August 9th, 2026Just briefly…

The Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education will close St Mary’s Primary School, Clarkes Hill at the end of the 2026 school year.
Executive director Tom Sexton said the decision had been made after the 2027 forecast of enrolments falling below the level required for non-government schools and the anticipated impact of the proposed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. “While DOBCEL supports fair and appropriate remuneration for teachers and staff, the associated increase in staffing costs means long-term viability can no longer be assessed by enrolment numbers alone.” St Mary’s Primary School opened in 1946.