St Joseph’s College has been at the forefront of secondary education in Australia for 140 years. An independent Catholic school, we endeavour to guide boys to become confident, resilient and caring young men who will make a positive contribution to society.

Joeys, as we are affectionately known, is a comprehensive school that gives students of all abilities an opportunity to shine and reach their academic potential. A culture of inclusiveness is fostered actively. Each boy is encouraged to achieve his own personal best – to pursue excellence in all that he attempts.

The College motto In Meliora Contende – Striving for Better Things – encapsulates this ethos, providing a bedrock principle all boys can live by. It works in tandem with You’ll Never Walk Alone, the song of unity and mateship that Joeys students roar at sporting events and other celebratory occasions.

The College provides a balanced education, incorporating a variety of learning, spiritual, physical and recreation experiences. We are famous for our outstanding academic, cultural and sporting achievements and links to the local and international community and rural Australia. We are also the largest all-male boarding and day school in the country, bringing together a rich diversity of students from different backgrounds and locations. The cherished city–country connection is one of the defining features of Joeys life. 

Marist Brothers founded the College in 1881. Their values of presence, simplicity, love of work, family spirit and the way of Mary inform everything we do. The Catholic faith is central to our vision. We strive to provide boys with a quality education that draws faith, culture and life into harmony. We give boys access to exceptional learning opportunities within a compassionate and highly supportive Christian environment.

Above all, Joeys is about developing young men of character and integrity. Respectful, well-rounded men who will approach the wider world with courage and humility.

Year 7 to 9 dormitories are located on the upper floors of the College’s historic sandstone building, where boarders have been sleeping since the 1890s.

The facilities, however, are greatly enhanced compared to years gone by, including in the larger space assigned to each boy.

In modern, comfortable, attractive dormitories fully refurbished in 2013, each year group has its own shower block and each boy has a bed, small desk and a locker in his press area, which is where he keeps all his possessions.

During down time in the dormitories, the boys can play ping-pong or pool, or watch a movie in dedicated TV areas with plenty of space to lounge.

The open, inclusive nature of the dormitory design in these junior years contributes to the formation of strong, family-like bonds between boys in the same year group, and boys who are themselves engaged and happy, supported by friends and compassionate boarding staff who live on-site or close to the College.

St Joseph’s College has a proud reputation as one of Australia’s leading independent Catholic schools. For 140 years, our College has educated boys to become confident, intelligent and compassionate young men, capable of making a valuable contribution to their world.

The College was founded by the Marist Brothers in 1881 and Catholic faith values are central to everything we do. We strive to provide boys with a quality education that draws faith, culture and life into harmony. We give boys access to exceptional learning opportunities within a caring, compassionate and highly supportive Christian environment.

The St Joseph’s College community celebrates learning, recognises achievement and rewards those who continually strive to do their best. It is important to encourage our young people along their journey of learning and growth, so they are compelled to use their talents in the service of others. We endeavour to help them develop their skills, along with a strong sense of social justice, so they will make a positive difference to their community, their nation and their world. Our Catholic faith values and our Marist spirit underpin everything we do and set us apart from other educational institutions.

A distinctive feature of the College is the strong sense of community spirit that unites students, families, Old Boys and staff.

As members of the Joeys family, we work together towards common goals and hold the spirit of St Joseph’s close to our heart. The very strong sense of belonging is strengthened by the never-ending support and encouragement that exists within the Joeys community. It is a unique experience that is humbling and a true honour.

St Joseph’s prides itself on being a comprehensive College where students of a wide range of abilities are given opportunities to achieve their full potential. We focus on providing boys with a balanced education, incorporating a range of learning, spiritual, physical and recreation experiences. Joeys is renowned for its outstanding academic, cultural and sporting achievements and links to the local and international community and rural Australia.

Today’s schools are places of fast-paced, individually tailored learning. Students use tools that were invented less than a decade ago, and embrace new technologies quickly and easily. They demand instant access to information, and have such advanced skills that it could be easy to forget our students are still adolescents learning to deal with issues and problems that – in today’s society – are increasingly complex. At Joeys, we strive to provide a balance that caters for boys’ learning needs in this age of technology.

The students are at the heart of everything we do at the College. We are here to help boys – entrusted to us by their families – find genuine fulfilment, happiness and security in their lives. Our support and encouragement goes far beyond the time students leave us at graduation. As a College community, we take great joy and strength from our ongoing relationship with our Old Boys and their families. To be part of the Joeys family is truly a gift for life.

Mr Michael Blake
Headmaster