CathWest Innovation College opens to students

At the end of January, the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta opened the doors to one of the most progressive senior colleges in Australia.

CathWest Innovation College was created to facilitate groundbreaking entrepreneurial and educational pathways, allowing year 10-12 students to explore personal passions whilst achieving requirements of New South Wales’ Higher School Certificate in an environment fit for creative purpose. A school done differently.

The Loyola Campus (Mount Druitt) of CathWest Innovation College has a range of cutting-edge facilities including a large maker space, with an adjoining machining room and a science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) lab. The new Campus also boasts a purpose-built technology space with podcasting and film production facilities, and a cafe and salon that will ultimately become student-run operations.

Led by Director Aaron Weakley and a team of Jake Anderson, Jessica Stapleton, Karen Skillings, and Jacqueline Sellen, FACTION undertook a unique overarching ‘Project Director’ engagement for the launch of the new College. This involved traditional project management of capital works, but also assistance in the development of an educational model, pursuit of industry partnerships, as well as stakeholder and change management processes.

The team worked in partnership with Alleanza Architecture, FAL Constructions, Kuttner Collins & Partners, JHA, Birzulis & Associates, Place Design Group and EMF Griffiths.