At St Mary’s College, we place great emphasis on building and sustaining a strong sense of community. Not only does a student become a valued member of our community, but parents and guardians are also considered as an important part of our greater family.

We believe that connected families equate to connected students. There are many ways to become engaged with the school community – through school and community events and our Parents & Friends Association. St Mary’s College is fortunate to be supported by this enthusiastic and inclusive group of people who are an integral and valued component of our College community.

The St Mary’s College Parents & Friends Association aims to:

• Foster community spirit and fellowship, ensuring that all members of the St Mary’s College family feel connected to, and valued by, the College.
• Provide feedback to the College Leadership Team and Staff through consultation and input.
• Generate funds for a number of purposes; these may include the provision of equipment and resources for activities which support and enhance the students and their families and/or teaching and learning programs at the College, which are not covered by school fees.
• Support College events and assist with their effective promotion and delivery.
• Establish social opportunities for and between families and other members of the St Mary’s College community.

St. Mary's College Parent Community Respectful Relationships Statement

As parents and guardians of the St. Mary’s College community, we are committed to fostering an environment where respect, empathy, and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do. Together, we aim to model and promote respectful relationships both at home and within the school community.

We believe that:

1. Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity: We encourage our children to show kindness, respect, and understanding to their peers, teachers, and members of the wider community, recognising that all people are different and that there is value in diversity.
2. Respect begins at home: As parents, we are committed to teaching our children the values of respect, empathy, and emotional intelligence, helping them navigate friendships and relationships in positive and constructive ways.
3. Open communication is key: We strive to maintain open and honest communication with our children, allowing them to express their feelings and concerns while guiding them towards healthy conflict resolution and mutual respect.
4. Bullying and discrimination are not tolerated: We stand against all forms of bullying, harassment, and discrimination and support the school's efforts to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
5. Parents, students, and teachers are partners in education: We are committed to working closely with the school to reinforce the values of respect, equality, and inclusivity, ensuring that these principles are embedded in both school policies and everyday actions.
6. Promoting personal responsibility: We encourage our children to take responsibility for their actions, be accountable for their behaviour, and understand the impact they have on others.

Through this collective effort, we aim to build a strong and compassionate community at St. Mary's College, where every student feels supported, valued, and empowered to contribute positively to society.

Recent Parents & Friends Association initiatives include:

• Establishing a Recycled Uniform Shop to provide our families with quality options at reasonable prices.
• Initiating an economic option for the purchase and sale of recycled textbooks.
• Proudly supporting the annual College Open Day with a refreshments marquee and providing opportunities for new families to meet and chat with current families.
• Providing family BBQs for events such as the College Year 7 Welcome Mass and Information Evening, Year 7 Transition Club family get-together, annual Sports Awards and College Christmas Carols.
• Purchase of student resources and equipment including table tennis tables, furniture for art rooms and libraries, camera equipment and uniforms for sporting teams.
• Establishing a student gardening project.
• Support parent and student wellbeing initiatives such as our 'Year 7 Mother and Student', 'Year 8 Father and Student' and 'Year 12 Parent and Student' programs.

If you would like to become involved with the Parents & Friends Association, or assist with events from time to time, please email or contact us on +61 3 9529 6611.

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PARENTS & FRIENDS MEETINGS

Join us at a Parents & Friends Meeting. Meetings commence at 7pm and are held face to face in the College boardroom. You will find all the details in the fortnightly Lumina newsletter and on the College social media pages.

‍2026 Meeting Dates