Media releases

Consent, Young People and the Law

Discussing the issue of consent with students and building an understanding from a moral and legal point of view is a part of Catholic schools’ Health and Physical Education and Relationships and Sexuality Education program. To aid in their learning, Adair Donaldson from Donaldson Law recently presented to several Toowoomba Catholic Secondary Schools and their parents, sharing the legal perspective with a very engaged audience.

Refugee from war torn country is welcomed to St Mary's College in Toowoomba

Robert Kiringa fled from his war torn home in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to come to Australia as a refugee. With World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 25, Mr Kiringa wanted to share his story about the struggles in his own country that led to him becoming a refugee living in Toowoomba. Mr Kiringa was offered employment at St Mary’s College, Toowoomba as part of the Work & Welcome program and it has paved his way to work in the Australian education system and reignited his love of teaching.

Work & Welcome program opens doors

World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated on 25 September 2022 and it gives an opportunity to build the future with the migrants and refugees in our community. Our Work & Welcome is an employment experience program, established by Multicultural Australia, providing refugees and migrants with paid work experience. Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) encourage staff to donate to this program as it provides employment opportunities for refugees and migrants in schools and its office.

Catholic Education Week 2021 – Spirit of Catholic Education Award Recipient

Mater Dei volunteer recognised for being a Good Samaritan in the Catholic Education Week 2021 – Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.

Good Samaritan College runs great race!

On Thursday, 24 June students from the Good Samaritan College will run its second 'Great Race'. The event is open for young people who have achieved 85% attendance or above for the semester.

Youth Entrepreneurs and STEAM (YES) Conference at capacity

Over 500 students. Teachers and STEAM experts will gather for the Youth Entrepreneurs and STEAM (YES) Conference on Wednesday, 2 June to share, network and connect with inspiring industry role models, innovators and universities for a day of interactive STEAM workshops.

COLLEGE STUDENTS LEAD RECONCILIATION WALK TO MARK 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Good Samaritan College Reconciliation Walk to mark 20 year anniversary.

TEACHING THE JOEY’S WAY

In 2021, St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba’s Student Engagement Team is rolling out two significant initiatives that are designed to maximise attendance, positive behaviour, achievement and safety of all students.

ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE PRINCIPAL RECOGNISED WITH NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

Sharon Collins, Principal of St Saviour’s College Toowoomba has been recognised nationally, and received an ACEL Leadership award for her outstanding school leadership as a strong advocate for educational excellence in diverse environments.

Catholic Education Week 2020 – Spirit of Catholic Education Awards

A record number of nominations were received this year for the Spirit of Catholic Education Award - with a well deserved recipient named from the newly named Good Samaritan College in Toowoomba.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS LONG SERVICE AWARDS – HUSBAND AND WIFE CELEBRATE 40 YEARS WORKING TOGETHER IN THE DIOCESE

ST MARY’S SCHOOL, WARWICK CELEBRATES OPENING AND BLESSING OF SACRED SPACE

On Friday, 13 March a new Sacred Space was opened and blessed by Parish Priest, Fr Franco.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING CENTRE CHANGES DIRECTION

The Good Samaritan College was opened and blessed by the Reverend Bishop Robert M McGuckin, Bishop of Toowoomba and Dr Patrick Coughlan, Executive Director: Catholic Schools on Friday, 14 February. The College was formerly known as the Youth and Community Learning Centre (YCLC).

The Mooch and Wombat Dustillery

The Mooch and Wombat Dustillery are raising money to buy Christmas presents for children in areas affected by the drought. Macie (Mooch) and Will (Wombat) McNulty are two students from St Mary's Parish School, Goondiwindi. Macie has just completed Year 4 and Will has just completed Year 2.

YEAR 5 STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THEIR ROLES AS SCHOOL LEADERS IN 2020

This year, for the first time, Toowoomba Catholic Schools are planning a Year 5 combined schools leadership retreat. The event will be held at Assumption College, Warwick on Monday, 18 November.

YOUTH AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE STUDENT RECOGNISED FOR ARTISTIC TALENT AT RECENT AWARDS

On Wednesday night, the Independent Education Union–Queensland and Northern Territory Branch, held its annual Awards for Excellence in Art Design competition at the Queensland Multicultural Centre in Brisbane.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK IN THE TOOWOOMBA DIOCESE - BISHOP'S INSERVICE DAYS

Queensland Catholic Education Week is a time for the 306 Catholic school communities across the state to celebrate Catholic education, its many achievements and substantial contribution to the broader community.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

Queensland Catholic Education Week is a time for the 306 Catholic school communities across the state to celebrate Catholic education, its many achievements and substantial contribution to the broader community.

SPIRIT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION AWARD RECIPIENT ANNOUNCED

Spirit of Catholic Education Award recipient announced.

NOMINEES - SPIRIT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION AWARDS 2019

Award nominees for the Toowoomba Diocese announced.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCHES NEW RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COURSE FOR SENIOR STUDENTS

A new Religious Education course for Year 11 and 12 students was launched today by the Most Reverend Robert McGuckin, Bishop of Toowoomba and Dr Pat Coughlan, Executive Director: Catholic Schools. The launch was held at St Mary’s College and attended by representatives from secondary schools throughout the Diocese and guest speaker, Fr Richard Leonard.

