Catherine McAuley College (CMC) is a co-educational secondary College located in Bendigo, Victoria. This made a significant contribution to Catholic education.
Official page for the Catherine McAuley College Bendigo community to share news and celebrate the activities and achievements of our students and staff. Students in Years 7 – 9 study at our Coolock campus in Junortoun, and our Years 10 - 12 students at St Mary's in central Bendigo. Our learning community strives to provide each young person with the best educational opportunities to exper
ience personal success. As a fully-sponsored Mercy College, we seek to live out the Mercy Education values of Compassion, Justice, Respect, Hospitality, Service and Courage. HISTORY OF CATHOLIC SECONDARY EDUCATION IN BENDIGO
Catholic Secondary Education in Bendigo began with the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in 1876. High school education for boys and girls was offered by the Sisters at St Aloysius’ Select School and in 1897 the school was renamed St Mary's College after undergoing a major expansion. In 1893 the Marist Brothers arrived to provide education for boys. In the years that followed Religious and Lay teachers at St Mary’s College and Marist Brothers’ College continued to offer a Catholic education to many young people from Bendigo and its environs. In 1954 the Vincentian Fathers opened St Vincent's College as a boarding school for boys at Junortoun. In 1972 St Vincent's opened to day boys, due to declining boarding numbers. By 1977 further decline in numbers led the Vincentian Fathers to decide to leave Bendigo and concentrate on other ministries. The College was closed, and the site became an extension of Marist Brothers’ College. On September 23, 1982, it was announced by Bishop Daly, the Provincial Superior of the Marist Brothers and the Congregational Superior of the Sisters of Mercy that the existing Colleges in Bendigo, Marist Brothers’ College and St Mary’s College, would amalgamate from January 1, 1983, and would be known as Catholic College Bendigo. They anticipated that the transition to total amalgamation would be gradual and the merging of the administrative, educational and financial operations of the Colleges would be expected to take several years. In March 1985, the Governors decided that the College would move toward the development of a College on two locations by 1988 and that all classes would be co-educational in 1986.
1988 saw the implementation of this decision, as the year commenced with students at Years 7,8,9 at Junortoun (later known as La Valla and now Coolock), and students at Years 10,11,12 at Barkly Street (later known as Coolock and now St Mary's). On Thursday 1 November 2012, it was announced that from 1 January 2013 Catholic College Bendigo would be solely governed by the Sisters of Mercy. With the Marist Brothers focusing on the new Marist College Bendigo in Maiden Gully, Bishop Leslie Tomlinson agreed to hand Governance of Catholic College Bendigo to the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Accordingly, since 1 January 2013, Catholic College Bendigo has rested under the sole governance of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, a Ministry of Mercy Education Limited - ABN 69 154 531 870. Since the commencement of the 2018 school year, the College has been called Catherine McAuley College. PRINCIPALS OF CATHOLIC COLLEGE BENDIGO/CATHERINE McAULEY COLLEGE
Sister Mary Duffy (1983 – 1989)
Brother Paul Kane (1998 – 2003)
Sister Sylvia Williams (1990 – 1997)
Mr Darren McGregor (2004 - 2013)
Mr Michael Chalkley (2014 - 2014)
Mr Brian Turner (2014 - current)
23/06/2026
Exploring Health Careers
Fifteen Year 7 and 8 students took part in the Exploring Health Careers Immersion Day at Bendigo Tech School.
Students enjoyed an engaging, hands-on experience, rotating through interactive sessions that brought health careers to life – from patient care and medical technology to allied health. They learnt practical skills such as CPR, taking blood pressure, and finding a heart rate, as well as touring the facilities and seeing how paramedics train.
“We learnt how to do CPR, take blood pressure, find a heart rate and more.” – Hannah
“A wonderful way to learn about job opportunities and future skills in the medical industry.” – Violet
22/06/2026
🎨 Students got creative for National Reconciliation Week, painting rocks with First Nations symbols during a lunchtime activity. These meaningful artworks will now find a home around our yarning circle, celebrating connection, culture, and community. 🖤💛❤️
21/06/2026
TUESDAY - for current Years 9, 10 & 11
> Compulsory Information Sessions for students going into Years 10 & 11, 2027. Select one session to attend.
