Catherine McAuley Westmead

What Catherine McAuley Westmead does

Catherine McAuley Westmead is a Catholic systemic girls' secondary school located at 2 Darcy Road, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, serving students in Years 7 through 12. The school was founded in 1966 by the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta and operates under the governance of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Ltd (CSPD), a network of approximately 80 Catholic schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Current Principal Mary Refalo leads a staff of 51–100 employees delivering NESA-accredited curriculum with a strong Mercy charism, daily Religious Education, and a comprehensive program of academic, vocational, and co-curricular offerings. Catherine McAuley is a member of the Westmead Catholic Community alongside Parramatta Marist High, Mother Teresa Catholic Primary, and Sacred Heart Primary, with the Sacred Heart parish as community centre.

The school's core product is Years 7–12 secondary education, augmented by VET qualifications (Certificate III in Business Services, Human Services/Acute Care, Hospitality, Fitness), a BYOD MacBook program (M1/M2/M3/M4, macOS 13+), a free tutoring program, careers education, social justice initiatives (Caritas Project Compassion, St Vincent de Paul, Mercy Works, Catholic Care), and extensive extracurricular activities (sport, debating, drama, STEM, overseas exchange). The technology stack is built on third-party platforms: Compass Parent Portal for attendance, timetabling and parent-teacher bookings; Classm8 learning management; the Father David Scott Library (2,000+ texts) with a 24/7 eLibrary; and a 360° virtual tour for prospective families. VET delivery is supported by partnerships with NSW Health Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and CSPD's School of Now program for Year 11–12 extension courses.

The revenue model is subscription-recurring tuition-based, with annual fees billed in three term instalments. Year 7 1st-child total fees are A$5,661 and Year 12 1st-child A$6,753, scaling across year levels and incorporating Diocesan Tuition, Diocesan Building Levy, Resource Fees, and Activity Fees. A graduated sibling discount structure applies (3rd child substantial discount; 4th+ child free tuition), with formal financial hardship pathways (Bishop Manning Support Fund, Byallawa Scheme, ATSI fee-free offerings) ensuring no child is refused enrollment due to financial inability. Additional revenue streams include school-based fees, uniform sales via The School Locker (Blacktown Mega Centre and online), and ancillary VET-related income. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the CSPD centralized enrollment platform, school tours and Open Days, the school's website and social channels, and on-campus delivery at the single Westmead campus.

Name

Catherine McAuley Westmead

Legal name

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Ltd

Website

https://mcauleywestmead.catholic.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Catherine McAuley Westmead is a Catholic systemic girls' secondary school (Years 7–12) in Westmead, NSW, founded in 1966 by the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta and operated by Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, delivering NESA curriculum, VET pathways, and co-curricular programs to Western Sydney families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Westmead

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Diocesan Tuition Fees: Annual tuition fees set by Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, with significant sibling discounts applied. Third child receives substantial discount, and fourth and subsequent children attend free of tuition fees. Fees are billed in instalments during Terms 1, 2, and 3.
2. Diocesan Building Levy: Annual building levy charged per family (not per student) set by CSPD. Contributes to infrastructure and facility maintenance across the diocese.
3. School-Based Fees: School-based fees including Resource Fee, Activity Fee, and optional overnight meal charges. These vary by year level and cover materials, excursions, and co-curricular activities.
4. Uniform Sales: Uniforms purchased through The School Locker supplier. Revenue partially returns to school through Student Advantage Membership program on technology purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Catherine McAuley Westmead is a Catholic systemic girls' secondary school delivering Years 7-12 education following the NESA curriculum, with a strong Mercy charism. It offers the HSC, Religious Education, VET qualifications in Business Services, Human Services, Hospitality and Fitness, a free tutoring service, career guidance, social justice programs, and a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities including performing arts, debating, STEM Club and overseas exchange. Enrollment is managed through the CSPD centralized platform, with families billed annually for diocesan and school-based fees.

