Our College
WERRIBEE SECONDARY COLLEGE | Live Worthily
Welcome to Werribee Secondary College, a single-campus, co-educational, years 7 to 12 College of over 1600 students. The College is the longest established secondary school in the Wyndham area, with a proud tradition of academic excellence.
The College is accredited with the Council of International Schools (CIS), and in 2013 became the first Victorian Government school to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. We are proud of our cuturally diverse student body, where students from many backgrounds learn and socialise together in harmony and with mutual respect.
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello and welcome.
My name is Amanda Mullins, Principal of Werribee Secondary College.
Our college has a strong academic focus and our history of results show some outstanding achievements. We believe that every student can achieve success and our teachers work very hard to adapt their teaching and learning strategies to ensure excellent student outcomes are achieved by all our students.
We celebrate diversity and interculturalism at Werribee Secondary College. Our core value of respect underpins our behaviours on a daily basis.
I am proud of our college’s high academic expectations and outcomes. In addition, we are committed to developing our students social, emotional and physical wellbeing so that their journey to adulthood is a happy, healthy and resilient one.
Werribee Secondary College is an outstanding secondary school and I look forward to welcoming you.
Ms Amanda Mullins
Principal
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Mr Kristyan D’aprano
Junior School
Kristyan’s devotion to the curriculum and student achievement develops young adults capable of life long learning and success in their future studies and careers.
Ms Joanna Sommers
Middle School
Joanna is an asset to our Middle years team, with excellent knowledge of reporting, educational policies and the IB diploma programme including IB Link.
Mr Daniel Marget
Middle School
Dan is committed to student and staff development, wellbeing, and curriculum. His passions lie in inclusive curriculum development and positive behaviour programs.
Ms Narelle Bean
Senior School
Narelle is highly versed and experienced in curriculum design for VCE, VET and IB programs, assisting our students in becoming active and inquisitive global citizens.
DIRECTORS & COORDINATORS
2024 Staff Contacts
Directors:
Mr Sarah Hill
Head of Junior School
9741 1822
Ms Lesley McLaughlin
Head of Middle School
9741 1822
Ms Claire Garmaz
Head of Senior School
9741 1822
Coordinators:
Ms Jodie Hugo
Year 7 Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 629
Mr Jonathan Lynch
Year 8 Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 628
Mr Chris Keegan
Year 12 Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 624
Ms Joanne Hammond
Year 11 Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 643
Ms Jenny Devereux
Careers Coordinator
9741 1822
Ms Renee Dowling
Director of Wellbeing
9741 1822
Mr Mitchell Gavin
Year 9 Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 644
Ms Casey Hart
Year 10 Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 641
Ms Dora Stankovic
VCAL Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 631
Ms Joanna Sommers
IB Coordinator
9741 1822
Ext: 622
Ms Catherine Bailey
International Students
9741 1822
Ms Suzanne McGlone
VET Coordinator
9741 1822
OUR VISION
Werribee Secondary College is a leader in international education in the Victorian state education system. We implement the best quality educational practices evident throughout Australia and internationally. The Werribee Secondary College community “lives worthily”.
We are adaptable life-long learners, who are confident, creative and resilient individuals, empowered to shape the world in which we live.
At Werribee Secondary College we strive for success in all the chosen endeavours of our students. We nurture the values of respect and responsibility. We respect, and are responsible for embracing our identity and that of others; taking care of our local and global communities, and valuing the right to learn.
WERRIBEE SECONDARY COLLEGE MISSION
I respect my own right to learn and that of others, and I recognise my responsibility to become a lifelong learner.
I respect the diverse cultures, religions, languages, beliefs, genders, sexual orientation and the specific needs of those around me. I respect my own role within this community and take responsibility to show respect for both myself and others.
I respect the local and global communities within which I live. I understand my responsibility in protecting these communities to ensure a safe and sustainable future in which everyone feels they belong.
OUR AFFILIATIONS
COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Werribee Secondary College became a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS) in 2006, demonstrating that it met the rigourous standards required of CIS member-schools. The College was most recently re-accredited in 2023.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE ORGANIZATION
Werribee Secondary College became the first Victorian government school to be authorised to offer senior students the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). The college’s first cohort was enrolled to study the IBDP in 2013 and our IB students have since produced excellent results.
