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.

Located just 25km from Melbourne CBD, Mt Atkinson is part of the broader Melton growth corridor in Truganina, which sits within the fast-developing Western region of Victoria. While birth rates have declined across the state in recent years – this region remains an outlier with one of the highest birth rates in the state, averaging 23 babies born each day. The boom in population has corresponded to an increased demand for schools, early learning centres and community services in the grassroots estate. Meeting the needs of the community is St Marianne Cope Catholic Primary School which is set to open in 2026. The new education precinct will not only house the new school, but also a MACSEYE Children’s Hub, delivering faith-based learning and early years education to growing families. This state-of-the-art development will be supported by a $10.6 million loan from CDF.

Last month, St Columba’s College celebrated the blessing and official opening of its brand new Foxford Innovation Centre. The state-of-the-art facility is the result of a 20-year vision, designed to transform educational opportunities for students through a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. Supported by a $13 million loan from CDF, the Centre blends modern innovation with the heritage architecture of the College campus; it features cutting-edge facilities, including food technology kitchens, maker spaces, arts and science classrooms, specialist labs, a canteen, and a competition-grade sports court. The Centre is named after the Foxford Woollen Mills in Ireland, honouring the legacy of Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, a Sister of Charity who founded the mills in 1892. Her vision and leadership transformed a struggling community, embodying the values of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration.

In Clyde North, a new chapter in Catholic education has begun with the recent opening of St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School . As the second primary school within the Parish of St Thomas the Apostle and the 39th operated by Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL) , this school was built in response to the growing need for quality, faith-based education in an area experiencing rapid residential development. Recognising this need, Catholic education leaders, in collaboration with parish and community stakeholders came together to create a school that would serve local families. The chosen location in the Five Farms residential estate was ideal due to its modern infrastructure, transport links, and potential for future expansion as the community grows. The school is built on a clear vision ‘ to provide a safe and inclusive environment where students can learn and grow both academically and spiritually ’. The story of St Josephine Bakhita, the first contemporary female saint from Africa who overcame severe hardships to become a symbol of resilience and compassion, is an important part of the school’s identity. Her words , “The Lord had loved me so much: we must love everyone…we must be compassionate,” serve as a daily reminder of the values the school aims to instill.

For over two decades, CDF has directly supported the next generation of Catholic leaders through the Father James Wall Bursary . The award, established in honour of CDF’s founder, Father James ‘Jim’ Wall, continues his legacy of fostering 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 Sale, Bunbury, and Ballarat are recognised for their outstanding contributions to their schools and communities. The bursary provides each recipient with $5,000 to support their Year 11 and 12 school fees, helping the students continue their education journey in a Catholic secondary school. This year seven remarkable students, who embody the values of service, commitment, and faith-filled leadership were celebrated at school presentation ceremonies across the country. Notably, this year marks another milestone for the bursary as CDF extended the award to the Diocese of Ballarat.