Product overview

Catherine McAuley Westmead is a 7-12 Catholic girls' secondary school offering a comprehensive educational program with a platform-based approach. The core offering is Years 7-12 secondary education following NESA curriculum, supported by integrated modules including the BYOD MacBook Program for technology-enhanced learning, Career Learning Program for pathway planning, Tutoring Program for academic support, Social Justice Initiatives for character development, Sport and Extracurricular Activities for holistic growth, VET Courses for vocational pathways, Father David Scott Library and eLibrary for knowledge resources, Religious Education for faith formation, and Assessment Handbooks for academic tracking. The school is part of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese and was founded in 1966 by the Sisters of Mercy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Years 7-12 Secondary Education
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses
• Tutoring Program
• Career Learning Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of Year 12 students transitioned to university
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026JRS Australia partners with CSPD schools for the annual Refugee Week Creative Competition. Students create artwork, writing, or video responding to the theme of hope and belonging for refugees. Over 125 CSPD students were recognized in the 2026 competition.
• Westmead Catholic CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatherine McAuley is part of the Westmead Catholic Community which includes Parramatta Marist High, Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School, and Sacred Heart Primary. The centre of this community is the Sacred Heart parish. Students benefit from the shared resources and community connections of this educational cluster.
• Jarara Cultural CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJarara Cultural Centre is an integral part of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, working to share culture, build capacity, and provide pastoral care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families. The school participates in NAIDOC Week activities in collaboration with Jarara Cultural Centre, including a collaborative artwork titled 'Our River, Our Sky, Our Country, Our Story'.
• Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatherine McAuley is a member of AMSSA, a network of Mercy secondary schools across Australia. Students and staff participate in annual conferences focusing on Mercy values, social justice, and faith formation. The 2026 theme was 'Shining Lamps: Be the Light of Mercy'.
• Caritas AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in Caritas Australia's Project Compassion, a major social justice initiative supporting global charitable causes through fundraising and awareness-raising activities.
• St Vincent de Paul SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with St Vincent de Paul Society for social justice initiatives including Vinnies Van Night Patrol. Students volunteer at homeless services and community outreach programs.
• Mercy WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercy Works is the international development agency of the Sisters of Mercy. Catherine McAuley students engage with Mercy Works initiatives as part of their social justice education and Mercy tradition.
• Catholic CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents engage with Catholic Care services as part of social justice initiatives, connecting with community support programs for those in need.
• NSW Health Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVET partnership providing Certificate III in Human Services (Acute Care) to senior students. Students complete 80 hours of work placement in health settings. Partnership includes graduation ceremonies organized by NSW Health.
• School of Now ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPD's School of Now program offers Year 11 and 12 students access to extension courses and specialized electives through a hybrid learning format combining virtual and face-to-face teaching methods with expert HSC teachers.
• Western Sydney UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing university pathway opportunities. Popular destination for graduates with WSU being one of the four most popular universities among students.
• Camp KedronminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerYear 11 Biology students conduct fieldwork excursions at Camp Kedron, located within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Students investigate Ridge and Valley ecosystems, test water and soil quality, and study native species.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College: Catholic systemic girls' secondary school (Years 7-12) in North Sydney founded by the Sisters of Mercy — directly comparable to Catherine McAuley in faith tradition, single-sex model, diocesan governance structure, and NESA curriculum delivery.
• Loreto Kirribilli: Independent Catholic girls' secondary school (Years 7-12) on Sydney's lower north shore, run by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary — comparable in faith-based single-sex secondary model, academic orientation, and Sydney metropolitan catchment.
• Brigidine College St Ives: Catholic systemic girls' secondary school (Years 7-12) in St Ives on Sydney's upper north shore, run by the Brigidine Sisters — comparable in single-sex Catholic secondary model, religious charism, and HSC pathway orientation.
• Santa Sabina College: Catholic Dominican girls' school (Years K-12) in Strathfield, inner-western Sydney — comparable in Catholic single-sex secondary education model, comprehensive co-curricular offerings, and Sydney metropolitan positioning.
• Mercy Catholic College Chatswood: Catholic systemic girls' secondary school (Years 7-12) in Chatswood, founded by the Sisters of Mercy — comparable in Mercy heritage, Catholic single-sex secondary model, and diocesan governance structure within Sydney.
• St Ursula's College Kingsgrove: Catholic systemic girls' secondary school (Years 7-12) in Kingsgrove, southern Sydney — comparable in Catholic single-sex secondary model, comprehensive curriculum, and inner-Sydney/Metropolitan Catholic diocesan positioning.

Regional players

• Parramatta Marist High School: Catholic systemic boys' secondary school co-located in the Westmead Catholic Community and also operated by CSPD — directly comparable on governance, location, and CSPD network, though it serves boys and operates as a complement rather than direct competitor in the same Westmead catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Wenona School: Independent (non-Catholic) girls' school (Years K-12) in Sydney's north shore — broader competitor for the same fee-paying Sydney families seeking single-sex girls' education, with a much larger endowment and broader curriculum.
• MLC School: Independent Uniting Church girls' school (Years K-12) in Burwood, inner-western Sydney — broader competitor for fee-paying families seeking girls' education, comparable in academic orientation and Sydney metropolitan catchment.
• Pymble Ladies' College: Large independent Methodist girls' school (Years K-12) on Sydney's upper north shore — broader competitor in the Sydney girls' school market, comparable in academic prestige and HSC outcomes, though significantly larger and more premium-positioned.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgzdRl-9sMSxcAgC9_fL_Hg
• Facebookfacebook.com/catherinemcauleywestmead
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/catherine-mcauley-westmead
• Instagraminstagram.com/catherinemcauleywestmead

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Catherine McAuley Westmead