St Edmund’s Wahroonga have overhauled 90% of their campus.
As a specialised educational facility for students with intellectual and physical disability, St Edmund’s have redeveloped the grounds with an emphasis on space, visibility, safety, and duty of care to create an environment for students to develop their potential.
Under the umbrella of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), the school offers Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition. St Edmund’s Wahroonga, along with St Gabriel’s in Castle Hill, are the two Special Schools comprising the Edmund Rice Special Education Services (ERSES).
With a contribution from the New South Wales Department of Education capital assistance program, which provides funds to non-government schools through the Building Grants Assistance Scheme, St Edmund’s own funds, and loans, the $20.5million development was completed.
Beginning in 2019 under Principal Jon Franzin, passed to Principal Michael Farrell, and completed under Principal Vanessa Dillon, the upgrade was an extended three-and-a-half-year process.
The refurbishment includes a new library, a porte cochère for student drop-offs and pick-ups, a new car park, sporting field, basketball court, student hall, and learning spaces for science, music, and art. All the classrooms were upgraded to include Hearing Loops, specialised furniture was included to support the needs of students, lifts were added for accessibility between levels, and visual aids are around the school for the visually impaired.
Alongside the major upgrades, the heritage-listed Midhope building on the frontage of Burns Road was renovated to use as an administration building.
‘When you walk through the building now, the width of the corridors, the amount of glass, the sunlight streaming in, it means that people aren’t on top of each other,’ says Michael Farrell, Regional Director for Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools. ‘They have their own space to be themselves, and to be themselves in an environment that cares for them and is nurturing.’
At the official opening of the new state-of-the-art educational facility on the 25th of October, State Member for Wahroonga Alister Henskens, Federal Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher, and State Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch were in attendance. Michael West from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council performed the Welcome to Country.
Principals from surrounding schools showed their support, including from Barker College, Knox Grammar, Brigidine College St Ives, and Abbotsleigh in Wahroonga.
Rohrig Construction, Glendenning Szoboszlay Architects, and Midson Group Project Management were responsible for the refurbishment.
‘I have a lot of respect for the students and the staff during that period. They endured change after change after change, and they managed that change with such professionalism, patience, and agility,’ says Michael Farrell. ‘It is welcoming, it is calm, the kids are engaged, the staff go above and beyond to meet their needs. That is the Edmund Rice tradition, to cater for those who may be sometimes in our community overlooked.’
