How to Enrol
Step-by-step guide to enrolling at St Mary's College: the application process, priority criteria, documents to supply, fees, key dates for Prep and Year 7 intakes, and mid-year enrolments.
Thank you for considering St Mary's College for your child. Our main intake years are Prep and Year 7, with places in other year levels offered as vacancies arise. The process is the same for every year level: application, interview, offer, acceptance. Our Registrar, Mrs Kate O'Brien, manages every enrolment personally and is happy to talk you through any step on (03) 9555 0120.
The process at a glance
| Step | What happens | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Visit | Attend a College Tour or Open Day (Sunday 8 March 2027, 10:00am–1:00pm). Not compulsory, but strongly recommended. | Any time |
| 2. Apply | Complete the online Application for Enrolment (link in the Parent Portal public area, or paper form from Reception) and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee. Upload the documents listed below. | Prep and Year 7: by the closing dates below. Other years: any time. |
| 3. Interview | Every family is interviewed — Junior applicants with the Head of Junior School, Ms Priya Natarajan; Senior applicants with the Head of Senior School, Mr Tom Brennan, or a Deputy Principal. Interviews take about 30 minutes; the child attends. | Prep: June of the year before entry. Year 7: Term 3 of Year 5 (two years before entry). |
| 4. Offer | Written offer letter and enrolment agreement emailed to parents. | Prep: late June. Year 7: mid-October, two years before entry. |
| 5. Accept | Return the signed enrolment agreement and pay the $600 acceptance deposit (credited against the first fee instalment) within three weeks. | As per offer letter |
| 6. Transition | Prep transition sessions (Term 3–4) and Year 7 Orientation Day (November) before starting. | Year before entry |
Key dates
| Intake | Applications close | Interviews | Offers sent | Accept by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prep 2027 | Closed Friday 29 May 2026 — late applications welcome, a small number of places remain | Completed | Friday 26 June 2026 | Friday 17 July 2026 |
| Year 7 2027 | Closed August 2025 — waitlist only | Completed | Sent October 2025 | — |
| Prep 2028 | Friday 28 May 2027 | Monday 7 – Friday 18 June 2027 | Friday 25 June 2027 | Friday 16 July 2027 |
| Year 7 2028 | Closed Friday 21 August 2026 — late applications go to the waitlist | Monday 7 – Friday 25 September 2026 | Friday 16 October 2026 | Friday 6 November 2026 |
| Year 7 2029 | Friday 20 August 2027 | September 2027 | Friday 15 October 2027 | Friday 5 November 2027 |
Year 7 timelines follow the common Melbourne Catholic secondary schools timetable, so you can apply to more than one college and receive all offers on the same date.
Priority criteria
St Mary's is a Catholic college and, when applications exceed places, we follow the enrolment priorities set out in our Enrolment Policy:
- Baptised Catholic children with a sibling currently enrolled at the college
- Baptised Catholic children from St Mary of the Cross Parish (Wattle Creek), then from neighbouring parishes without a Catholic school
- Children with a sibling currently enrolled who are not Catholic
- Children from other Christian denominations
- Children of other faiths or no faith whose families support the Catholic ethos of the college
Within each category, current students of St Mary's Junior School are guaranteed a Year 7 place provided the application is lodged by the closing date. Children of past students and of staff are noted but do not override the categories above. We ask every family, of any faith, to be willing for their child to participate fully in Religious Education, Mass and the college's faith life.
Documents to supply with your application
Please upload clear scans or photos; originals may be requested at interview.
- Birth certificate (or passport)
- Baptism certificate, and certificates of any other sacraments received (if applicable)
- Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (required by law for Prep; all levels for our records)
- Proof of address (a current utility bill or rates notice)
- Most recent two school reports and latest NAPLAN results (Years 1–12 applicants)
- Any parenting plans, court orders or intervention orders relating to the child
- Visa details for children who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents (note: the college is not CRICOS-registered and cannot enrol students on student visas)
- Reports from paediatricians, psychologists, speech pathologists or allied health professionals, if your child has a diagnosed disability, additional learning need or medical condition — this lets Mr Sam Devlin, our Learning Diversity Leader, plan adjustments from day one
- Health Care Card, if you wish to apply for CSEF or a bursary
Enrolments in other year levels
Places in Years 1–6 and 8–12 depend on vacancies, which typically arise when families move. Apply at any time; we will interview you within three weeks and hold your child on the waitlist for the year level. Mid-year starts are welcome for Years 1–10. For Years 11–12 we generally accept students only at the start of Year 11, and subject availability applies. Families relocating from interstate or overseas should contact the Registrar directly.
What it costs
Tuition fees for 2026 are $4,850 (Prep–Year 2), $5,150 (Years 3–6), $9,300 (Years 7–9) and $10,450 (Years 10–12), plus a $650 capital levy per family, with sibling discounts of 10% for the second child, 25% for the third and free tuition for the fourth and subsequent children. Full details, payment options and concessions are on Fees & Payments. If cost is a barrier, please read about our Scholarships & Bursaries or speak confidentially with the Business Manager. We do not want a family to rule out St Mary's on fees alone before talking to us.
After you accept
You will receive a welcome pack with your child's House allocation, Parent Portal login, uniform list and the relevant transition dates: Prep 2027 or Year 7 2027. The New Family FAQ answers the most common first-year questions.
Contact
Registrar (Enrolments) — Mrs Kate O'Brien Phone (03) 9555 0120 · Email enrol@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au · Reception, St Joseph's Building, 14 Chapel Road, Wattle Creek · Monday–Friday 8:00am–4:30pm during term.