The vibrant and distinctive facilities at CathWest Innovation College Loyola Campus in Mount Druitt have been recognised at the Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) NSW Awards.
Opened at the beginning of 2020, the vision for CathWest Innovation College is school ‘done differently’, delivering vocational and inquiry pathways for students in Western Sydney.
CathWest Innovation College caters to students from Year 10 to Year 12, offering learning pathways tailored to the unique needs, interests and passions of each student. Not only has the school been a hit with local families, its design has now been recognised by the LEA panel for in the Renovation/Modernisation Award category.
Designed by Alleanza Architecture and built by FAL Constructions, the CathWest Innovation College learning environment is more like a workplace than a school where students are granted access to professional mentoring, exciting industry partnerships, work placements and industry recognised qualifications in addition to attaining their HSC.
Architect Phoebe Glanville is thrilled that CathWest Innovation College has been acknowledged through the prestigious award.
“Our goal was to create environments that allowed for this progessive way of learning and teaching,” Phoebe said. “We worked intensively with all of the stakeholders, particularly Catholic Education and FAL to develop and meet all the criteria that would support this innovative approach to learning.” Principal Cathy Larkin said the school design supports some students’ industry training and vocational education qualifications and others to develop their own 'passion project' with the support of a mentor teacher and industry partners.
"This new approach to schooling sees teachers and industry experts working alongside students and tackling real world learning projects," Cathy said. The winning design includes facilities that include a playgroup led by Early Childhood students, hairdressing facility to support student learning and student-run café open to the community.
Learn more about CathWest Innovation College
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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13 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
It's the special day of the year that's all about showing our mums, grandmothers, carers and mother figures in our lives how much we love and appreciate them.๐โค๏ธ๐ฅฐ๐๐ซถ๐น๐บ Our schools certainly did that in the lead-up to the big day on Sunday, with Mother's Day stalls, liturgies, picnics, morning teas and open classroom visits across the Diocese. ๐๐๐ง๐ช๐ซ Check out your school's socials for more great pics of the lovely celebrations. โก๐ฑ #MothersDay #mothersdayspecial #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountains
12 May 2025
Photos from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese's post
Mother's Day is all about showing our mums๐, grandmothers๐ฅฐ, carers ๐ซถ and mother figures ๐ in our lives how much we love and appreciate them.โค๏ธ๐น๐บ Our schools certainly did that in the lead-up to the big day on Sunday, with Mother's Day stalls, liturgies ๐, picnics, morning teas ๐ง๐ชand open classroom visits across the Diocese. ๐๐ซ Check out your school's socials for more great pics of the lovely celebrations. โก๐ฑ
11 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAYโ๐ฅณ๐ฅฐ These heartfelt words๐๐ from students at St Bernadette's Primary Dundas Valley and St Mary's Primary Rydalmere reflect the boundless love and appreciation we all have for the mums, grandmothers, carers and mother figures in our lives. Thank you for all the hugs and kisses... for being so caring and funny and every little thing in between. ๐ #MothersDay #mothersdayspecial #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #stbernadettesprimarydundasvalley @stmarysrydalmere
11 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
๐ St JXXIII grad returns to give back โ and inspire the next generation. Weโre so proud of Eilish AโCourt (Class of 2019), now studying medicine at the University of Notre Dame and Co-Chair of PANDA (Paediatric Association of Notre Dame Australia), who came back to her former school St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens to lead the Teddy Bear Hospital program! ๐ ๐ฉโโ๏ธ๐ฉน With fellow med students, she taught the Kindy kids about health, nutrition, and doctor visits โ all through caring for a few sick teddy bears! ๐งธ A full-circle moment and an inspiring reminder of what our CSPD graduates go on to achieve. ๐ฅฐ ๐ St JohnXXIII students learn the importance of giving back to the community. Learn more about the College at their website or by following them on Instagram. @stjohnxxiiicatholiccollege @notredame #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #StJXXIIIAlumni #FutureDoctors #TeddyBearHospital #NotreDameAustralia #CatholicEducation #InspiringAlumni #GivingBack #stanhopegardens
10 May 2025
Photos from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese's post
