The proposed new Catholic college on the James Cook University Campus at Smithfield is on track to open in 2022, with the first milestone in the process achieved.

Catholic Education’s Director School Effectiveness (Secondary), Dora Luxton said Catholic Education was advised last Thursday by the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board that the school is now accredited to open in 2022.

“This means we have passed our first regulatory hurdle in getting the school established. We’re now working on the master plan and the innovative design for the school in preparation for the capital funding application and at this stage the college is on track to open in 2022,” she said.

“As part of this process we’ve planned a listening forum for the community on 17 October, from 2-4pm in JCU’s Crowther Lecture Theatre (A3) so people who are interested in the school, particularly families considering future enrolments, can come along and share their hopes and dreams for the new college and have their questions answered.”

Ms Luxton said the community listening forum would be part of an ongoing consultation process.

Expressions of interest are being sought for a community consultative committee which will be a community sounding board for the new college’s management committee and reference groups.

These groups will establish partnership programs between JCU and all Catholic secondary colleges in the Cairns Diocese, to begin as soon as possible.

The consultative committee will also have input into discerning a charism and name for the new college and to inform the education and design briefs.

The foundation principal will be appointed at the beginning of 2021.

Although Catholic schools do not have defined catchment areas, the proposed new college will help service the demand for Catholic secondary schooling in the Northern Beaches region. The proposed college will start with Year 7 in 2022 and progress a year level each year to reach Year 12 in 2027.

Attendees at the listening forum will meet and hear from Catholic Education’s Manager Planning and Building Mark Stallman, JCU’s Director Cairns Campus David Craig, and Dora Luxton.

Expressions of Interest are also being taken for future enrolments.

Further information is available at cns.catholic.edu.au/new-college or by emailing new-college@cns.catholic.edu.au