St Joseph's College (sometimes referred to colloquially as Joeys or SJC) is an independent Catholic secondary school for boys, located in the inner Geelong suburb of Newtown, Victoria, Australia. The school was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1935, who continue to run the school, and provides education from years 7–12, offering a broad range of curricular choices for its students in middle and senior schools including VCE, VET and VCE-VM .
In 2014 the Year 9 Westcourt Campus began operation, and the Joseph Innovation Trade Training Centre also commenced classes offering a broad range of study options. The current principal is Tony Paatsch. The two Deputy Principals are Lisa Pope and Mark Kennedy.
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History
Edmund Rice of Waterford in Ireland founded the congregation of Christian Brothers in 1802 for the Christian education of boys, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds. St Joseph's College Geelong was founded in 1935 by the Christian Brothers as a day school and, by 1940, had added a boarding school. Today it is a day school only, providing a comprehensive education for boys in the Geelong region. The college's Latin motto, "Ad Alta Virtute", translates as "Strive for the Highest" in English.
Curriculum
St Joseph's College offers its senior students the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
Campuses
Edmund Rice Campus
The Edmund Rice campus of St Joseph's College is located on Aphrasia Street, in the Geelong suburb of Newtown.
Westcourt Campus
The Westcourt campus of St Joseph's College is located on Minerva Road, in the Geelong suburb of Herne Hill. The campus caters for Year 9 students and has a chapel on the campus that opened in 2016.
House system
St Joseph's College runs a house system which is based on points earned. There are four houses at St Joseph's College: Brophy, Butler, Foley and Jordan. Each house is named in honour of a Brother who gave outstanding service to the college. Upon entering Year 7, all boys attending St Joseph's are assigned a house. There is a house captain and vice captain for each house. The houses compete for the Adam Bryant Memorial House Competition Shield, awarded in memory of Adam Bryant, a student between 1982 and 1992 and former House Captain, who died as a result of a car accident in 1993. Points are awarded for participation in a variety of activities and initiatives throughout the school year, including swimming and athletics days, Edmund Rice Day, Blood Bank, Peter Larkins Hill Run and many more. The houses are as follows:
Sport
St Joseph's is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC).
St Joseph's has won the following ACC premierships:
Cricket – 2020
Cross Country – 2017 2025
Football (6) – 1994, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2016
Golf – 2018
Soccer (5) – 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2025
Notable alumni
Entertainment, media and the arts
Mark Beretta – journalist; ten-time Australian champion in water skiing
Mitch Cleary – sports reporter, Channel 7
Peter Larkins – sports doctor and presenter on The Sunday Footy Show
Xavier Rudd – folk singer
Politics, religion, welfare, public service and the law
The Hon. Justice Bernard Bongiorno – Supreme Court Judge
John Hyde – former Member for Perth, former Shadow Minister for Culture and the Arts; Multicultural Interests; Planning; Heritage
Sports
Jimmy Bartel – Australian rules footballer for Geelong Cats
Damian Bourke – former Australian rules footballer for Geelong Cats and Brisbane Bears
Tim Bourke – former Australian rules footballer for Geelong Cats
Allen Christensen – Australian rules footballer for Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats
Terry Callan – Australian rules footballer for Geelong
Tim Darcy – Australian rules footballer for Geelong
Luke Dahlhaus – Australian rules footballer for Geelong Cats
Tom Doedee – Australian rules footballer for Adelaide
Brayden Ham – Australian rules footballer for Essendon
Jack Henry – Australian rules footballer for Geelong Cats
Shaun Higgins – Australian rules footballer for North Melbourne
Cameron Johnston – NFL player for Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans
Cameron Ling – Australian rules footballer for Geelong Cats
Matt Ling – Australian rules footballer playing for Sydney Swans
Michael Mansfield – Australian rules footballer
Patrick McCartin – Australian rules footballer for St Kilda Saints