News

New Catholic school to open in Stockland Aura in 2025

4 min
06 December 2023

Notre Dame College – a prep to Year 12 Catholic co-educational school – will be opening in the Stockland Aura masterplanned community in 2025.

Located in the heart of Aura City on the Sunshine Coast, the school will cater to over 1,800 students and employ 280 staff once complete, and will join Brisbane Catholic Education’s 146 schools located across south east Queensland.

The new Catholic college adds to Aura’s existing education and learning facilities, including Goodstart Early Learning Centre, Nirimba State Primary School, Baringa State Primary School and Baringa State Secondary College, offering local students the opportunities and resources needed to excel in their academic pursuits.

Stockland Aura Project Director, Josh Sondergeld said the new school will give Aura residents access to another quality educational facility in the community.

“Notre Dame College will help to meet the growing educational needs of our thriving community and will provide a great option for families moving to Aura who are seeking a Catholic education for their children,” Mr Sondergeld said.

“When completed, Aura will have up to 20 proposed education and learning centres within a 20 kilometre radius of the community, including private and public schools, early learning centres, and tertiary education.”

Construction of Stage 1 of the school has commenced and will continue throughout 2024. The 7.9-hectare site will include five buildings comprising of general learning areas and an administration block, a sports court, and car park.

In its first year of operation in 2025, the school will have the capacity to welcome a cohort of up to 200 students across prep, Year 1 to Year 3, and Year 7 classes.

Brisbane Catholic Education Executive Director, Dr. Sally Towns announced Dan McShea, former Unity College Principal, as Foundation Principal of the college.

“Notre Dame College is our newest flagship Sunshine Coast school in the heart of the growing Aura community,” Dr. Towns said.

“Dan McShea is an experienced educator with deep roots in the community. The school, its community, its construction, and formation are in good hands in his leadership.”

The college opening will help cater to the demand for Catholic schools alongside the neighbouring Brisbane Catholic Education school, Unity College, located in Caloundra West.

Notre Dame College is located on Aura Boulevard in Bells Creek and further information on enrolments for its foundation year in 2025, which are now open, can be found on the college website: https://www.notredamecollege.qld.edu.au/Enrolments/Pages/Enrolment-process.aspx.

More information on the Aura community can be found at: https://www.stockland.com.au/residential/qld/aura

About Aura

Aura is Australia’s largest masterplanned community and is currently home to more than 10,000 residents. On completion, Aura will have over 200 kilometres of walking paths and cycling veloways, connecting the community and encouraging residents to live active and healthy lifestyles. It will also feature its own Central Park, a 120-hectare regional park, 10 sporting grounds, as well as parks and playgrounds within 400m walking distance of every home, linking residential areas to local employment precincts, schools, the city centre and local neighbourhood retail centres.