First sod turned to start construction of new Catholic Primary School at Clyde

December 2025

First sod turned to start construction of new Catholic Primary School at Clyde

Construction is set to start on the St Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School – a new Catholic primary school to serve the expanding communities of Clyde in Melbourne’s south-east.

The Bishop of Sale, Most Reverend Greg Bennet turned the first sod to mark the beginning of this exciting project,

He was joined by Ms Jordan Crugnale MP - State Member for Bass, Very Reverend Denis O’Bryan - Parish Priest, and Mr Paul Velten - Executive Director of Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL).  Also present were members of the DOSCEL Board, representatives of the project team,  local Catholic primary school principals and students, as well as parents, all gathered to celebrate this occasion.

Stage 1 of the $12.7 m project includes eight general learning areas, specialist spaces to support teachers, outdoor learning areas, administration spaces, and a multipurpose resource hub.

External works will feature a covered Outdoor Learning Area over two hardcourts, Junior AFL oval, playgrounds, extensive landscaping and carparking. The Stage 1 project is supported by a $6 million grant from the Victorian Government Capital Funding Program (VGCFP) 2023-2027*.

The school is named after Saint Carlo Acutis - the first millennial Saint known for his acts of kindness, devotion to the Eucharist and innovative use of technology to share faith.

Located at 121-123 Bellavita Avenue, Clyde, the school sits within the Cardinia Creek South Precinct Structure Plan, a rapidly growing area.

Mr Paul Velten, Executive Director of Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL), said that new Catholic primary schools were needed to cater to families seeking access to faith-based, modern, and affordable education close to their homes.

“The new St Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School will be the third Catholic primary school in the St Thomas the Apostle Parish. The school will complement the new St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School in Clyde North, which opened earlier this year, and the St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Primary School in nearby Cranbourne East.”

The Stage 1 project is being led by Brand Architects and Carelli Constructions Pty Ltd with a planned school opening in 2027.

*On 27 July 2024, the Hon. Ben Carroll MP-Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Minister for Medical Research. confirmed the application under the Victorian Government Capital Funding Program 2023-2027, was approved for the amount of $6 million. Construction of Stage 1 will include eight general learning areas, specialist spaces, administration, site works and building services related to a green field site.