162,000 students start new year in Queensland Catholic schools

School communities across Queensland are bustling with activity as Catholic schools welcome students back for the start of the 2025 academic year. 

More than 162,000 students, including 11,800 excited Preps, will stream through the gates of Queensland’s Catholic schools this week as Term 1 gets underway. Students and their families are supported by 22,000 staff, including 12,800 teachers.

Queensland welcomes two new Catholic schools in 2025 – Notre Dame College at Bells Creek on the Sunshine Coast and Mary Help of Christians Catholic College, Shaw in Townsville – bringing the state’s total number of Catholic schools to 313. 

Notre Dame College welcomes Prep to Year 3 and Year 7 students, while Mary Help of Christians Catholic College makes history as Townsville’s first stand-alone co-educational Catholic secondary school, starting with Year 7. 

Queensland Catholic Education Commission Executive Director Allan Blagaich said Catholic schools across Queensland were well-prepared to support students in their educational journey, from those taking their first steps into Prep to the senior cohort preparing for life beyond school. 

 “The start of a new school year is always a special time for students, families and staff.” he said. “We’re particularly excited to welcome around 11,300 Year 12 students who are embarking on their final year of Catholic education in Queensland and to wish them all the best for this year and beyond.”