On 27 February 2026, a new chapter for Catholic education in Victoria began as community leaders, families and Church representatives gathered in Mount Duneed, Geelong, for the official sod-turning ceremony of Mary Glowrey Catholic Primary School . The moment marked more than the start of construction. It celebrated the beginning of a school community inspired by the life of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey; a Victorian-born doctor, religious sister and missionary whose life was defined by faith, courage and service. Supported by a $10.5 million loan from Catholic Development Fund (CDF), the new project will deliver a vibrant new Catholic primary school for the rapidly growing Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek communities in greater Geelong. When complete, the $21.6 million development will provide contemporary learning spaces designed to nurture both academic growth and the formation of young people in faith.

For over two decades, the CDF Father James Wall Bursary has been one of the most meaningful expressions of CDF’s mission; directly supporting the next generation of Catholic leaders. Established in honour of CDF’s founder , Father James ‘Jim’ Wall, the bursary continues his legacy of nurturing faith, leadership, and service within our Catholic school communities. Each year, seven Year 10 students from across the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Ballarat, Bunbury and Sale are recognised for their outstanding contributions to their schools and wider communities. Each recipient receives a $5,000 bursary to support their Year 11 and 12 school fees, helping them continue their education journey in a Catholic secondary school. One of the highlights of this program is not only rewarding deserving students, but the opportunity it provides to CDF; travelling to each school community to present these awards at school assemblies and presentation ceremonies. Meeting the recipients, their families, teachers, and school staff face to face, and seeing first-hand the environments where this remarkable work takes place is a privilege and an honour the CDF team looks forward to each year. These presentations remind us of the importance of this bursary and the vibrant, faith-filled communities it serves. At the end of 2025, we were proud to celebrate seven extraordinary students who each embody the values of Father Wall’s service, leadership, and faith.

At the heart of South Bunbury, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is preparing to celebrate a new chapter in its long story of faith, learning, and community. With support from Catholic Development Fund (CDF), the school is breathing new life into its historic chapel and church hall, transforming buildings that had fallen silent into vibrant spaces once again. St Mary’s Primary School has been serving families in the South Bunbury community for more than a century. Today it is home to 250 students, with a strong Catholic identity and a commitment to living out its motto of Faith, Respect, Courage . The school sits in a growing coastal city around 175 kilometres south of Perth. Known as the gateway to the Southwest, Bunbury is a diverse and dynamic community where families, schools, parishes, and local businesses all play a role in shaping the region’s future. The chapel and hall, gifted to St Mary’s by the Bishop of Bunbury in 2011, once stood as important hubs of worship and community. But after years of disrepair and safety concerns, the much-loved buildings were fenced off, unable to be used. Principal Paul Cronin has carried the vision of restoration for more than nine years.

It's lunchtime at Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School in Wollert , part of Melbourne's northern growth corridor, and the sound of spirited play fills the air as children explore the grounds of their brand-new school. The red and blue of their uniforms, still fresh in the school’s foundation year, is a deliberate tribute to their patron's favorite colours. Named after Italian teenager Carlo Acutis, who used his coding skills to document and celebrate Eucharistic Miracles before dying from leukemia in 2006 at just fifteen years old, the school embodies the spirit of a remarkable young man who will soon become the first of the 'influencer' generation to be canonised as a Saint on the 7th September 2025. "He lived a life of faith, of service, of generosity and courage, and these are the values that we take for the life of this school," says Foundation Principal Damian Howard, who traveled to Assisi in Italy where Carlo is buried and had the honor of meeting Carlo's mother to learn more about her son's qualities and discuss plans for the school. The primary school opened in February this year and was built with the assistance of a $10.3 million loan from CDF, creating a focus point for a new Catholic community.

On a sunny winter morning at Emmanuel College in the seaside town of Warrnambool in Victoria’s southwest, Principal Rachel McGennisken is chatting with a group of students outside the recently opened Edmund Rice Centre. The building’s burgundy exterior glistens in the gentle light and lifts the spirits of those gathered out front.

In 2025, MacKillop Family Services will launch its first Paw Pals School Holiday Program in Ballarat; an expansion of the animal-assisted education initiative that has been quietly transforming the lives of students across Victoria since 2018. The holiday program will complement Paw Pals’ existing school-based sessions by offering a more relaxed and engaging environment for students to continue developing emotional confidence, resilience and learning skills outside of the traditional classroom setting. With growing rates of school refusal, classroom disruption, and learning challenges, particularly in the wake of COVID, this added layer of support is both timely and essential.

CDF, in partnership with Flexischools, is pleased to announce an exciting new feature for CDFpay, designed to simplify school fee management for Catholic schools and families. From 2026, CDFpay will enable parents and guardians to view, manage, and pay school and tuition fees...

Located on the historic Rupertswood Estate, Salesian College Sunbury is a school deeply ingrained in legacy – it is the oldest Salesian educational institute in Australia, with registration dating back to 1927. At the heart of the College’s mission is the Salesian charism, founded by St John Bosco. Focused on the education and evangelisation of young people - especially those in need - it emphasises joy, family spirit, pastoral charity, and building communities based in faith. As thousands of families settle into Melbourne’s fast growing north-west corridor, the demand for faith-based education continues to grow. Salesian College is meeting that need, with ongoing developments and a bold vision to uplift and expand their current footprint.

CDF was proud to support Bunbury Catholic College and local Catholic primary schools across the Diocese of Bunbury through sponsorship of the Wardandi Gift - an annual celebration of Aboriginal culture, language, and learning on Noongar Country. Held at Bunbury Catholic College , the event brought together over 200 students from five Catholic primary schools across the region. Now in its third year, the Wardandi Gift is becoming a recognised fixture in the Bunbury Diocese—an opportunity for young people to engage deeply with the stories, languages, and traditions of the First Peoples of the Southwest of Australia.