In the fast-growing suburb of Melton, a new chapter in Catholic early learning has begun. The St Lawrence of Brindisi Children's Hub has officially opened; the first of 12 purpose-built Children's Hubs that MACSEYE plans to deliver across Melbourne by 2029, and a significant milestone in the effort to bring high-quality early learning to families in some of the city's most rapidly expanding communities.
CDF has been proud to support MACSEYE since its inception in 2024, providing vital operational support as it scales to meet growing demand while empowering children so they can contribute to a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.
"Today we gather with joy and gratitude to bless St Lawrence of Brindisi Children's Hub - a place of learning, care, and community. This place begins small, but is filled with great promise. Here, children will grow in wisdom, confidence, and love, supported by those who guide and care for them."
Fr Alex Balingit Clemente RCJ
St Anthony of Padua, Melton South and St Dominic's, Melton
A place of learning, care and community
Purpose-built to meet future growth in Melbourne's West, the Hub will support up to 235 kindergarten places for three- and four-year-olds, alongside 45 places for before- and after-school care. Shared spaces for planning, consultation and community engagement are woven throughout, making it a hub in every sense of the word.
Importantly, the St Lawrence of Brindisi Children's Hub sits alongside St Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Primary School, which opened in 2022 and is already one of the fastest-growing Catholic schools in Victoria. Together, they form a connected learning ecosystem, from early childhood through to primary school, grounded in Catholic values and designed to support families from the very beginning.
Responding to a growing community
Melton is one of Melbourne's fastest-growing corridors, with more than 200,000 additional residents expected in the region by 2046. The demand for quality early learning infrastructure is critical, and with strong early enrolment interest already evident, the Hub is meeting a genuine community need.
Guided by Catholic values of love, compassion and justice, the Hub has been designed to foster belonging and community from the earliest years, encouraging children to grow in confidence, resilience and empathy as they take their first steps in learning.
"The early years are critical. When children develop a sense of belonging, they have a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Spaces like this, combined with meaningful relationships and thoughtfully planned learning experiences, make that possible," shared Heather Finlayson, Managing Director, MACSEYE.
Part of something bigger
Each new MACSEYE Children's Hub represents an investment of approximately $7 million. This first opening in Melton signals the beginning of a broader network -12 new Hubs across Melbourne by 2029 - that will connect early learning, faith and community in places where families need it most.
CDF is proud to be walking alongside MACSEYE through this next phase of growth.
If you’d like to help CDF continue supporting the growth of Catholic communities, you can put your faith into action by investing in the CDF Community Fund. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will help finance projects like St Lawrence Brindisi Children’s Hub, and enable Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls us all to do.
Learn more and apply today.
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CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
