At St Joseph’s Primary School Mungindi, we aim to inspire in our students a love of learning through developing the Core Catholic Principles and Values, collaboration, creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, confidence and communication for the 21st century.

St Joseph’s Primary School Mungindi is a unique Catholic school committed to teaching the core catholic principles and values. We follow the NSW Board of Studies Curriculum in the Key Learning Areas

At our school we incorporate a spirit of community, to recognise the qualities of each individual and encourage optimal learning with an ongoing appreciation of the environment.

History of St Joseph’s School

On January 21, 1924, four Sisters of Mercy became the foundation members of St Brigid’s Convent of Mercy, Mungindi. The four foundation members were Sister Mary Brigid Fahey, Sister Mary Ita Fortune, Sister Mary Loyola Bennett and Sister Mary de Paul. The parish priest at the time was Fr. Laurence Mahoney.

The school began on January 28, 1924, when the first pupils were enrolled. Bishop Right Reverend Dr O’Connor opened and blessed the convent and school on March 30, 1924.School was taught in the church and in a shed between the church and the convent. Later, this was moved to the site of the present hall, and extensions were added. The new school, built in the 1930s, was named St Joseph’s. 

In 1975, the Sisters of Mercy withdrew from the school. Sister Elizabeth Saunders was the last Mercy Principal of St Joseph’s. A School Board was formed to help keep the school running. The first lay principal, Mrs Wendy Fenton, was appointed in 1976. The Mercy nuns ran the boarding facilities until the end of 1980 when they withdrew from Mungindi.

Fr. Bill Dowd and Mrs Anne Smith were instrumental in encouraging the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary to come and run the boarding school and work in the parish. These nuns arrived in 1981 and worked there until the end of 1983. This was the end of an era. St Joseph’s was no longer a boarding school.

In 1984, with the opening of new school extensions, the people of Mungindi acknowledged the work of the Sisters of Mercy in Mungindi for over fifty-seven years by naming the school library in their honour. In 1984, the Sisters of St Joseph came to Mungindi. They continue to be a presence in the school and the wider community to this day. We are very fortunate to have the Sisters, who have a huge impact on our school, parish, and surrounding communities.

St Joseph’s Primary School has seen many changes throughout the years, including floods, droughts, war, plagues, shifts in technology, and families that have come and gone. Regardless, we have continued to endeavour to provide a schooling environment where the children are learners, literate and numerate, and feel safe, valued, respected and cared for by skilled, helpful adults.

The Sisters of Mercy started this school in 1924 with hope for the future, and in 2024, we continue to look to the future with hope, joy, and gratitude for all those who came before us. 

On Saturday 30th November 2024, past and present staff, students, families and community came together for a special Mass followed by an informal lunch to celebrate 100 Years of Catholic Education in Mungindi. To commemorate the event, the 100 Year Anniversary booklet was produced, with a small selection of photos from the possible thousands found. A pdf copy is available using the link below.

100 Years Celebrations booklet

Organic Learning

In 2023, Organic Learning became part of the curriculum. Students explore a range of subjects before creating a focal question they wish to explore. This encourages innovation, that is impactful and connects students to their own learning outcomes. St Joseph’s endeavor to provide opportunities utilising up to date communication and information technologies.