starmelb.catholic.edu.au

Star of the Sea College is a Catholic secondary school in Brighton educating students from Year 7 to 12, and its website sets out a clear enrolment path: start with the Choosing Star and Prospectus pages, follow the How to Enrol steps, and use a College Tour or the Panoramic Photo Tour to see the campus before you commit. Fees information sits alongside these pages under Enrolments, so you can review costs in the same place you begin your application. If you still have questions, the site provides Contact and Book a Tour options.

Understand what you are applying to

Before starting the process, it helps to know the shape of the school. Star of the Sea College has educated young people in a compassionate Catholic context since 1883, and it describes its offering as a contemporary, values-based education that nurtures the development of the whole person. The college motto is Facta non Verba (Deeds, not Words), and it instils in students a sense of connectedness, a commitment to their faith, and a belief in their potential to succeed.

The enrolment pages sit within a broader structure that includes:

• Our College – Principal's Message, Mission, Guiding Principles, Presentation Story, College Song, Governance, Kildare Ministries, Our Board, Strategic Plan, Master Plan, Reconciliation Action Plan, Nano Nagle Centre, Employment, and Workplace Documentation.
• Student Life – Spirituality, Living Justice Living Peace, Wellbeing, Mentor Groups, College Houses, Year 7 Transition, SchoolTV, Counselling, Student Leadership, and co-curricular areas such as Debating, Music, Sport, and Careers.
• Learning – Education Charter, Curriculum, Years 7–8, Year 9, Year 10, Senior Studies, VCE, VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM), VET, Learning Diversity, Student Support, Academic Enrichment, Booklists, and the Sr Josepha Dunlop Library.
• Community – Parent Resources, PAM (Parent Access Module), Student Absences, Bell Times, Parents' Association, SchoolTV, News and Events, and Publications.
• Past Students – Past Students' Association, Reunions, Star Community Choir, Update Your Details, Events, Archives, and Historical Publications.
• Giving at Star – Bursary Fund, Building Fund, The Estella Society, Bequests Program, and Giving Day.

Reading the Principal's Message and the Mission page gives you the clearest sense of the school's values before you look at logistics.

Follow the enrolment steps

The Enrolments section is the operational heart of the process. It contains:

1. Choosing Star – the case for the school, useful for framing your decision.
2. Prospectus – the formal document describing what the college offers.
3. How to Enrol – the actual application steps.
4. College Tours – scheduled opportunities to visit in person.
5. Panoramic Photo Tour – an online way to view the campus if you cannot attend in person.
6. Fees – cost information published under Enrolments.
7. Uniform – what students wear.
8. Contact and Book a Tour – direct ways to reach the college or arrange a visit.

A practical sequence is: read Choosing Star and the Prospectus, check Fees and Uniform, then work through How to Enrol. If anything is unclear, use Contact or Book a Tour rather than guessing at requirements.

See the campus before you decide

The site offers two distinct ways to experience the campus:

• College Tours – in-person visits, bookable through the Book a Tour option.
• Panoramic Photo Tour – a self-guided online view, useful for an initial look or for families who cannot travel to Brighton.

For a family weighing several schools, doing the panoramic tour first and then booking an in-person College Tour is an efficient way to narrow the list before investing time in a visit.

Check the practical details

Two items deserve attention early because they affect planning:

• Fees – published under Enrolments, so review them before or alongside your application.
• Uniform – also listed under Enrolments, relevant once an offer is made.

The site does not state on these pages whether fees are payable in instalments or what payment platforms are used; the Fees page is the place to confirm current figures and arrangements.

Know where to go for what

Common questions

What year levels does the college cover? Years 7 to 12.

Is there a way to explore the school without visiting? Yes — the Panoramic Photo Tour.

Where do I find fees? Under Enrolments, alongside Choosing Star, Prospectus, How to Enrol, College Tours, and Uniform.

Who do I contact with questions? Use the Contact page, or Book a Tour if your question is best answered on campus.

What happens after Year 7? The Learning section details Years 7–8, Year 9, Year 10, Senior Studies, VCE, VCE VM, and VET, so you can see the full pathway before enrolling.

Star of the Sea College is a Catholic secondary school for girls in Brighton that educates students from Year 7 to Year 12. Its curriculum is organised by year level — Years 7–8, Year 9, Year 10, and Senior Studies — with senior students choosing between the VCE and the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM), supported by VET subjects. Learning Diversity and Academic Enrichment programs sit alongside the core curriculum.

Year levels at a glance

The college has been educating young people in a compassionate Catholic context since 1883, and describes its approach as a contemporary, values-based education that nurtures the development of the whole person.

Senior pathways: VCE, VCE VM, and VET

Senior Studies is where the curriculum branches. Students can pursue:

• VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) — the standard academic pathway to tertiary study.
• VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) — an applied-learning pathway within the VCE.
• VET (Vocational Education and Training) — vocational subjects that can be taken alongside senior studies.

Because the college lists these as distinct offerings, the choice between them is a decision point for families planning Years 11 and 12. The right fit depends on whether a student is aiming primarily at university, at a vocational or applied pathway, or a combination.

