Big refurb for OLHC school

OUR Lady Help of Christians School in Wendouree is set to receive a two-point-four-million-dollar refurbishment their classrooms, bathrooms and outdoor spaces as part of a State boost to low-fee Catholic schools in regional Victoria.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison joined OLHC acting principal Anthony Clifford and executive director of Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Tom Sexton at the school to announce the news earlier in the week.

“Our Lady Help of Christians School is a fantastic local school, and this project will mean their teachers have the best facilities to give their students the best education,” Ms Addison said.

More-than $103 million in funding has been announced to help 28 low-fee Catholic schools in regional Victoria – including OLHC – to expand and modernise existing buildings, or construct entirely new premises.

A brand-new school in Winter Valley, which is set to open in 2028, will also receive $6 million to support stage one of its construction.

The projects are being delivered through the Catholic stream of the State Government’s Building Fund for Non-Government Schools, which it committed $450 million to in the 2023-24 State Budget.

Schools aren’t required to match the government’s contribution dollar-for-dollar. However, the sector is expected to make a co-contribution of at least 20 per cent of the overall fund value during the life of the program.