Southern Cross Catholic College

What Southern Cross Catholic College does

Southern Cross Catholic College Burwood is a Year 10–12 specialist Catholic college located at 17 Comer Street, Burwood, NSW, Australia, founded in 2010 and operated as a systemic school within the Sydney Catholic Schools network of 147 low-fee Catholic schools across the Sydney Archdiocese. The college integrates Vocational Education and Training (VET) with the Higher School Certificate (HSC), offering over 30 nationally recognised Certificate II and III qualifications across four streams: Creative Industries (Entertainment, Music Industries, Screen and Media), Technical Trades (Automotive, Construction, Furniture Making), Business and Technology (Business Services, IT, Retail Services), and Community Services (Beauty, Early Childhood Education and Care, Education Support, Hairdressing, Health, and Hospitality). It serves students seeking alternatives to traditional academic pathways, particularly those targeting trades, service industries, creative industries, and community services careers, alongside a part-time EVET cohort drawn from other secondary schools and a ViVA! performing arts sub-brand for HSC Dance, Drama, and Music students.

The college's go-to-market combines direct enrolment with a multi-step admissions process (expression of interest, discernment interview, letter of acceptance, orientation), supplemented by consortium Catholic school referrals, Open Days, Try Your Passion taster events, and digital marketing across Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Revenue streams include annual tuition fees of $5,711 (Year 10), $6,407 (Year 11), and $5,822 (Year 12), with term/monthly/fortnightly billing; government VET funding via the Trade Training Centres program; and enterprise learning revenue from on-campus hair and beauty appointments, restaurant bookings, catering, facility hire, and timber projects. Core technology is the Compass School Manager cloud-based student information system, providing parents with attendance, reporting, consent/payment, and parent-teacher conference booking via web and mobile app.

The institution has accumulated distinctive ecosystem assets — nearly 800 employer partners delivering over 26,000 hours of annual work placement, partnerships with Master Builders NSW, Motor Traders NSW, and St Vincent's Hospital, and industry-standard facilities including commercial kitchens, automotive workshops, beauty salons, health simulation labs, entertainment studios, and construction workshops. In 2025 it was named Secondary School of the Year (Non-Government) at the Australian Education Awards, the only NSW finalist in its category, and also received The Educator 5-Star Innovative Schools Award. Leadership rests with Principal Tammy Prestage, having transitioned from inaugural Principal Patrick O'Reilly (2010–2019).

Name

Southern Cross Catholic College

Legal name

Southern Cross Catholic College Burwood

Website

https://sccc.syd.catholic.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern Cross Catholic College is a Year 10–12 specialist Catholic college in Burwood, NSW, integrating vocational education and training with the HSC for students targeting trades, creative industries, health, hospitality, and performing arts careers across the Sydney Archdiocese.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Vocational Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

Keywords

• Vocational secondary education
• School-based apprenticeships
• HSC vocational training
• Catholic secondary college
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Burwood

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and School Fees: Annual tuition fees charged to students with payment options including term, monthly, or fortnightly payments. Additional charges for building levy, resource fees, and specific subject materials.
2. Enterprise Activities: Revenue generated from enterprise learning activities including hair and beauty appointments, restaurant bookings, catering orders, facility hire (auditorium and commercial kitchens), technical support services, and timber projects.
3. Government Funding for VET: Nationally Recognised Training qualifications funded through vocational education and training arrangements as part of the Trade Training Centres program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southern Cross Catholic College is a Year 10–12 Catholic co-educational secondary college that integrates the Higher School Certificate (HSC) with nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET), school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs), and an industry-based Enterprise Learning program. It also runs an EVET (External VET) program for students from other schools and specialist performing arts streams (ViVA! and Dance XLR8), serving senior secondary students seeking combined academic and vocational pathways in Sydney's inner west.

Product overview

Southern Cross Catholic College is a Year 10-12 specialist Catholic college offering a unified educational model that integrates Vocational Education and Training (VET) with the HSC. The college provides multiple pathways including full-time enrolment, part-time EVET programs, and the ViVA! Performing Arts Program for external students. Students can undertake certificate qualifications (Cert II and III levels) across Creative Industries, Technical Trades, Business and Technology, and Community Services streams. The Compass Portal serves as the central student information system for parents. Enterprise Learning provides hands-on industry experience through real business operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ViVA!: Performing Arts Program providing part-time option for secondary school students to study HSC Dance, Drama, Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension while maintaining enrollment at their current school. Started in 2017.
• The Southern Cross Advantage

Products and services

• Full-time Year 10–12 Enrolment (HSC + VET) Full-time senior secondary enrolment at the Burwood campus combining the Higher School Certificate (HSC) with nationally recognised VET courses, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs), and Enterprise Learning. Designed for Year 10–12 students (typically aged 15–18) and their families in the Sydney Archdiocese catchment seeking a Catholic secondary education that delivers both academic credentialing and vocational pathways.
• ViVA! Performing Arts Program A specialist performing arts program offered at the college's dedicated Burwood performing arts campus, providing intensive training in dance and related performing arts alongside the HSC. Targeted at senior secondary students seeking an integrated academic and specialist performing arts pathway within a Catholic college setting.
• Dance XLR8 Accelerated Pathway

