Excited to be crowned Winner of The Educator 5 Star Innovative Schools Award!
Southern Cross Catholic College is a coeducational school for Years 10 to Year 12.
With a culture deeply rooted in its motto—Head, Heart, and Hands—the College has forged a unique identity that places students’ passions and future ambitions at the centre of its mission.
This student-focused ethos is embedded in college life, particularly through the seamless integration of vocational education and training (VET) alongside the Higher School Certificate (HSC).
Their innovative model yields tangible results as students collectively complete:
- Over 26,000 hours of work placement annually
- With nearly 800 employer partners
Apprenticeship and traineeship success along with the College’s dual-qualification pathway ensures that students leave qualified and work-ready.
The College’s culture is characterised by empowerment, flexibility, and a commitment to hands-on learning. Students are encouraged to pursue their interests through a blend of academic excellence and practical application, supported through school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. This school enables students to graduate with multiple Certificate II and III qualifications, alongside their HSC.
Another distinguishing factor is the innovative approach to curriculum design and delivery. This is underpinned by a blend of traditional educators and trade trainers, ensuring that VET learning is delivered to the highest industry standards.
The College’s vision is driven by strategic priorities such as:
- Acceleration of the HSC curriculum. By inviting Year 10 students to commence VET HSC courses early, the College maximises their opportunities in Year 12 to deepen workplace skills and pursue their passion areas.
- Custom designed Year 10 Financial Success course exploring topics including taxation, superannuation, and credit weekly, providing students the financial literacy required to manage money well.
- Block Delivery of course content maximises learning time through enabling 3–4-hour sessions where students explore concepts and demonstrate skills.
- Over 30 different vocational qualifications can be attained using the industry level facilities unique to each course setting.
- Focus on Course Packaging where complementary courses are grouped so students develop knowledge in their chosen field and complementary skills.
- The Southern Cross Advantage pathway sees students fully complete two of their HSC subjects (Year 11 & 12 content) by the conclusion of Year 11. This frees 40% of their time in their final year, enabling them to heavily invest in workplace skills and partnerships throughout Year 12.
- Non-traditional timetables see students operate flexibly between 7:30 am and 5:10 pm 4 days a week with a fifth day reserved for industry employment hours.
Looking ahead, Southern Cross Catholic College is committed to expanding its VET offerings such as the addition of certificate qualifications in Fitness, Sports Coaching, Plumbing, Barbering and Electrotechnology.
There is also significant investment in VET areas to maximise industry-level resources, ensuring students always train with the most up-to-date, industry-standard equipment.
The College inspires students to be ambitious in their careers, empowering them to transform their achievements into lifelong confidence and success.