We can all use more kindness ๐in our lives. ๐ซ๐ The students at St Michael's Baulkham Hills certainly agree, coming together for Do It For Dolly Day, a day to spread kindness ๐ค, show compassion ๐and stand up against bullying. ๐ซถ๐ Dressed in shades of blue ๐๐ฉต, they took part in meaningful conversations ๐ฃ๏ธ, wrote kind messages ๐๏ธand explored kindness lessons. ๐ป๐ It was a reminder of how powerful a little kindness can be. ๐ซถ๐ Be Kind, Be Brave, Do It For Dolly. ๐ฅฐ๐ค
10 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
โชโ๏ธ WELCOMING POPE LEO XIV - our school communities join with the wider community throughout the Diocese of Parramatta and Sydneyโs west in celebration of our new Pope. ๐คฒ It was with great joy today that we received the news that Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA has been named as the 267th successor to St Peter โ with the name Pope Leo XIV. Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, welcomed the announcement with prayerful optimism. ๐ฅฐ โPope Leo XIV brings a missionary heart, shaped by decades serving among the poor in Peru. As an Augustinian, he will gift the Church and the world with a deeply contemplative spirit,โ Bishop Vincent said. ๐๏ธ โI have met him on several occasions, as have many of the Augustinians in our Diocese who know him well. He is a humble, prayerful man, dedicated to Christ and steeped in the mystical charism of the Augustinian tradition and I pray that he will guide our church with renewed hope and joy during this challenging time,โ he said. ๐ Read more at Catholic Outlook online. Link in our bio above! โฌ๏ธ @parracatholic #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #papalelection #conclave #popeleoxiv #bishopvincent #dioceseofparramatta
09 May 2025
From CSPD Facebook
โชโ๏ธ WELCOMING OUR NEW POPE - our school communities join with the wider community throughout the Diocese of Parramatta and Sydneyโs west in celebration of the election of Pope Leo XIV. ๐คฒ It was with great joy today that we received the news that Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA has been named as the 267th successor to St Peter โ with the papal name Pope Leo XIV. Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, welcomed the announcement with prayerful optimism. ๐ฅฐ โPope Leo XIV brings a missionary heart, shaped by decades serving among the poor in Peru. As an Augustinian, he will gift the Church and the world with a deeply contemplative spirit,โ Bishop Vincent said. ๐๏ธ โI have met him on several occasions, as have many of the Augustinians in our Diocese who know him well. He is a humble, prayerful man, dedicated to Christ and steeped in the mystical charism of the Augustinian tradition and I pray that he will guide our church with renewed hope and joy during this challenging time,โ he said. ๐ Read more in this Catholic Outlook story: ==>catholicoutlook.org/thrilled-and-in-awe-parramattas-augustinians-react-to-the-election-of-cardinal-prevost-osa-as-pope-leo-xiv Diocese of Parramatta
09 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
Kindness: We can all use more of it in our lives. ๐ซ๐๐ The students at St Michael's Primary Baulkham Hills certainly agree, coming together for Do It For Dolly Day, a day to spread kindness, show compassion and stand up against bullying. ๐ค๐๐ซถ๐ Dressed in shades of blue, they took part in meaningful conversations, wrote kind messages and explored kindness lessons. ๐๐ฉต๐ฃ๏ธ๐๏ธ๐ป๐ It was a reminder of how powerful a little kindness can be. ๐ซถ๐ Be Kind, Be Brave, Do It For Dolly. ๐ฅฐ๐ค See more pics on our Facebook page โก๏ธ #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountain #baulkhamhills @stmichaelsprimarybaulkhamhills #doitfordolly #doitfordollyday #kindnessmatters
08 May 2025
The Big Water Walk
08 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
Is this the most adorable๐ school road safety video everโ๏ธ Pay attention๐ because the students at St Bernadette's Primary, Castle Hill have a very important message about the importance of being safe on the road around schools.๐๐๐ง๐ "You wouldn't do that.... would you?" #roadsafety #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #castlehill #hillsdistrict #adorable
07 May 2025
Photos from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese's post
The inaugural St Columba's Art Prize๐๐ฉโ๐จ๐จ๐ - what a wonderful celebration of art and community.๐ฅณ๐ More than 250 people, including MP Susan Templeman and CSPD Chief Executive Jack de Groot, attended Friday's awards night with St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood student Indigo Herron winning the Youth Prize๐ฅ. James Blackwell won the Open Prize๐ฅ and Neil Taylor won the Local Blue Mountains Artist Prize.๐ฅโญ๏ธ๐ The competition attracted more than 350 entries from around Australia with finalists included as part of a beautiful 4-day exhibition at the school.๐๐คฉ Special congratulations to all the young people who entered, including students from Caroline Chisholm College, Xavier College, Nagle College, Blacktown South, Parramatta Marist High School and of course St Columba's. Thanks also to the following sponsors of the main prizes - FAL Construction (Open Prize), Belle Property Blaxland (Youth Prize) and Alleanza Architecture (Local Winner).