OUR PUBLICATIONS
2023 Year 12 Result Summary
Annual Reports
The College is required to produce an Annual Report each year, which is tabled at the College Council Annual General Meeting. From April each year, the Annual Report is available to download from our website. The format of the Annual Report is mandated by the DET. Performance reports and other information for every Australian school are publicly available via the MySchool website. The MySchool website is administered by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
Strategic & Annual Implementation Plans
Werribee Secondary College is committed to continuous improvement, and to this end is guided by its School Strategic Plan (SSP) which is reviewed each four years in accordance with the policies and procedures as determined by the Department of Education and Training (DET). Each year the College develops an Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) which articulates the focus of the school’s efforts to deliver the objectives of the SSP. The School Strategic Plan and associated Annual Implementation Plans are endorsed by College Council.
Performance reports and other information for every Australian school are publicly available via the MySchool website. The MySchool website is administered by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
View the 2020-2024 College Strategic Plan
SCHOOL COUNCIL
The Werribee Secondary College School Council meets once a month, with the prime responsibilities to oversee the schools direction on finance, strategic planning, child safety and policy development and review. Each year, the College annual review is presented at the Council AGM and discussed, before being authorized by the Council President once all members are satisfied.
Nominations for election to School Council are called by the Principal in February of each year. All parents and guardians of a student at Werribee Secondary College are eligible to stand for election as a Parent Member.
The council contains sub-committees who meet to discuss and report on specific areas:
- Finance
- Curriculum & Management
- Parents & Friends
Copies of each council meeting agenda are available to the school community on Compass.
Council Members (2024-2025)
Council President & Parent Member: Dr Damian Marinaro
Vice President & Parent Member: Mr Nurul Khan
Treasurer & Parent Member: Ms Almas Waleed
Parent Members: Ms Bess Crimston, Ms Magda Kulbicka, Ms Fay Tierney, Mr Peter Wreford
Student Members: Ms Shauniya Kingsleypillai, Ms Ashely Zeogar
DET members: Ms Amanda Mullins, Ms Narelle Bean, Mr Daniel Marget, Ms Joanna Sommers, Mr Kristyan D’Aprano
Ex Officio: Mr Scott Tanner
OUR HISTORY
Werribee Secondary College is the longest established secondary school in the Wyndham area, with a proud tradition of academic excellence. With very high demand for enrolments since 2000, the College continues to offer over 1560 students a high quality education, designed to assist them to develop skills and competencies, and to acquire the knowledge needed to meet future challenges.
In 1858 the First ‘Wyndham School’ was established, which became the Werribee Common School in 1862. In 1873 ‘Werribee School’ commenced under new state school legislation identified as State School 649
Proclaimed in 1921 and officially opened May 1923, Werribee Higher Elementary School ran up until the establishment of Werribee High School in 1955
In 1956 Werribee High School opened in the Duncans Road location, then was elevated from a Class II to a Class I school in 1960 following extensive building and facility upgrades. Werribee High School was officially declared open by the Minister of Education in 1961.
Werribee High School/ Werribee City Council construction of the Education Community Activity Centre was completed
The SEAL select entry level program was introduced at Werribee Secondary College
The international student program was established, opening the College to students from around the world
Fire destroyed the technology wing buildings which comprised about one third of the College’s permanent buildings
Werribee Secondary College was (and remains) accredited with the Council of International Schools
Werribee Secondary College was granted the IB Diploma Programme in 2009, with its first official program intake in 2013
2017 saw the completion and opening of the brand new recital center, followed by the completion of the college re-build in 2019.
POLICIES & CHILD SAFETY
Werribee Secondary College is committed to the education, safety, health and wellbeing of all students.
