State Government provides College a funding boost

St Patrick’s College was today excited to learn that the Victorian Government will provide a large funding injection to help in the construction of a new $13.2m Multi-Purpose Centre.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced the College would receive $2 million as one of the more than 50 projects under the Non-Government Schools Capital Fund.

“Catholic and independent education plays a vital role in the schooling of Ballarat students. We are proud to support the teachers, students and school community at St Patrick’s College to build their new Multi-Purpose Centre,” Ms Addison said.

“This $2 million investment is a boost for the local economy and will create and sustain jobs here in Ballarat”

Acting Principal Mr Stephen Hill said the College was excited to hear that its funding application had been successful.

“St Patrick’s College is extremely grateful for the generous support of the State Government as we look to construct a new Multi-Purpose Centre for our 1400 students in the next two years.

“This building will become a spiritual heart of the College and will be home to our acclaimed music and performing arts students as well as providing an ideal space for our community to gather for large assemblies and events.

“The centre will further build upon our 127-year involvement in music and performing arts and will form a huge part of our ongoing commitment to providing a broad, engaging and diverse education for boys from Ballarat and beyond.”

The Victorian Government funding will contribute to the construction of a new $13.2 million Multi-Purpose Centre including provision of an assembly hall with an innovative retractable seating system for up to 2000 students, staff and College community members.

The facility will include the provision of flexible learning areas, purpose-built spaces to accommodate the curriculum areas of performing arts inclusive of music theory, music tutorials, drama rooms and performance auditorium.

The development will include provision for car parking, soft landscaping and covered play spaces for students to protect them from wet and extreme weather. Sustainability will be considered in the design with further extensions of the College’s solar and LED lighting systems.

The funding forms part of a State Government commitment to 56 projects across Victoria which will create close to 800 jobs during construction.

Additional funding for this second round of the Non-Government Schools Capital Fund has been brought forward to help stimulate the economy and create jobs.

The successful schools will be able to start their projects within the next six months driving Victoria’s economic recovery from the pandemic, and the summer’s bushfires.

The projects will help these schools meet growing enrolment demand and includes six new schools in growth areas. More than a third of Victorian students attend Catholic or Independent schools.