STEAM CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS AT CAPACITY

Nearly 600 students and teachers will attend the It Takes a Spark EDU Conference on Thursday, 9 May to share, network and connect with inspiring industry role models, innovators and universities for a day of interactive STEAM workshops.

LOS ANGELES RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CONGRESS 2019

Four APREs, Janice Moore, Julieanne Rasmussen, Cate Brennan and Kirsty Lines along with two Education Officers, Tony Worner and Kathy Doherty have just returned from the 63rd LA RE Congress. Approximately 25,000 delegates from around the world attended the Congress.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS' STUDENT PROTECTION SYMPOSIUM

The Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools will hold their annual Student Protection Symposium tomorrow.

FIRST CROSS COLLEGE CHAPLAIN FOR TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Ryan Baines is the new Cross-campus Chaplain for Mary MacKillop Catholic College, St Mary’s College, St Saviour’s College and the Youth and Community Learning Centre in the Toowoomba Diocese.

ST MARY'S COLLEGE STUDENT COMPETES IN THE LIONS CLUB YOUTH OF THE YEAR AWARDS

On Saturday, 23 February, St Mary’s College student, Tikiri Lamb, was the only Year 11 student to compete against a field of Year 12 students in the Lions Club Youth of the Year Awards.

PROJECT COMPASSION LAUNCH 2019 - LIVES CHANGE WHEN WE ALL GIVE 100%

Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal was kicked in the Toowoomba this week. Caritas worked with student leaders from Catholic primary and secondary schools in Toowoomba and the surrounding region with a day of training in Just Leadership as part of preparation for implementing a Project Compassion campaign within individual schools.

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE PROVIDES MORE THAN AN EDUCATION

St Joseph’s is a Year 7 to 12 co-educational Catholic College where Catholic principles permeate all aspects of College life. Two of the Year 12 students were asked about their experiences at the College.

STEM CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN TOOWOOMBA IN 2019

The “It Takes a Spark” Conference for girls and their teachers will be held in Toowoomba on May 9, 2019. This is the first time this unique Conference will be held in a regional city and will be hosted by St Saviour's College.

TWO MEMBERS OF ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE NOMINATED AT WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS

At this year’s Women in Business Awards Jana Mari Dela Cruz, St Saviour’s College Captain was shortlisted in the “Empowering Young Women” category and Principal, Sharon Collins was nominated in the “Women in Business" category and was announced as a finalist for this award. An outstanding achievement for two inspiring leaders.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE, TOOWOOMBA FILLS OVER 400 BACKPACKS FOR THE BACKPACK PROJECT

St Mary’s College Toowoomba’ students have shown their generosity, and want to help others, collecting items that may seem like basic items to many of us, from pencils, to notepads, clothing, towels, toothpaste and soap, all to help others in need. It’s all a part of The Backpack Project, an initiative of Mary’s Meals.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE ENGAGE FOR PLENARY 2020

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office staff recently held a Reflection Morning to commence their own local engagement for Plenary 2020. The theme of the morning was “Permission to Speak”. Staff had the opportunity to openly listen to, and dialogue, with one another in an informal setting as they discerned how the Catholic Church in Australia might best move into the future.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION AWARD RECIPIENT TO USE BURSARY TO SUPPORT STAFF FORMATION

Cecily Fitzpatrick was recognised for her remarkable contribution to Catholic schools during Catholic Education Week, being named one of Queensland’s Spirit of Catholic Education Award recipients.

ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE, TOOWOOMBA OFFERS 8 BURSARIES TO SUPPORT DROUGHT CRISIS

St Saviour’s College is a Catholic day and boarding school for young women in Years 7 to 12. The College is doing their bit for the drought crisis by offering eight bursaries for young women, from Years 7 through to Year 12. The bursaries begin in 2019 and cover 75% of all boarding and tuition fees for the entire duration of the Student’s stay at the college.

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, TOOWOOMBA – CIRCLE OF SILENCE

St Joseph's College social justice group, Just Joeys, and students of Study of Religion led the whole St Joseph’s College community in a Circle of Silence during assembly on Friday, 24 August.

Preppies prepare lots and lots of soup

Preppies at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby have made 40 litres of soup to share with those in need.

Spirit of Catholic Education award winner goes viral

Fr Ray Crowley is this year’s Spirit of Catholic Education Award recipient. When his win was posted on the Catholic Education Week Facebook page, he had nearly 6000 hits in the first few hours.

Links between schools are strong in Warwick

On Monday, 24 July students from St Mary’s School and Assumption College, Warwick gathered for what has now become an annual celebration during Catholic Education Week. Together, the two schools shared in a prayer based liturgy based on the story of the good Samaritan.

Celebrating 45 years of service and acknowledged with a special award

Well known for her love of rural people and communities, Sr Margaret Andersen has dedicated 45 years of her life to Catholic education as a Sister of St Joseph.

Students extend their care to police colleagues of Brett Forte

Special visit to the local police station by St Saviour's Primary School greeted by Deputy Commissioner.

Two Worlds

Inspired by each other, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across the diocese came together recently for a three-day workshop called ‘Identity Matters, the result is a song and video called Two Worlds.

Recording a song about identity

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students gathered to write a song about being a young person, with a focus on their culture and identity.

ANZAC LETTERS FOCUS OF SERVICE AT ASSUMPTION COLLEGE

Letters sent home from Gallipoli by a nurse and soldier made the events of the First World War even more vivid during Assumption College, Warwick’s ANZAC commemorations.