07 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
Always a huge hit with voters, the humble democracy sausage๐ญโจ was the main attraction on Election Day as many of our schools became polling places. It was wonderful seeing so many parents, students and staff๐ฅณ๐ turn up to run delicious bbqs like at St Canice's Primary Katoomba. It's a great way to raise funds for the school and engage with the local community.๐๐ Those at St Canice's loved being able to tell voters about the wonderful things happening at the school which is located in the heart of Katoomba. #cspd2024 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #awards #teacherawards #katoomba @stcaniceskatoomba #bluemountains
06 May 2025
Photos from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese's post
Vote 1 Democracy Sausages#๏ธโฃ1๏ธโฃโ๏ธ๐ญโจ It was wonderful seeing so many parents, students and staff๐ฅณ๐ turn up to run delicious bbqs on election day like at St Canice's Primary Katoomba. It's a brilliant way to raise funds for the school and engage with their local community.๐๐ Those at St Canice's loved being able to tell voters about the wonderful things happening at the school which is located in the heart of Katoomba. Find out more about St Canice's here: https://www.stcaniceskatoomba.catholic.edu.au/why-us
06 May 2025
From CSPD Instagram
The inaugural St Columba's Art Prize๐๐ฉโ๐จ๐จ๐ - what a wonderful celebration of art and community.๐ฅณ๐ More than 250 people, including MP Susan Templeman and CSPD Chief Executive Jack de Groot, attended Friday's awards night with St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood student Indigo Herron winning the Youth Prize๐ฅ. James Blackwell won the Open Prize๐ฅ and Neil Taylor won the Local Blue Mountains Artist Prize.๐ฅโญ๏ธ๐ The competition attracted more than 350 entries from around Australia with finalists included as part of a beautiful 4-day exhibition at the school.๐๐คฉ Special congratulations to all the young people who entered, including students from Caroline Chisholm College, Xavier College, Nagle College, Blacktown South, Parramatta Marist High School and of course St Columba's. Thanks also to the following sponsors of the main prizes - FAL Construction (Open Prize), Belle Property Blaxland (Youth Prize) and Alleanza Architecture (Local Winner). #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountains #springwood @columbasdoves @xavierllandilo @carolinechisholmglenmorepark @parramatta.marist @nagleblacktown @susantemplemanmp
05 May 2025
Photos from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese's post
Inspired by the words and wisdom๐คฉ๐คฉ of star Parramatta Eels Women NRLW players Rachael Pearson and Elsie Albert๐๐โจ, Year 10 students from Nagle College, Blacktown South learnt the value of setting goals, understanding their values and building on their strengths. Setting academic, personal, or future career goals provides students with direction, purpose, and motivation at a pivotal time in their lives, especially as they begin making decisions about their HSC subject selections.๐๐ค It was an inspiring session, all thanks to a partnership between the Eels and Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese and we're excited to see more students from our schools benefit from opportunities like this in the future.๐ฅณ๐๐ Parramatta Eels NRL #womeninleague