At St Edmund’s College, we believe that learning goes far beyond the walls of the classroom. Every experience is an opportunity to teach, nurture and challenge our students so they can confidently and independently engage with life. Through a diverse and carefully designed range of community-based learning experiences, we empower students to grow in independence, build real-world skills, and develop meaningful connections with the world around them.
In Sport, students participate in a range of physical activities and sporting events at venues such as local athletics fields, the Homebush Aquatic Centre, and community sports grounds. These outings promote not only physical health and teamwork but also develop navigation, organisation, and personal responsibility, skills essential for independent living.
Creative Arts is brought to life through community-based performances and exhibitions at local venues. Whether performing in school concerts hosted in the community or showcasing their work in collaborative art displays, students are given authentic platforms to express themselves, develop confidence, and share their talents with others.
A strong emphasis is placed on developing practical financial literacy and everyday living skills. Students regularly visit local retail establishments such as shopping centres and supermarkets, where they practise using money, making purchases, comparing prices, and interacting with community members. These real-world experiences build vital money-handling skills and confidence in navigating everyday environments.
Students take part in a wide range of enterprise and community-based learning experiences that build job readiness and real-world communication skills, such as preparing and selling items at the Easter, Father’s Day, and Mother’s Day stalls, participating in the Christmas Markets, and collaborating with local businesses and the North Sydney Disability Network. Students gain hands-on experience making coffees both on-site and in local community settings. These programs are supported by work experience and work placement opportunities, allowing students to practise workplace routines, build customer service skills, and develop confidence in professional environments.
Our Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) program is enriched through excursions to historical and cultural landmarks such as Hyde Park Barracks, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Barangaroo Reserve Aboriginal Cultural Tour, Kamay Botany Bay (Kurnell), Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and Cathy Freeman Park at Sydney Olympic Park. These experiences allow students to deepen their understanding of geography, history, civics, and culture in authentic settings.
Language and culture are celebrated through immersive French experiences, including café-style lunches, visits to local French establishments, and language and culture days. These provide opportunities for students to practise their language skills in fun, real-world contexts.
The College also offers rich opportunities for spiritual growth through Spirituality Days at Oxford Falls (Years 5–9), a pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place for Year 10, and the Year 11–12 Retreat at Mulgoa. Students also attend whole-school Masses at Holy Name Parish, Wahroonga, and engage in liturgies within the College’s rainforest setting.
Across all these experiences, there is a clear and deliberate focus on building independence, especially in travel and navigating the community. At St Edmund’s, every community connection is a stepping stone to a more confident, capable, and connected young person
