Tumultuous Years: Change, Relevance & Lasalle Bankstown

What makes a smart education for a school where 89% of students come from a ‘Language Background Other than English’? LaSalle Catholic College Bankstown (LSCC) provides one answer, this in its Silver Jubilee year.

The College, founded by the De La Salle Brothers in classic working-class western Sydney in 1951, re-created itself in 1999 to build up from Year 10 De La Salle College to a full Year 12 College.   Today, with a staff of 116, it caters for a student body of 950 from 7 Catholic parishes and beyond. Students come from an increasingly diverse range of cultural and language backgrounds.

 In 2022, 96% % of Year 12 students attained the award of Higher School Certificate or equivalent vocational education and training qualification. The latter were 45% of its senior students who benefit from the on-site access to an ultra-modern vocational training facility, different from most Sydney Catholic systemic schools.

In the later 1990’s, the De La Salle Years 7-10 College on the same site as Benilde Catholic High School, the regional senior boys’ college, which shared facilities and some teaching with Nazareth College, the senior girls school. The Yr. 10 Mount St Joseph’s Milperra were keen to take in Bankstown’s senior girls. Simultaneously, there was a growing belief in the Catholic Education Office that Yrs 7-12 comprehensive schools were to be preferred.   This perceived systemic dysfunction led to the inauguration in 1999 of the new LSCC, midwifed by Br Ambrose Payne, a leader and principal at tertiary and secondary educational level.

Local ethnic Australians were attracted by the marketing of a full-secondary school. The school population of 390 boys (Yrs 7-10) swelled notably. The motto, chosen by Br. Ambrose at the school’s inception, of “Commitment  Confidence  Success” suggested personal belief, growing commitment and determination in pursuing academic achievement. They remain the values and desired outcomes of the College after 25 years.

By 2004 when Br Ambrose left the school, it was in a consolidated position: there was better academic results; a clear stability of teaching staff was observable. An experiment with some co-education continued till 2008, as a small number of girls were admitted to Years 11 and 12. (This opened up a horizon for later full co-education in 2016).

Br John Pill (2005-08) succeeded the inaugural Principal. He said: “I have become part of a community composed of caring and professional staff, energetic and friendly students and supportive parents.” He was succeeded by Br Peter Ryan for four years, as the last Brother Principal. In 2011, the College celebrated a Diamond Jubilee- the presence of the De La Salle Brothers at Chapel Road in two previous institutions and at LSCC. The current Principal, Mr. Michael Egan, previously leader at De La Salle Catholic College Caringbah, took over in 2013 and was to superintend significant changes.

The year 2014 saw a new modern Learning Centre. This was followed by major renovations of the Benilde block with open learning areas, new science laboratories and a lecture theatre.

 A most significant development came also in 2014 when the new St. Yon Training Trade Centre began operating, supplying the need for high-quality vocational training and trade education; it also took in students coming from innumerable Catholic schools in the Sydney region, so that currently it has 250 VET students.

In 2016, an exciting new chapter in the school’s history began with girls’ entry into Year 7, making LaSalle a co-educational institution. By 2017 there were 700 students. More recently, in 2021 the special needs of various students were being enhanced with the opening of the ‘LaSalle Heart Building’.

Change has been a constant factor in LSCC’s extraordinary growth. Throughout “the spirit of St John Baptist de LaSalle is tangible,” says the Principal Michael Egan in his Annual Report 2022 to Sydney Catholic Schools. It must be noted that over the past 11 years, Michael’s leadership, forward-thinking and steady direction has been a remarkable boon to the College. One of many staff who could be mentioned as well a faithful, professional staff body, is Br Gerry Barrett who from 2008 has been a powerful influence on the lives of many young people.

Today, with 25 years under the belt, the school can proudly say, in Michael Egan’s words, “the College is embedded in traditional Catholic values and the Lasallian philosophy of faith, service and community. We aim for students who enrol at the College to embrace quickly the College culture as one that asks them to develop skills, values, and attitudes to enhance their natural gifts, extending their opportunities through academic challenges, rigorous endeavour, and spiritual growth.” 

The critical assessment is given by the students themselves. Their leaders in 2023 articulate that LSCC is “defined by the people in it” who in their diversity share and collaborate, in a community which aspires for excellence, with a Christian humility and compassion (paraphrased).

A great enterprise, a great heritage!

Author: Br Gary Wilson