Kildare Campus Update
Kildare Campus Bus Update
As many of you may know, we have been experiencing significant challenges with our shuttle bus services at Kildare Campus this week.
Please know that we share your frustrations and are working hard to remedy the situation.
Can I also make it very clear that the challenges we are experiencing stem from an issue that is outside our control.
Despite our continued advocacy and lobbying, we are still waiting on Public Transport Victoria (PTV) and Transport NSW to include Kildare Campus on the town bus network routes in both Echuca and Moama.
This process is taking far longer than we had hoped and is creating significant challenges for our College, staff, students and families.
We strongly believe that all students should have access to reliable and safe transport to school, and that is why our College has been funding a shuttle bus service between the two campuses since July last year, while we wait for the extensions to be approved.
We still have no firm timeline from either PTV or Transport NSW as to when this will occur.
To alleviate the current shuttle bus congestion issues, this week we have enacted the following short-term solution. This will be in place until the end of Term One.
*Country bus travellers will receive priority access to the shuttle bus between campuses at the end of each school day to ensure they do not miss their connecting buses home.
*Students who live more than 4.8km from Kildare Campus and who are eligible for funded town bus travel will receive second priority to the shuttle bus service.
*Students who live in Echuca, within 4.8km of Kildare Campus, will have access to the shuttle service after priority 1 and 2 students have boarded. For those who do not fit on the first group of shuttle buses, they will be required to wait at the campus until an extra shuttle service is able to return to collect them at approximately 3.30pm.
(*Please note, our 1st and 2nd priority students will be asked to show their bus passes to the shuttle bus driver. For those waiting on their 2024 bus passes to arrive, please notify Student Services via email studentservices@sje.vic.edu.au and the College will issue a transition pass until the actual passes arrive).
As advised in our school newsletter a fortnight ago, it is not financially viable for our school to continue funding this shuttle service free of charge. From the beginning of Term 2, we will transition to a fare paying (at this stage $1.00 per trip) service for students wishing to catch the shuttle bus from Kildare Campus to Brigidine Campus. Cards will soon be issued to students to access this new tap-on/tap-off service.
We understand this has been a challenging week for bus travellers. If you’d like to do something practical to help, we strongly encourage you to support us in lobbying the government on both sides of the river to prioritise the extension of the Echuca Moama town bus services to include Kildare Campus in their routes.
If you live in Echuca, you can contact Peter Walsh MP, and if you live in Moama, you can contact Helen Dalton MP.
In the meantime, we will continue our strong advocacy to PTV and Transport NSW.
God Bless,
Jarrod O’Brien
Director Kildare Campus
Capital Works Update
Our most recent site meeting at Kildare Campus reported promising progress on the Specialty Building and Learning Building for Stage 2.
Learning Building:
Specialist Building:
Both structures are on track to meet their build completion timeline of mid-April 2024. This development has generated great excitement within the community, as the forthcoming facilities are expected to significantly enhance the overall learning environment. Having an operating canteen onsite, will also add an extra layer of convenience and support for the campus community. The successful adherence to construction timelines reflects the dedicated efforts of all involved parties, to ensure our wonderful new campus continues to grow.
Cheryle Ryan
Business Manager
Kildare Campus Programs
Lunchtime Activities
Lunchtimes have been busy at Kildare Campus as we commence our range of programs. Students have been able to participate in a range of physical and creative activities, get to know more students and try something new.
Instrumental Tuition
A final reminder for students wishing to participate in instrumental tuition in 2024. An expression of interest has gone out for students, however if this was missed, please contact Mr Dicker for information.
Thomas Dicker