with the Hickinbotham Group, the 8ha campus – set to open in 2029 – will include contemporary learning spaces, sports facilities and an oval.
Built to support existing families and new home buyers in the fast-growing region, the primary school will be a campus of St Francis de Sales College catering for Reception to Year 6, with a possible expansion to Year 9 depending on demand.
“We have been noticing the changes in some towns – in Mt Barker, especially, which is growing exponentially, so we decided this was a good place to open up another campus,” Dr McGoran says.
“We think it would be a two-stream primary school to start with, with more than 300 students, along with maybe 130 places in the early years centre. We’d like to be able to provide a great school for young people in Strathalbyn who can then move to Mount Barker for their senior secondary school.”
Due to open in 2027, the school at Riverlea Park will become a vital part of the new community being established in the developing area.
“We’ve been watching the north growth very closely over the past few years, and it reminds us of the 1950s and ’60s, when Elizabeth and its surrounds grew and we were able to establish Catholic schools in there,” Dr McGoran says. “Now you get this second generation of growth in the north, so we’re putting ourselves in among those families to give them a choice of schooling.”
The school will initially launch as an early learning centre, growing to include Reception to Year 6 and eventually Reception to Year 12.
“The past few years have been tremendous as we’ve been able to build on a rich legacy,” Dr McGoran says. “We always try to be better in every sense: How we support learning more positively, teach more effectively, build better relationships and are a reflection of church and schools. It’s also how we expand our horizons – being there as a symbol of the Catholic Church but also as a great facility to educate young people and be part of the community.”
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New developments from Catholic Education South Australia are supporting every student from Reception to graduation
With a focus on enabling every child to learn and thrive, Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) is expanding its resources, both within and without school walls.
