Our Story

Educating Young Women for the Future

Catherine McAuley is proud to be part of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese’s system of 80 Catholic primary and secondary schools operating across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains providing more than 43,500 students with a high-quality, low fee Catholic education.

Situated on the land of the Burramatta people and founded by the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta, Catherine McAuley Westmead is a Catholic girls’ school with a strong Mercy charism. There are currently 1200 students enrolled in the school, with over 350 of these in Years 11 and 12.

Catherine McAuley is a vibrant, diverse and multicultural community with an expert, innovative and dedicated teaching staff.

Our approach to learning prioritises the skills required for young women to actively participate in a dynamic world as autonomous lifelong learners who are connected, adaptable, discerning and articulate. An extensive extracurricular program provides a holistic education, and enables students to experience success and achieve excellence in a wide variety of areas.

Our approach to learning

Catherine McAuley Catholic College Westmead students in class using BYOD

Our Mission

Catherine McAuley Westmead is a Catholic girls’ school in the Mercy tradition. Inspired by our founder, Venerable Catherine McAuley, we aspire to a God-centred way of life which respects and affirms the dignity of each person. In embracing our Catholic Mercy heritage and charism, we:

commit to excellence and innovation in girls’ education
empower young women to be courageous and actively involved in social justice
value our diversity and inclusiveness
build community through hospitality
foster the development of the whole person.

Our Values

Catherine McAuley Westmead is committed to Catholic values that are the touchstones of the Mercy heritage and charism. We value:

Student leaders at Catherine McAuley Catholic College Westmead

MERCY

We reach out to others in need, treat all with respect and reverence and act with compassion in all that we do.

Catherine McAuley Catholic College Westmead students promoting Project Compassion donation box

JUSTICE

We commit to living justly by engaging in action for social justice and by celebrating our diversity and inclusiveness.

Catherine McAuley Catholic College Westmead fencing competition

EXCELLENCE

We strive for our personal best in all we do.

Catherine McAuley Catholic College Westmead students wearing Cancer Council ribbons

INTEGRITY

We lead lives which integrate our personal beliefs and values with those of the school.

Catherine McAuley Westmead student on flying fox ride

COURAGE

We stand up for our beliefs by putting our values into practise.

Two Catherine McAuley Catholic College Westmead students smiling into the camera

HOSPITALITY

We create a community where all feel welcome, through openness to people, ideas and challenges.

A Strong Tradition

Founded by the Mercy Sisters, Catherine McAuley Westmead has a strong Mercy charism.

A Strong Tradition at Catherine McAuley Catholic College Westmead

The school began on the present site in 1966, as a Catholic secondary school for girls in Years 7 to 10. Years 11 and 12 were introduced in 1986. Today it offers comprehensive education for girls from Years 7 to 12. The school operates within Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta. We pride ourselves on being authentic followers of the vision of the Venerable Catherine McAuley.

Catherine McAuley was born in Ireland in 1778, and knew hardship early in her life. After the death of her parents Catherine and her siblings relied on the charity of relatives for survival. Catherine was a courageous, compassionate woman whose early experiences shaped her life’s work in caring for the disadvantaged. An inheritance enabled her to establish a centre to assist the poor of Dublin, known as the House of Mercy.

Her faith in the God of Mercy, her commitment to the Good News of Jesus Christ, led her to dedicate herself to serving the poor, sick and uneducated. Throughout her life she was deeply aware of the human suffering caused by social, economic and religious injustice.

Catherine’s community at Callan in Ireland was invited by Cardinal Moran to work in Australia, and the Sisters arrived in Parramatta in 1888.

When a new Catholic school for girls was opened at Westmead in 1966 under the charter of the Sisters of Mercy, it was a fitting tribute to name the school in honour of Catherine McAuley. The values of the Sisters of Mercy still guide the school and its community in the 21st century, as the school motto encourages students ‘to strive for higher things’.