Catholic school students in Armstrong Creek and Torquay now have access to better and more modern facilities and classrooms, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman today announced that the extensive expansion works at St Catherine’s of Siena Catholic Primary School and Lisieux Catholic Primary are officially complete.

St Catherine’s of Siena received $4.9 million from the Victorian Government to build the second stage of their school, with additional classrooms, learning spaces and amenities adjoining the existing school. Lisieux received $4 million to build new facilities and expand the school including general learning areas, student amenities and associated areas, appropriate for its growing enrolment.

This funding was provided through the Victorian Government’s Non-Government Schools Capital Fund, which delivers new schools, increases capacity and provides modern facilities, as well as supports the removal of asbestos and unsafe cladding.

Previous local recipients of this program include Iona College; which received $5 million to build a gymnasium and new sporting facilities, and Nazareth Catholic Primary; which received $3 million towards upgrading and refurbishing existing facilities. I can also confirm that an architect, Clarke Hopkins Clarke, has been appointed by Nazareth to begin detailed planning work on their upgrade.

More than one third of Victorian students attend Catholic or independent schools – and this $402 million fund is ensuring students across the state are benefitting from new schools and better, more modern school infrastructure. The Labor Government is building the Education State so that every student can access a great local school and a quality education.

In the past seven years, the Victorian Government has invested more than $10.9 billion in building new schools and more than 1,700 school upgrades, creating around 13,500 jobs in construction and associated industries. It is now ahead of schedule in its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 62 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024.

“The Andrews Government is creating jobs and investing in the future of our kids with
these investments in St Catherine’s and Lisieux. We are building for growth, and kids at
these schools can now enjoy new and improved facilities.”

“Every student in South Barwon deserves access to great school facilities and with more
than a third of Victorian students attending non-government schools they’ll be sharing
in our record investment.”

“We’re delivering record funding across both Government and independent schools to make sure all kids get the best facilities and we continue to build the Education state.”