Tuesday 24 March 2026
There’s something powerful about walking into a classroom and seeing learning in action; students are not only engaged but growing in confidence, in capability and in the foundational skills that share their future.
At St Mary’s School Rushworth that growth was on full display as Catholic Education Sandhurst welcomed leaders from Westpac and Australian Schools Plus to mark a significant grant for our Goulburn Valley cluster of schools.
Through this new partnership, additional support will be directed to St Mary’s School Rushworth, St Mary’s School Mooroopna and St Joseph’s School Numurkah, strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes for students and building on the work already underway through Magnify Sandhurst. This significant grant reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that every child - no matter their postcode - has access to the highest quality instruction and learning.
Through Magnify Sandhurst, our schools are working with evidence-based practices, a structured and knowledge-rich curriculum, and consistent approaches across classrooms to ensure every student has access to high-quality teaching. Classrooms are calm and purposeful, and teachers are supported through ongoing professional learning and coaching.
This partnership builds on those strong foundations, helping ensure children in rural and regional communities have equitable access to the resources and support they need to thrive alongside their urban peers.
Catholic Education Sandhurst Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching Tim Edwards said the partnership reflects a strong commitment to regional equity.
“Students in country communities are just as capable, driven and full of potential as their metropolitan peers. What differs is access; the distance from major centres and the limited availability of specialist services can constrain the range of literacy supports schools are able to offer.
“This partnership adds further capacity to the work that is taking place in Sandhurst schools, directly addressing these structural inequities and ensuring students in regional Victoria can benefit from the same evidence-based programs and interventions available in metropolitan systems.”
For those visiting St Mary’s School Rushworth, the impact was clear. Classrooms were calm, students were engaged, and teachers were delivering learning with clarity and purpose.
As Australian Schools Plus CEO Sherrill Nixon reflected during the visit, the rate at which young students are improving their reading and writing skills in this environment is remarkable.
Catholic Education Sandhurst Executive Director Kate Fogarty said the partnership represents real opportunity for regional students.
“When philanthropy, business and education come together, we expand what’s possible and we open doors for students who deserve every opportunity to thrive.”
This partnership is about more than investment. It’s about what becomes possible when systems, schools and communities work together with a shared focus on improving outcomes for every child.
Because in Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese, the commitment remains clear - every student, every teacher, every school, every day!
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