STATEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, MELBOURNE 25 August 2008 The leadership of the Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers and the Board of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) advise that St Joseph’s College Melbourne will close in its current form as a comprehensive Year 7-12 high school in two phases: the Pascoe Vale Campus to close the end of the 2009 school year and the city campus to close at the end of the 2010 school year. (Please note: this decision does not affect students currently enrolled in Years 10, 11 and 12 who will be able to complete their education at the city campus of St Joseph’s). A history of the enrolment patterns at St Joseph’s reveals a steady decline in recent years. This is despite the considerable efforts of the Principal and staff and the Board of St Joseph’s to attract enrolments from across the inner-west and northern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne, as well as from the city precinct itself. St Joseph’s is not alone in its quest to maintain a viable enrolment. The recent announcement of the closure of Samaritan College at the end of 2008 is clear evidence of this. A consequence of the decline in enrolments has been the need for the former St Patrick’s province to provide significant financial support to the school to meet its operational commitments. In the short term, this has enabled the school to continue to function while maintaining an affordable fee level for parents. However, St Joseph’s has not had the capacity to borrow money to carry out the refurbishment required to provide parents and students with a more contemporary learning environment. As such, with the changing demographics and declining enrolment, the challenge of keeping up to date with educational resources, the pressure for on-going funding, and the need to undertake an upgrade of the school’s building and grounds, EREA believes that the school’s position is unsustainable in its current form. In considering the future, it is important to state that EREA remains totally committed to the educational and pastoral needs of students currently enrolled at St Joseph’s. EREA has been in constant dialogue with the Board of St Joseph’s College as well as the Catholic Education Office in Melbourne. The Catholic Education Office has assured EREA of its support in determining the best way forward. EREA is confident that the educational and pastoral needs of current students can be met in other educational settings, including other Edmund Rice schools in Melbourne. EREA is committed to working closely with families to place current students in schools which best suit their needs. The process of working with families to ensure appropriate placements in Catholic education for 2010 and beyond will begin immediately. Likewise, EREA will assist staff to find alternative professional placements.
National Office 9 The Vaucluse Richmond Victoria 3121 Australia
abn: 64 066 939 786
p: +61 3 9426 3200 f: +61 3 9426 3222 www.erea.edu.au
In terms of continuing its work in the inner city of Melbourne, EREA will immediately establish a Working Party to explore new educational opportunities in accord with its mission and we are grateful that the current Board of St Joseph’s has agreed to be part of this process. The Board is to be commended for taking such a positive approach in support of the Christian Brothers and EREA at this difficult time. The Working Party will develop a new educational brief incorporating the existing city campus. The Pascoe Vale campus however, will be sold and the proceeds directed towards the new educational model established by EREA. This model will be aimed specifically at addressing the needs of the poor and marginalised in a contemporary inner city context and include an alternative programme in contrast to a traditional Year 7-12 high school curriculum. We appreciate that this announcement will be painful for many. For those who have laboured long and hard in the school’s interest for many years, such a decision will always be difficult. The Brothers’ Leadership Team, the EREA Board and Executive recognise the heartache this decision entails. We remain confident however, that the future of education in the Edmund Rice tradition for young people in the inner city of Melbourne will be very bright in the years ahead. The Christian Brothers and EREA also acknowledge the remarkable contribution of generations of teachers and families at the school. In particular, the current Principal, Mrs Maree Johnson and her staff are to be commended for their dedication and commitment through what has been a difficult period of discernment. The Christian Brothers have always demonstrated their ability to respond to an ever-changing Australian educational landscape with vision and energy. We are confident that this same energy and spirit will guide our deliberations as we plan to meet the challenges faced by a new generation of young people in Melbourne. Should you require any further information please contact the Director of Education Services for EREA, Mr Peter Leuenberger on 1800 154 029 or peter.leuenberger@erea.edu.au
Br Vince Duggan Province Leader Christian Brothers Oceania Province
Mr Des Powell Board Chair Edmund Rice Education Australia
National Office 9 The Vaucluse Richmond Victoria 3121 Australia
abn: 64 066 939 786
p: +61 3 9426 3200 f: +61 3 9426 3222 www.erea.edu.au