St Augustine’s College in Augustine Heights has officially become the most linguistically diverse campus within the Brisbane Catholic Education system, with students now speaking 56 different languages in their homes.
The college achieved this milestone as the broader Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) network reached a record scale of 80,000 students across 139 countries of birth. This growth has prompted a physical transformation of the Augustine Heights campus, including the recent addition of a sixth stream of secondary classes and the construction of the expanded Giramee Hall.
These infrastructure projects are designed to support a student body that includes children born in nations as varied as Albania, Cambodia, Brazil, and Afghanistan. Local families at the college now share a community where Tagalog, Punjabi, Portuguese, and Aboriginal languages are heard alongside English in daily school life.
Academic Success Through Cultural Variety
While St Augustine’s leads in language numbers, other nearby campuses are proving that this variety leads to higher academic results. St Thomas More College in Sunnybank, which ranks as the third most diverse school in the system, was recently named by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority as a school making a significant difference.
Principal Les Conroy noted that the NAPLAN results at his school show that having students from 25 different countries is a primary driver of learning growth. He stated that the different perspectives and rich cultural backgrounds students bring into the classroom actually strengthen the overall educational environment rather than complicating it.
Practical Support for New Arrivals
The commitment to a global community extends beyond the classroom and into the school workforce through the Work and Welcome program. At Clairvaux MacKillop College, this initiative provides real-world employment to refugees and migrants to help them establish careers in Australia.
One recent participant, a refugee from the Republic of Burundi named Douce, used her time working in the college canteen to build professional hospitality skills. The program operates across 146 schools and multiple offices in South East Queensland, aiming to turn the challenges of migration into long-term career stability for new residents.
Strengthening First Nations Leadership
Parallel to these international connections, BCE is increasing its focus on First Nations identity through the Molum Sabe impact domain for 2026-2027. This month, more than 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are gathering for dance workshops across the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast.
These sessions, led by cultural engagement officers like Gracey McGrath, provide a safe space for young people to connect with their heritage through song and storytelling. Senior Manager Mayrah Driese explained that these immersions are a priority for the organisation because they help build leadership skills among Indigenous youth.
Professional Growth for Educators
To ensure school staff can properly support such a varied population, new Cultural Awareness Days have been launched for 2026 at the Ngutana-Lui Cultural Studies Centre. Teachers and administrative staff participate in sessions that explore the BCE Cultural Capability Framework and First Nations spirituality.
These training days include practical activities like weaving and yarning circles to help staff understand how intergenerational history affects modern learning. By deepening their awareness of First Nations knowledge, educators are better equipped to meet the needs of the diverse student groups found in growing suburbs like Augustine Heights.
Published Date 27-March-2026
