St Joseph’s Primary School, Collingwood VIC
Gender
Co-Ed
Years
Prep-6
Enrolments
63
Established: 1886
Principal: Matthew Shawcross
Address: 46 Otter Street, Collingwood 3066
Key Information
Staff
23 Teaching
Fees
See website (Primary)
Languages
Mandarin
About our school
St Joseph’s is a small Catholic primary school located in the vibrant and diverse suburb of Collingwood. St. Joseph’s has a long history dating back to the early 1860s.
Our school is rich in cultural diversity, with an enrolment of 63 students from various religious and cultural backgrounds. We firmly believe that schools, in collaboration with families, play a critical role in educating children and promoting their spiritual, social, and emotional wellbeing. This, in turn, helps improve learning outcomes. Our staff is highly committed to a holistic approach to education, ensuring that all school programs are dynamic and responsive to each student’s individual needs. We offer support and extension to cater to diverse requirements and actively participate in professional development to implement best practices.
At St Joseph’s, we have forged successful partnerships with other schools, business groups, community groups, and agencies to provide a range of educational, cultural, artistic, social, and well-being programs. Our vision and mission statements guide us to strive for excellence, and we work collaboratively as a community to achieve this common goal.
As the Catholic School in Our Lady of the Southern Cross Collingwood Clifton Hill Parish, we espouse the values taught by Jesus in the Gospels. Our school is enhanced by our richly diverse population. We welcome children and families of all nationalities and faith traditions.
Open Day / Tour Dates
2025 – September 10th, October 29th
2026 – To be confirmed. Contact the school office for a private tour (03) 9419 4918 or office@sjcollingwood.catholic.edu.au
Principal's Message
It is a great privilege to lead alongside the beautiful community of St. Joseph’s Primary School in Collingwood . It is with great pride that I welcome you to our vibrant, inclusive and faith-filled community.
St. Joseph’s is a welcoming community and we work together to build strong relationships that meet the needs of our students. We provide opportunities for individuals to engage with each other in an authentic way, and we work together to foster an awareness and understanding of our culturally rich and diverse school and the wider community. We are a small school but we have big expectations.
We highly value community at St. Joseph’s. We welcome children and families of all nationalities and faith traditions and inclusion is a high priority. We value and promote the learning partnership between school and home and actively work to engage our families in their child’s education.
St. Joseph’s school faces some challenges which we acknowledge, yet we celebrate the opportunity to work with our beautiful students and their families.
St. Joseph’s nurtures the whole child in an environment built on connection, compassion and authentic relationships. Our dedicated staff use evidence-based teaching, including explicit instruction and structured literacy, to support every student from Prep to Year 6.
A planned $2 million upgrade is planned for the Junior School in 2026, providing newly refurbished classrooms and facilities .
With rich engaging programs, classroom and intervention support as well as strong community partnerships, St. Joseph’s is a place where students feel safe, supported and empowered to thrive.
Matthew Shawcross – Principal
Quick Facts
● FREE school uniform for all new enrolments
● Small class sizes, enabling greater attention to individual needs
● ‘Discovery Learning’ encouraging play-based learning and inquiry
● Specialist classes in The Arts, Physical Education, Digital Technology, Mandarin and Health
● Extensive resources to support learning in literacy and numeracy
● Chromebooks and iPads for every child to use
● Breakfast Club every day
● School camps for Years 3-6 including Canberra for Yr 5/6
● Interschool sport and a FREE swimming program
● Before and After School Care available
● A passionate and committed staff
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