Hundreds of Western Sydney students from Years 9 to 12 and some who recently graduated, joined teachers, parents, carers, and educators at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta for the Beyond School, What's Next? Careers Expo hosted by Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD).
The event attracted more than 25 organisations such as civil construction company Gamuda, TAFE NSW, Ambrose Early Learning School Aged Care, Mining Australia, multiple universities, Universities Admission Centre (UAC), the Australian Defence Force along with careers advisors, Registered Training Organisations, employment services, and CSPD's Teacher Scholarship team to name a few.
Whether transitioning into full-time employment, seeking further education, or sourcing a traineeship or apprenticeship, students had meaningful conversations with experts in their field to help point them in the right direction.
“That's one of the great things about being here is being able to give back to the community, meeting new friends, and making a difference to young people,” said a representative from Western Sydney University’s Student Engagement team.
“It's a great opportunity if you’re not sure what you want to do in the future. There are so many organisations here with programs and apprenticeships that you can come and apply to.”
There was something for every student, helping them explore career and study pathways they might like to consider after school.
Executive Director of Schools Jack de Groot and Director Communications & Engagement Elizabeth Scully chatted with students, parents, and exhibitors as they toured the stalls.
“It's a great opportunity for students to have conversations with employers, trade schools, universities, and lots of other training institutions that could help them with their future,” said Jack.
“It's been a great morning meeting people from all sorts of places that help students explore their passions and interests and they can also get employment as they work through a training program. You can even work for Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese as a trainee teacher while completing further studies. There are many great opportunities to explore what you want to do after school.”
CSPD’s Jarara Cultural Centre was also in attendance, presenting different opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
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Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
From exchange student to German national champion! Congratulations to Year 10 student Douglas Pentecost, who has returned from his school exchange in Germany with rather more than improved language skills! While in Germany, Douglas took up the challenge of competing in the U16 German National Athletics Championships — and came away with GOLD in the discus with a phenomenal throw of 61.02m! Not a bad way to spend an exchange… go overseas to practise your German and come home a national champion! We are incredibly proud of you, Douglas. What an achievement! 🇩🇪 🥇 Blue Mountains Gazette Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Alumni Spotlight | Jed Berben | Class of 2025 We could not love this more! Seeing our graduates doing what they love is the best thing we could hope for as a school and Jed Berben, from the last year's HSC class is doing exactly that! Jed has been working at a cattle station located in the remote Northern Territory outback (in the Roper Gulf Region) for six months now. The station he is on comprises just over one million acres! Recently, Jed had the opportunity to go up in the chopper and experience mustering from the air! Great stuff Jed - we are all so happy for you and this year's Year 12 P.I. class are very jealous! #ringersinthetopend #alumni #dowhatyoulove Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
From exchange student to German national champion! Congratulations to Year 10 student Douglas Pentecost, who has returned from his school exchange in Germany with rather more than improved language skills! While in Germany, Douglas took up the challenge of competing in the U16 German National Athletics Championships — and came away with GOLD in the discus with a phenomenal throw of 61.02m! Not a bad way to spend an exchange… go overseas to practise your German and come home a national champion! We are incredibly proud of you, Douglas. What an achievement! 🇩🇪 🥇 Blue Mountains Gazette Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Alumni Spotlight | Jed Berben | Class of 2025 We could not love this more! Seeing our graduates doing what they love is the best thing we could hope for as a school and Jed Berben, from the last year's HSC class is doing exactly that! Jed has been working at a cattle station located in the remote Northern Territory outback (in the Roper Gulf Region) for six months now. The station he is on comprises just over one million acres! Recently, Jed had the opportunity to go up in the chopper and experience mustering from the air! Great stuff Jed - we are all so happy for you and this year's Year 12 P.I. class are very jealous! #ringersinthetopend #alumni #dowhatyoulove Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Last night, students, staff and families from most of the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese high schools came together for the Alchemy Photography Competition. St Columba's had five students amongst the finalists - congratulations to Ana W, Aiden C, Nicholas H (who had three photographs recognised in the finals), Max B and Zachary B - all of Year 11. And a special shout out to Max, who took out the Wildlife Category Prize, with his amazing photo "Spider". Thanks to the team at CAPTIVATE for once again providing our students with these incredible opportunities to grow and express their creativity. Thank you for bringing students, staff and families from so many different schools together to celebrate the arts. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Each term, some of our Gold Award students put service into action, making fresh sandwiches and snack packs of long-life food items for the Vinnies Van, supporting people experiencing hardship across Greater Sydney, including Parramatta and Mount Druitt. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to serve others and live our college motto: ‘to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God.’
