Blog

Recently we expanded our operations with a new campus, in the culturally diverse, rapidly changing suburb of Epping. The opening ceremony was officiated by Donna Davis, Member of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. Also present was David Collins PSM with senior staff of NSW State Training, Board members of Macquarie Community College, local service providers, staff and local students.

The theme of Refugee Week 2023, Finding Freedom, explores the concept of freedom and what it means to be free, including living without fear, having basic human rights upheld, and living without fear of persecution. To understand the sacrifices, challenges and decisions a refugee experiences, we interviewed our Advanced English student Denys Levchenko, who left the life he built in Ukraine to secure the safety of his family.

Results from The National Student Outcomes Survey are out! It revealed that Macquarie Community College is helping more Australians find employment, while meeting an unprecedented workforce shortage across multiple sectors, through its tailored training programs. The 2022 National Student Outcomes Survey was conducted by NCVER into VET graduate outcomes and satisfaction. It highlighted the success of the College in: - Improving employment outcomes for students - Increasing student satisfaction with training. The NSW Department of Education continues to recognise Macquarie Community College as a high performing provider.

We are excited to announce that we will be opening an additional new campus in Epping to cater for the growth of the College and our School, Gateway Community High.  The new site in Epping is just a 5-minute drive from our existing Carlingford campus and is on Level 3 of a modern low-rise building on the corner of Carlingford Road and Rawson Street at Epping.

Macquarie Community College recently welcomed senior executives from the NSW Department of Education on a visit to our Carlingford campus – the shared home of the College and Gateway Community High school. The Department delegation included members from a range of teams keen to see and understand how Macquarie Community College Group offers such a diverse range of inclusive and affordable programs to its diverse range of students.

Macquarie Community College celebrates Harmony Week 2023 with various events across our campuses.

Pam Kaur Sunner completed a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at Macquarie Community College. Pam came to Australia from Punjab, India in 1990 with her family. Pam took on a number of caring roles within her family including, her elderly parents and children of family members as well as her own children. After she commenced her Diploma at Macquarie Community College, she also endured the loss of two close family members but resolved to continue studying. Pam successfully completed her Diploma and has gone on to continue to work in childcare as a Diploma-trained educator.

We welcome 2023 with much excitement as we return to some kind of norm. There is something about starting a new year that encourages us to pause and reflect on how we can improve ourselves. Most of us will make that annual new year's resolution. Whether it's "exercise more", "change careers", and "learn new things", here are some tips on how to keep those plans in place and follow through your resolutions for 2023.

In celebration of Refugee Week, one of our past students, Justine, was selected by SydWest Multicultural Services to have her portrait taken. Justine arrived in 2004 from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon arrival, she worked hard to learn English at Macquarie Community College. Since then, she has also gained 2 Diplomas and a Bachelor of Social Science and now works in a State Member's Office where she organises various community programs. Justine is also a mother to 6 children.

Justine Ndayi is a multi-lingual, highly educated woman in a public facing role in the State Member's Office. She has come a very long way both geographically and academically in the last 25 years. She puts this down, in no small part, to Macquarie Community College and the Government-sponsored English language program offered to her as a new Australian immigrant. This is the remarkable story of Congolese refugee Justine Ndayi, who used education to revolutionise her life direction!