> For students undertaking Year 10, VCE and VCE Vocational Major in 2027 with their parents and carers.
> Year 12s are invited to attend the displays and talk to teachers to discuss their programs.
YEAR 10 (2027)
Marian Theatre: For current Year 9 students with parents/carers
> Session 1: 4.30 – 4.55pm
> Session 2: 5.30 – 5.55pm
YEAR 11 VCE (2027)
Marian Theatre: For current Year 10 students with parents/carers
> Session 1: 5.00 – 5.25pm
> Session 2: 6.00 – 6.25pm
Subject Displays and talk to teachers | Years 10 – 12, 2027
> Marian Gymnasium: 4.30 – 6.30pm
TUESDAY 23 JUNE 2026 | 4.30 – 6.30pm
Marian Centre, St Mary’s Campus
19/06/2026
🌿 Our Year 10 Environmental Science students got their feet wet at Bendigo Creek, putting their River Detectives skills into action! From testing water quality to exploring restoration efforts, it was a day of hands-on learning, discovery, and a deeper connection to our local environment. ☀️💧
17/06/2026
🎨 Year 7 Art students explored how art tells a story, creating large-scale works of their hands holding meaningful objects. Using wax crayon, watercolour, and ink wash, each piece captures a personal story in a creative and expressive way.
16/06/2026
⏳ Don’t miss out!
There’s not long left to secure your tickets in our $1000 Cash Draw 💰
🎟️ Just $10 per ticket
⚠️ Only 400 tickets available
All proceeds go towards helping our Year 11 students build a home for a family in Cambodia this September 🇰🇭🏠
👉 Purchase via CDF Pay or scan the QR code
Get in quick – once they’re gone, they’re gone!
16/06/2026
ONE WEEK TO GO - Subject Selection Evening
> Compulsory Information Sessions for students going into Years 10 & 11, 2027. Select one session to attend.
> For students undertaking Year 10, VCE and VCE Vocational Major in 2027 with their parents and carers.
> Year 12s are invited to attend the displays and talk to teachers to discuss their programs.
YEAR 10 (2027)
Marian Theatre: For current Year 9 students with parents/carers
> Session 1: 4.30 – 4.55pm
> Session 2: 5.30 – 5.55pm
YEAR 11 VCE (2027)
Marian Theatre: For current Year 10 students with parents/carers
> Session 1: 5.00 – 5.25pm
> Session 2: 6.00 – 6.25pm
Subject Displays and talk to teachers | Years 10 – 12, 2027
> Marian Gymnasium: 4.30 – 6.30pm
TUESDAY 23 JUNE 2026 | 4.30 – 6.30pm
Marian Centre, St Mary’s Campus
12/06/2026
🏠 Year 11 Cambodia Immersion Fundraiser
Our Year 11 students are preparing for their upcoming Immersion to Cambodia this September, where they will be helping to build a house for a local family in need.
To support this incredible cause, they are running a $1000 Draw 💰
🎟️ Tickets are just $10 each
⚠️ Only 400 tickets available – don’t miss out!
Every ticket sold goes directly toward purchasing building supplies to make this life-changing project possible.
👉 Purchase your tickets via CDF Pay or by scanning the QR code.
Let’s come together as a community to make a real difference ❤️
11/06/2026
✨ Rock of Ages rocked Ulumbarra Theatre! 🎸🔥
From fabulous vocals to big hair, bright costumes and dynamic staging, our annual production was a true celebration of creativity and commitment.
After months of rehearsals, nearly 120 students delivered three fantastic performances - even getting audiences singing along to iconic 80s hits 🎶
An incredible achievement and experience for all involved. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
👗✨ Clothes Swap This Friday! ✨👒
Got pieces in your wardrobe that deserve a second life? Bring them along and swap them out!
🗓 Friday 12 June
📍 Marian Theatre
Clothes, hats, accessories — if you don’t wear it, someone else will love it 💫
Refresh your style sustainably and leave with something new (to you)! ♻️💙
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