school’s focus on dignity, love, and accompaniment. In MacKillop’s model, faith is not confined to religious instruction; it becomes the moral framework through which community is built, differences are respected, and students are encouraged to become ethical, service-oriented citizens. This mission is expressed not only in how the school teaches, but in how it engages with the broader community. Catholic social justice, described as “Christian faith with rolled-up sleeves,” becomes a lived experience through partnerships and programs designed to place students into real contexts of service and empathy. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ACTION MacKillop’s partnerships extend across nonprofit organisations, aged care, women’s shelters, refugee support networks, service groups, and local sporting communities. Students participate in intergenerational initiatives with nursing homes, outreach efforts that support vulnerable populations, and structured service programs where engagement is recognised and rewarded through a tiered points system that encourages sustained contribution. The school also actively connects with surf clubs, recognising that coastal living requires practical skills like surf safety and understanding tides—an example of how MacKillop blends local context into student development. From sports engagement to service programs, the aim is to ensure students understand school as preparation not only for personal success, but for meaningful participation in the world around them. CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND A MAJOR MASTER PLAN MacKillop’s growth trajectory requires large-scale infrastructure planning. The school is currently working within an extensive master plan that begins next year, including the demolition and rebuild of the existing primary school space to create facilities “fit for purpose” for future enrolment. The plan also includes the prospective preschool build that will operate as its own entity but still connected to the College curriculum continuum in addition to the inclusion of faith formation for pre-school aged children. MacKillop is looking to a broader vision for the campus as a community hub—not simply a school site. With a church located on-site, MacKillop already functions as a gathering place for faith and community life. The school is now exploring ways to extend that role by opening underutilised spaces 71 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 08, ISSUE 01 MACKILLOP COLLEGE
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