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 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:
MERCY
We reach out to others in need, treat all with respect and reverence and act with compassion in all that we do.
JUSTICE
We commit to living justly by engaging in action for social justice and by celebrating our diversity and inclusiveness.
EXCELLENCE
We strive for our personal best in all we do.
INTEGRITY
We lead lives which integrate our personal beliefs and values with those of the school.
COURAGE
We stand up for our beliefs by putting our values into practise.
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.
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.
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’.
Principals of Catherine McAuley
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Sister Mary Eugene Dobson rsm1966 |
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Sister Mary Anne Ryan rsm1967 - 1973 |
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Sister Mary Sophie McGrath rsm1974 - 1977 |
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Sister Edith Angel rsm1978 - 1981 |
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Mr Jan Jolley1982 - 1984 |
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Sister Barbara McDonough rsm1984 - 1987 |
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Mr Michael Keating1988 - 1995 |
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Mrs Hilary Johnston-Croke1996 - 2005 |
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Ms Margery Jackman2005 - 2014 |
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Ms Laetitia Richmond2014 - 2019 |
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Mrs Mary Refalo2019 - |
Testimonials
We invite you to join our vibrant learning community
Contact us today to find out how to enrol.