Quantifiable outcome

• Students achieve 124 Certificate III and 42 Certificate II qualifications annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 1300 ApprenticecoreOthersEmployment and apprenticeship support organisation providing placement and career pathway opportunities for students undertaking vocational education.
• AIE (Academy of Interactive Education)minorOthersTechnology education provider offering pathways for students interested in interactive entertainment and digital technology careers.
• Apprenticeships Support AustraliacoreOthersGovernment-supported service helping businesses and students navigate school-based apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements.
• Australian College of Make Up and Special EffectsminorOthersSpecialised training provider in makeup and special effects offering pathways for beauty and entertainment students.
• Burwood CouncilminorOthersLocal government partnership providing community engagement opportunities and potential work placements for students.
• Catholic CareminorOthersCatholic welfare organisation providing work placement opportunities in community services for health and education support students.
• Catholic HealthcareminorOthersCatholic healthcare provider offering work experience and employment pathways for students pursuing health services careers.
• HTN Hospitality Employment SolutionscoreOthersHospitality recruitment specialist connecting students with employment and placement opportunities in hotels and restaurants.
• Little Academy Early Learning Child Care CentreminorOthersEarly childhood education centre providing work placement for students studying Early Childhood Education and Care.
• Master Builders NSWcoreOthersIndustry association for building and construction providing apprenticeship pathways, training support, and industry connections for construction students.
• Master Painters NSWminorOthersTrade association for painting contractors offering apprenticeship and employment pathways for construction pathway students.
• Master Plumbers NSWminorOthersPlumbing industry association providing connections for students pursuing plumbing apprenticeships and specialisations.
• Motor Traders NSWcoreOthersAutomotive industry association representing motor traders and offering pathways for automotive students into the vehicle industry.
• My GatewaycoreOthersApprenticeship and traineeship network supporting students in finding school-based and full-time employment in various industries.
• Phil Gilbert ToyotaminorOthersAutomotive dealership providing work placement and potential employment for automotive students.
• REINSW (Real Estate Institute NSW)minorOthersReal estate industry body providing pathways for business and retail services students into property careers.
• Rockpool Bar and GrillminorOthersHospitality venue providing work placement and employment opportunities for hospitality and food & beverage students.
• St Vincent's Hospital SydneycoreOthersMajor teaching hospital providing clinical placement opportunities for health services and nursing students.
• St Vincent's Private Hospital SydneyminorOthersPrivate hospital providing health industry work experience for students pursuing healthcare careers.
• Sydney Catholic SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent school system comprising 147 low-fee Catholic schools in the Sydney Archdiocese. Provides governance, funding, shared resources, VET curriculum coordination, and student referral network. Eleven Sydney Catholic schools pooled vocational educational funding to establish the college.
• TAFE NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment vocational education provider offering supplementary courses and pathways for students beyond college offerings. College recommends TAFE for additional qualifications.
• University of Notre DameminorOthersCatholic university offering higher education pathways for students completing vocational and HSC studies.
• World Skills AustraliaminorOthersSkills competition organisation providing opportunities for students to demonstrate vocational excellence and benchmark against national standards.
• Yallambee Village Aged CareminorOthersAged care facility providing community services work placements for students studying health and aged care.
• Ecstra FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial education foundation that partnered with Southern Cross to co-host FinEd Forum 2024, addressing financial literacy education in schools. Forum featured NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and 9News Money Editor Effie Zahos as speakers.
• MG (Automotive)minorOthersAutomotive manufacturer that partnered with Southern Cross for Channel 7 Sunrise television segment about car maintenance essentials, filmed in the college's automotive workshop.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Australian Catholic University: A national Catholic higher education institution offering pathways for SCCC graduates pursuing teaching, health, and arts degrees. Comparable as a Catholic education brand serving the Sydney Archdiocese student pipeline.
• Sydney Catholic Schools (system): The 147-school Catholic systemic operator that owns and governs SCCC. Relevant as the parent system providing distribution, governance, funding, and consortium referrals.

Broad incumbents

• TAFE NSW: New South Wales' government-owned vocational education and training provider offering Certificate II/III qualifications across the same trades, hospitality, health, and technology streams as SCCC. It is a broader, publicly subsidised incumbent that competes directly on price for VET pathways.

Regional players

• TAFE Queensland: Another Australian state-owned VET provider offering Certificate II/III qualifications across trades, hospitality, health, and creative industries. Comparable VET product mix but operates in Queensland rather than NSW.
• Box Hill Institute: A major Victorian TAFE provider delivering Certificate II/III across trades, hospitality, beauty, health, and creative industries. Comparable VET product portfolio and employer-led model, but operates in Victoria rather than NSW.
• Education Queensland - Senior Secondary Colleges: Queensland's dedicated senior secondary colleges (Years 11-12) offering vocational and academic pathways. Conceptually similar to SCCC as standalone senior secondary institutions, though in a different state.

Direct peers

• Newtown High School of the Performing Arts: A NSW public specialist secondary school offering an integrated academic and performing arts program. Comparable as a specialist senior secondary model focused on a particular pathway niche (arts), similar to how SCCC specialises in vocational pathways.
• CathWest Innovation College: A Catholic senior secondary college in Western Sydney offering applied and vocational learning integrated with the HSC. Closely matches SCCC's model of combining VET credentials with HSC completion within a Catholic education framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sccvc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbVqocLyCqM9hsaBEyUeaYg
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCCVCBurwood
• Instagraminstagram.com/southerncross_college
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-cross-catholic-vocational-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Cross Catholic College