Support and enrichment beyond the core curriculum

Two programs run alongside the standard curriculum:

• Learning Diversity — support for students with diverse learning needs.
• Academic Enrichment — extension for students who need additional challenge.

The college also maintains a library (the Sr Josepha Dunlop Library) with library resources and teaching in the library, and publishes booklists for each year.

Co-curricular and broader student life

Curriculum is only part of the picture. The college offers debating, music (including an instrumental program and a Year 7 Music Scholarship Program), performing arts, sport, and careers support. Student wellbeing is structured through mentor groups, college houses, counselling, and a Year 7 transition program.

How to decide if it's the right fit

If you are weighing up Star of the Sea College, the practical questions are:

1. Is a girls' Catholic secondary school in Brighton the right environment? The college's stated focus is a values-based Catholic education grounded in its motto, Facta non Verba (Deeds, not Words).
2. Does the senior pathway match your child's goals? Confirm whether VCE, VCE VM, or a VET combination best fits their plans after Year 12.
3. Are the support and enrichment offerings relevant? Learning Diversity and Academic Enrichment are worth asking about directly if your child needs either.

For specifics on subject offerings within each year level, fees, and enrolment timelines, the college's Enrolments section — including the Prospectus, How to Enrol, College Tours, and Fees pages — is the authoritative source. Booking a college tour is the most direct way to see the curriculum in practice.

Star of the Sea College is a Catholic secondary college in Brighton, Victoria, educating students from Year 7 to Year 12. It has operated since 1883 and describes its approach as a contemporary, values-based education that nurtures the development of the whole person. If you are looking for a Catholic girls' secondary school in the Bayside area of Melbourne, this is the institution behind the starmelb.catholic.edu.au website.

Key facts at a glance

What the college says about itself

The college frames its purpose around more than academic results. Its own description emphasises:

• A contemporary, values-based education in a compassionate Catholic context.
• Development of the whole person, not just academic outcomes.
• A strong sense of connectedness among students.
• A deep commitment to faith.
• A belief in each student's potential to succeed.

The motto Facta non Verba — "Deeds not Words" — signals that the college presents itself as action-oriented rather than purely rhetorical in how it delivers on these values.

What the website covers

The site is organised around the practical questions families ask when considering a school. Main sections include:

• Our College — principal's message, mission, story, governance, strategic and master plans, reconciliation action plan, and employment information.
• Learning — curriculum structure across Years 7–8, Year 9, Year 10, and senior studies, including VCE and the Victorian Certificate of Education – Vocational Major (VCE VM), plus VET, learning diversity, and student support.
• Student Life — spirituality, wellbeing, counselling, mentor groups, college houses, Year 7 transition, student leadership, and co-curricular activities such as debating, music, performing arts, and sport.
• Enrolments — choosing Star, prospectus, how to enrol, college tours, a panoramic photo tour, fees, and uniform.
• Community — parent resources including the Parent Access Module (PAM), bell times, parents' association, and SchoolTV.
• Past Students — alumni association, reunions, archives, and a community choir.
• Giving at Star — bursary fund, building fund, the Estella Society, bequests, and giving day.

If you are considering the college

The site provides several ways to move from reading to deciding:

1. Read the prospectus under Enrolments → Choosing Star.
2. Book a college tour or take the panoramic photo tour if you want an initial look before visiting.
3. Review the fees and uniform pages to understand the practical commitments.
4. Check the enrolment process under How to Enrol to see requirements and timing.
5. Use PAM (Parent Access Module) once enrolled for day-to-day communication, absences, and parent resources.

Current fees, enrolment deadlines, and tour dates are not specified in the material available here, so confirm those directly through the college's Enrolments section or by booking a tour.

Star of the Sea College keeps parents and the wider community connected through a mix of digital tools, volunteer groups, publications, and alumni activities. The main channels are the Parent Access Module (PAM) for day-to-day school business, the Parents' Association and SchoolTV for support and information, the News and Events and Publications sections for updates, and the Past Students' Association, reunions, and Star Community Choir for ongoing community involvement. These channels suit different needs, so most families use several of them rather than just one.

Day-to-day communication: PAM and student absences

The Parent Access Module (PAM) is the college's core parent portal. It sits alongside the general Parent Portal and is listed under Community → Parent Resources, which is where you should look first for routine school communication.

Practical uses include:

• Student absences – reporting and tracking absences is handled through the same Parent Resources area, so this is the place to go when your child is away.
• General parent resources – PAM is grouped with other parent-facing tools, meaning it functions as the everyday link between home and school rather than an occasional newsletter.

If you are new to the college, the Enrolments section (Choosing Star, Prospectus, How to Enrol, College Tours, Fees, Uniform) is the natural starting point before you begin using PAM regularly.

Support and information: Parents' Association and SchoolTV

Two channels are aimed specifically at helping parents rather than administering the school:

• Parents' Association – listed under Community, this is the structured way for parents to get involved and stay informed about parent-led activity.
• SchoolTV – a resource listed under both Student Life (Wellbeing) and Community, offering information to support student wellbeing at home.

These complement PAM: PAM handles logistics, while the Parents' Association and SchoolTV address the broader questions parents tend to have about their child's experience.