COLLEGE POLICIES
- Assessment Policy
- Academic Honesty Policy
- Admissions Policy
- Attendance Policy
- Bullying Prevention & Response Policy
- BYODD Program & Devices
- BYODD Acceptable Use
- Using Technologies Appropriately
- ePlanner & MDM Clarification (App4)
- Uniform Policy
- Mobile Phone Policy
- Inclusive Education and Special Educational Needs Policy
- IB Language Policy
- International Student Homestay Policy
- Staff Register Policy
- First Aid Policy
- Health Care Needs Policy
- Anaphylaxis Policy
- Asthma Policy
- Administration of Medication Policy
- Smoking and Vaping Ban Policy
- Visitors Policy
- Volunteers Policy
- Duty of Care Policy
- Child Safety Code Of Conduct
- Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy
- Child Safety Responding & Reporting Obligations Policy & Procedures
- Child Safety Risk Register
- Aboriginal Learning Wellbeing & Safety Action Plan
- Student Wellbeing & Engagement Policy
PRIVACY & CCTV INFORMATION
CCTV PRIVACY NOTICE:
Werribee Secondary College has decided to install a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system at our school.
This Privacy Notice outlines how the CCTV system will be used, including the use and disclosure of any footage produced by the CCTV system so as to be consistent with Victorian privacy law.
Need for CCTV
Our school has an obligation to ensure the school environment is safe and secure, and fulfil our duty of care to students, staff and visitors. The CCTV system assists our school to fulfil these obligations and to prevent and manage other inappropriate behaviour on school grounds. CCTV also provides enhanced capability to protect our school’s assets against vandalism and theft.
Use of CCTV
Consistent with our school’s obligations set out above, our school may use CCTV cameras to:
- prevent, support and verify incidents involving
- criminal behaviour – of anyone on school grounds
- staff misconduct
- other inappropriate behaviour – including of students, staff, visitors or members of the public. For example, this means the school may use CCTV footage of incidents to help inform decisions about student management
- verify and investigate other incidents involving students, staff and visitors (for example incidents in which a person has sustained injury, loss or damage on school premises)
- to provide the Department with visual coverage during emergencies.
In limited circumstances live CCTV footage may also be viewed by our school or Department staff. For more information please refer to the Department’s policy: CCTV in Schools – Installation and Management (CCTV Policy).
CCTV cameras are NOT
- located in private areas such as toilets, changing rooms, dressing rooms, showers, or other areas where individual privacy is paramount
- used to monitor student or staff work performance
- hidden or covert, except in limited circumstances and in accordance with the Department’s CCTV policy.
Location of CCTV cameras in our school
In our school, CCTV cameras are located in:
- school entrances
- corridors
- external travel/walkways
- locker areas
- computer labs
- machinery rooms
- classrooms
- secure storage rooms
- ovals/ sporting facilities
- playgrounds
- courtyards
A notice is located at the school’s entrances, which alerts people to the presence of cameras and this CCTV Privacy Notice.
Access to CCTV footage
CCTV footage is only accessed for the purposes set out in this Privacy Notice and the Department’s CCTV Policy.
Request to view footage
When using CCTV for the purposes listed under the heading ‘Use of CCTV’ the principal may show specific footage of an incident to those directly involved, including relevant staff, students and/or their parents, provided:
- the principal considers it appropriate and necessary in order to support parents to understand the specifics of an incident that has taken place so they can provide appropriate support to their child or for a staff member to better understand an incident
- it would not cause a health, wellbeing or safety risk to any other person
- it would not be an unreasonable intrusion into another person’s privacy.
Please note, our school cannot provide copies of CCTV footage to staff, students or parents The Department must be contacted where these requests are made. Please refer to the Department’s CCTV Policy.
Storage of footage
- CCTV footage is stored locally on the school’s server. CCTV footage for Vaping Sensor is store on cloud storage.
- CCTV footage is kept for no more than 42 days. If our school has not used CCTV footage in any of the ways set out above, and there has been no request to view or access footage during this period, the footage is deleted.
- Where CCTV footage has been used to verify an incident or where it is required to be retained for legal reasons, our school will manage and securely retain the footage in accordance with the retention requirements set out in the Department’s Records Management Policy.
What if you have questions?
For more information of how our school may use the CCTV system and who may access the footage, please see the Department’s CCTV Policy.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of the CCTV system in our school, please contact the school to discuss: Scott Tanner, Operations Manager, 03 9741 1822