New school for Five Farms community welcomes its first students
- St Josephine Bakhita Primary School has officially opened the doors for the very first time and welcomed 112 new students, as well as 17 staff.
- The school celebrated the official opening with over 120 invited guests and dignitaries in attendance.
Staff and students at the new St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School in Clyde North began their education journey this week, when the school opened on schedule after construction began at the end of 2023.
The school, at Frasers Property Australia’s Five Farms community, will eventually accommodate 700 students as the school grows. The Stage One development features an administration building, offices, a teaching and learning centre that includes eight general learning areas and collaborative spaces, as well as outdoor learning areas, a hardcourt, playground, parking and landscaping.
The initial cohort of students who began on Monday, February 3, compromises 112 students including 65 Foundation Year (Prep) students.
The school is named in honour of St Josephine Bakhita, the first contemporary female saint from Africa, who serves as the patron saint for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.
A noteworthy element of the new school’s construction involved rigorously selecting supply chains and sourcing building materials that comply with anti-modern slavery practices. One example of this is the school’s solar panel system obtained from Australia’s only manufacturer of solar panels who are dedicated to these principles. The control system also provides an opportunity for students to learn about energy consumption and conservation.
The Stage 1 building of the St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School project at a total cost of $11 million was supported by a $5 million grant from the Victorian Government’s Non-Government Schools Capital Fund and a $6 million loan from the Catholic Development Fund (CDF). The project architect was Minx Architecture and Builder, Melbcon Pty Ltd.
A further Victorian Government grant of $6 million (announced in July 2024) will support the construction of Stage 2 of the school which will add a further eight general learning areas, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) facility, an oval, more playground space, undercover hard court, and an extended car park. Construction on Stage 2 is anticipated to commence mid-2025.
More than 600 residents already call Five Farms home, with the community set to have more than 1600 homes when complete.
Explore our Education page to learn more about all the education options available available in and around our community. For more information on 2026 enrolments, visit www.sjbclydenorth.catholic.edu.au