Staying informed: News, Events, Publications, and The Star

For updates about what is happening across the college, the main entry points are:

Because The Star has past editions available, you can look back at previous issues rather than relying only on the most recent one.

Alumni and wider community involvement

Community engagement extends beyond current families:

• Past Students' Association – the alumni body, with a dedicated committee.
• Reunions – organised through the Past Students section.
• Star Community Choir – open community involvement through music.
• Update Your Details – a way for past students to stay on the contact list.

If you are an alumna wanting to reconnect, the Past Students section is the single place covering the association, reunions, the choir, and contact updates.

How to choose the right channel

• Reporting an absence or checking school admin → PAM / Parent Resources.
• Wanting wellbeing guidance or parent-led involvement → SchoolTV and the Parents' Association.
• Keeping up with news → News and Events, Publications, and The Star.
• Reconnecting as an alumna → Past Students' Association, Reunions, and Update Your Details.

The college describes itself as offering a values-based education that nurtures the whole person, guided by its motto Facta non Verba (Deeds, not Words) — the range of parent and community channels above reflects that emphasis on connectedness. For current details on any of these, check the relevant section of the college website, since specific events and contact arrangements change over time.

Star of the Sea College in Brighton offers a structured student life and wellbeing program that runs alongside its academic curriculum for Years 7–12. The support covers four main areas: spirituality and social justice, day-to-day wellbeing through Mentor Groups and College Houses, formal counselling and online resources, and co-curricular and leadership opportunities. This article explains what each area involves so you can judge whether the school's approach fits your child.

Spirituality and social justice

The College describes itself as a Catholic school in the Kildare Ministries tradition, and its student life program reflects that identity. Two named strands appear in the College's own navigation:

• Spirituality — the faith dimension of school life, connected to the College's mission and guiding principles.
• Living Justice, Living Peace — the social justice strand, which frames service and justice work as part of the student experience.

The College motto, Facta non Verba ("Deeds, not words"), is used to express the idea that values are demonstrated through action rather than stated alone. In practice, this is the framing the school gives to its values-based education, which it says nurtures "the whole person."

Wellbeing, Mentor Groups, and College Houses

Wellbeing at Star is organised through everyday structures rather than only through formal intervention:

• Mentor Groups — small, ongoing groups that give each student a consistent staff point of contact.
• College Houses — a house system that provides belonging and inter-house activity across year levels.
• Year 7 Transition — a dedicated program to support students moving into secondary school.

These three elements work together: a new Year 7 student is placed in a Mentor Group and a House, which gives both a small-group anchor and a wider community to belong to. If you are weighing up how a school handles the jump from primary to secondary, the existence of a named transition program is a concrete thing to ask about on a tour.

Counselling and SchoolTV

For students who need more than everyday support, the College lists two formal resources:

• Counselling — an on-site counselling service listed under Student Life.
• SchoolTV — an online resource library, listed under both Student Life and Community, which typically provides parent- and student-facing material on wellbeing topics.

The College also lists Student Support and Learning Diversity under its Learning section, which sit alongside wellbeing rather than replacing it. If your child has specific learning or wellbeing needs, these are the areas to raise directly with the College, since the public site describes the services but not eligibility or referral processes.

Student Leadership

Leadership is treated as a distinct part of student life, with several named programs:

• Student Leadership — the overall leadership program.
• Student Leadership Voices: LIVE FM Podcast Project — a podcast-based leadership initiative.
• Student Leadership Podcast Series — a related series of student-produced episodes.

These give students a practical outlet — producing and presenting audio content — rather than leadership being limited to formal titles. For a student who is interested in media, communication, or public speaking, this is a specific opportunity worth asking about.

Co-curricular activities

The College's co-curricular offering spans performing arts, music, and sport:

Two details are worth noting. First, the Year 7 Music Scholarship Program means music entry points exist at the start of secondary school, so families interested in instrumental music should ask about it during enrolment rather than later. Second, Sport Signups and a Sport Uniform indicate that sport participation is organised through a sign-up process with its own uniform requirements — useful to know before term starts.

Careers and other student-facing services

Beyond wellbeing and activities, the College lists Careers and College Cafés under Student Life. Careers support is relevant to the senior years (VCE and VCE VM), while the cafés are part of daily campus life.

How to decide whether this fits your child

Star of the Sea College's student life model is best suited to families who want:

• A values-based Catholic education where spirituality and social justice are explicit parts of school life.
• Everyday wellbeing support through small Mentor Groups and a House system, not only formal counselling.
• A defined Year 7 transition program for students entering secondary school.
• Co-curricular options in debating, music, performing arts, and sport, with leadership pathways including student podcasting.

If your priorities are different — for example, a strongly competitive sports pathway or a non-religious ethos — the College's own materials make its Catholic, whole-person framing clear, and you can weigh that against your family's preferences.

The most reliable next step is to book a College tour and ask specifically about: how Mentor Groups are assigned, what the Year 7 Transition program involves week to week, how students access counselling, and how co-curricular signups and music scholarships work. Those are the details the website describes but does not fully specify.