18 Aug 2026
From Facebook
2026 Academic Showcase Last week, we celebrated something truly special at St Columba’s - students who are curious, passionate and willing to go that little bit further in their learning. Organised by SCCC teachers Stephanie Wilkie and Paul Elias, the Academic Showcase provides students with the space and time to explore a specific topic that captures their interest and to put in that extra 10% of effort. As Steph explains, the Showcase isn’t about perfection - it’s about motivation, passion, curiosity and the love of learning. It’s about giving students the opportunity to engage deeply, try something new and discover the value and reward that comes from learning and trying. We were also incredibly fortunate to welcome Greg Lee (Class of 2006) as our guest speaker. Greg challenged everyone to think about the extra 10%: What can you do today that will take you one step further? He encouraged our students to be passionate about what they do and reminded us of the importance of reflection as a powerful part of our own learning. A huge congratulations to all of our students who participated in the 2026 Academic Showcase. Your curiosity, commitment and willingness to share your learning with others is something to be celebrated. Thank you to Ms Wilkie, Mr Elias and all the other staff involved (and there were lots!) for creating such a wonderful opportunity for our students - and a very special thank you to Greg for returning to St Columba’s and sharing his time, wisdom and experience with our community. Because sometimes, it’s that extra 10% that makes all the difference. #StColumbas #AcademicShowcase #LoveOfLearning #Extra10Percent Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
14 Aug 2026
From Facebook
HSC Major Works Showcase 2026 It’s time to celebrate the incredible creativity, imagination and hard work of our HSC students! We warmly invite our families to come along to the St Columba’s HSC Major Works Showcase and experience the outstanding work our students have created across Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Society & Culture, Industrial Technology Timber, Textiles & Design, English Extension 2, Design & Technology, History Extension and Science Extension. Across two incredible nights: 🗓️ Tuesday 18 August | 4.00–6.30pm Drama Rec Theatre | 5.00–6.30pm Textiles & Design, Ngurra | 4.00–5.00pm 🗓️ Tuesday 1 September | 4.00–7.30pm Exhibitions, Ngurra | 4.00–6.00pm featuring Design & Technology, Industrial Technology Timber, Visual Arts, Society & Culture, English Extension 2, Science Extension and History Extension and Music Rec Theatre | 6.00–7.30pm Come along, explore the work and, most importantly, celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students. We’d love to see our St Columba’s families there!
08 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Our Engineering Club are enjoying an equipment upgrade - from toaster ovens and sandwich presses to a you beaut, state-of-the-art heat press - all thanks to the Western Sydney International Airport Soaring Scholarship that we were awarded earlier this year. The club members are busily turning waste into useful objects, keeping plastic out of landfill and giving it a second life. They have already built a shredder using the guide from Precious Plastic Community and prototyped coasters and guitar picks. Now with the heat press they are moving onto bigger products like clipboards. Families can keep waste out of landfill and support the Engineering Club by donating HDPE 2 plastic lids. FOR SAFETY, all lids must be washed and dried and can only be HDPE 2 (look for the 2 inside the triangle). Lids can be dropped off in the box in Nicky's office in the library. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
08 Aug 2026
From Facebook
It's late Friday afternoon and Andrew has found the perfect vantage point to contemplate the weekend ahead. #doesnteveryschoolhaveitsownpeacock
08 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations Jenna! First the gold and now the bronze! Outstanding! 🥇Gold 100m Freestyle s13 🥉Bronze 50m Freestyle S13 #jennawinsgold #jennawinsbronze Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games Australia
08 Aug 2026
From Facebook
We are incredibly proud to announce that our 2026 Book Week celebrations raised $4,396.06 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) — our biggest Book Week donation ever! The total was made possible through the wonderful generosity of our students, families and staff, who supported our Book Week costumes, picnic lunch, cake stall, Poem Apothecary and second-hand book stall. Every dollar raised will help support the incredible work of the ILF, bringing books, learning resources and literacy programs to children and communities across remote Australia. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is a charity that is particularly close to our hearts at St Columba’s. Supporting literacy, celebrating First Nations stories and languages, and helping children develop a lifelong love of reading are values that strongly resonate with our College community. A huge thank you to everyone who helped us reach this incredible total. What a wonderful way to celebrate Book Week — by helping share the joy and power of books with children and communities across Australia. If you’d like to learn more about the important work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, we encourage you to visit their website: www.ilf.org.au
05 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to Amelia (Y10) on her outstanding performance at the 2026 The Horse Den State Interschools Championships during the school holidays. In a very competitive field, Amelia and her pony Ajah finished 7th in the 1.1 dressage and first in the 1.2 dressage. The St Columba's community is very proud of Amelia's wonderful achievement!
05 Aug 2026
From Facebook
We love welcoming our alumni back to the College! Sebastian Andrews (College Captain - Class of 2023) called in today to see the new buildings and catch up with some of his former teachers. He agreed that the new buildings were 'just a little bit better' than the demountables that he learned in while he was a student here. Thanks for stopping by Sebastian, it was great to see you.