Founded in 2024, Yarrabing Secondary College is situated 35km north-west of Melbourne. Initially, the school had an interim name of Aintree Secondary School and is located in a rapidly growing suburb of outer Melbourne, Aintree. Our college was the first government educational option for secondary students in the area.
In the formation of Yarrabing Secondary College, parents, students, college staff and the community guided the formation of the school and its governance.
The name Yarrabing (pronounced yarra-bing), is a Woi- wurrung word of the Wurundjeri people meaning white gum. At official functions and assemblies, the Wurudjeri people and Kulin nation are acknowledged. In addition, and at the central meeting area of our college, both Australian and Indigenous flags are proudly flown from the flag masts.
Our College Logo comprises of a shield on an ink blue background, with the letter “Y” from Yarrabing at the centre of the shield and our name at the bottom.
We are proud to present a logo that represents the land on which our school was built. The key element is, in fact, a native white gum tree. It has been depicted by the spiky white blossoms these trees produce. The icon portrays a sense of natural learning and structured education, while the symbolism of the flower creates the impression of growing and moving forward. The spiked white blossoms also look out with aspiration and respect to our community and to our world.
The shorter white stem of the letter “Y” uses a very traditional font emphasizing that the college will always honour its community traditions with the longer light blue stem honouring that we are built next to the Kororoit Creek.
Our 4 school values are also embedded into the key element. Our values of respect, responsibility, and high expectations all unite and collaborate together to form its design.
Our College colours – Ink Blue, White and Sky Blue – are incorporated in our logo.
The Project began in the second quarter of 2022 with the completion of the Stage 1 works in Term 1 2024, helping the growing local population in its first year of operation. After opening to Year 7 students only in 2024, the college will then grow by one year level thereafter and be totally established offering a comprehensive senior school program by 2029. When fully established, the school will have 1200 students enrolled from Year 7 to 12 and 130 school staff members including wellbeing support.
Initially, the school was known by its interim name, Aintree Secondary School, during planning and design until it was officially named Yarrabing Secondary College in July 2023. The school community was given a choice of two Indigenous names by the Victorian Government; Muyan Secondary College (Muyan is a word of the Wurundjeri people meaning silver wattle) or Yarrabing Secondary College (Yarrabing is a word of the Wurundjeri people meaning white gum). The rest is history as our community made its decision following a 2-week online community consultation period.
Stage 1 Facilities
As part of the first stage of the building project, the school has opened with the following facilities:
– Design, Arts, Technology and Science (DATS) building
– Learning Neighbourhood
– Community Hub
– Hard courts
– Carpark
Our students have modern learning areas with air conditioning and heating. Outside, they have shade sails for sun protection. The college has been designed to be environmentally sustainable and easy to manage.
Our first principal, John Mitsinikos, together with the Foundation College Executive Team, not only oversaw the building of the college, but also the foundations of the educational philosophies that will underpin the evolution of Yarrabing Secondary College into the future. Mr Mitsinikos considered how the education of children is a team effort – a partnership between parents, students, the college and its community – how these connections are essential in a child’s educational journey.
On the very first day, 29th January 2024, our college welcomed its first cohort of 150 Year 7 students. At this early stage, the DATS and Learning Neighbourhood buildings were completed for day 1 of Term 1, and the Community Hub expected to be completed by the first day of Term 2.
Official Opening of Yarrabing Secondary College
On Wednesday 14 February 2024, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Ben Carroll MP, officially opened Yarrabing Secondary College and the Dharra School, the brand new Specialist school that has also been built next to our college.
It was an exceptionally special day for both schools.
Apart from the Deputy Premier, guests included Luba Grigirovich MP, Member for Kororoit; Perry Wandin, Wurundjeri Elder, and a member of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association and many surrounding school Principals, Department of Education representatives, our architects, and builders and of course our students, staff, and parents.
Close to 250 members of the audience saw the Welcome to Country ceremony (including a smoking ceremony), speeches, the unveiling of a plaque, and the cutting of ribbons to mark the occasion. Mr Mitsinikos acknowledged in his speech how grateful the school community was for all the wonderful facilities and the fantastic support that was provided by those present to both our schools.
It certainly was a very special day to have all of the people who have played such an important part to Yarrabing Secondary College all present.
Work has already begun on the completion of next and final Stage 2 facilities to complete the building of Yarrabing Secondary College. We look forward to updating our community on our progress as soon as we are able to.