In 2019, McCrindle Research surveyed parents living in the Greater Western Sydney area and found the overwhelming majority (73%) are looking for the integration of technology and critical thinking skills into their child’s education.
Based on this research, Australian Christian College Marsden Park set out to design a high-tech hub with state-of-the-art STEM learning facilities. These including virtual reality suites, multiple video editing rooms with green screens, film and photography studios, podcast booths, Mac labs and a lecture theatre.
The new facilities accommodate the school’s substantial enrolment growth. In just five years, the school’s enrolments have tripled, from 667 students in 2019 to more than 2,000 students as of Term 1, 2024.
On Monday, the new three-storey high-tech learning hub officially opened, with the school’s principal Brendan Corr welcoming guests, including NSW Education Minister, Prue Car; Blacktown City Council members; Board members; staff, students, and their families.
Students will have access to the buildings immediately, getting their hands on high-tech equipment and brand-new classrooms with the support and oversight of fulltime industry professionals.
A hub to ‘engage, challenge and delight’
The new three-storey high-tech learning hub is fitted out with a range of 21st century learning facilities, while the Secondary building will accommodate over 650 students. Both buildings were supported by the Building Grants Assistance Scheme (BGAS), a program funded by the NSW Government and administered by the AISNSW Block Grants Authority.
“These new facilities put us in an ideal position as educators to prepare our students for the rapidly changing workforce they will enter,” Corr said.
“They’ll have access to a teaching environment that will engage, challenge and delight them.”
Corr said the opening of the new building comes at a time when the world of education is continuing to embrace innovative teaching methodologies and further integrating technology into the classroom.
“We’re thankful to the State Government for the funding assistance to provide our school community with these campus enhancements,” he said.