Transition Journey

During the transition journey, we will provide a series of events and opportunities for you and your child to find out more about the College.

Throughout the transition process, we endeavour to collect as much information as possible about your child’s learning and social needs before they begin secondary school.

Transition support for new students includes:

• Orientation Day
• Collection of student data to support individual learners
• Connection with current school
• Parent Evening for families of students with additional needs
• Extra transition sessions for students requiring additional support.
• Transition Newsletters for families
• Headstart program for senior students

Key Dates for 2026 Transition

TERM 1

• Monday 23 March: Enrolments Open
• Monday 23 March – Monday 30 March: Learning Walks

TERM 2

• Monday 21 April – Friday 24 April: Learning Walks
• Thursday 30 April – Wednesday 6 May: Discovery Days
• Tuesday 28 April: Additional Learning Needs (Parent Information Session)
• Friday 8 May: Enrolments Close
• Friday 15 May: Enrolment Interviews – bookings open
• Monday 25 May – Tuesday 26 May: Enrolment Interviews
• Monday 15 June: Enrolment Offers sent

TERM 3

• Friday 24 July: Enrolment Offer Acceptance deadline
• Monday 7 September – Friday 17 September: PAT Testing

TERM 4

• Friday 20 October: Additional Learning Needs (extra student transition)
• Tuesday 8 December: Orientation Day offers all Year 7, 2026 students the opportunity to spend a day at the Coolock Campus and familiarise themselves with daily life at Catherine McAuley College Bendigo.

Uniform

Travel

Travel by car

Parents, carers and staff must adhere to road rules and regulations when dropping off and collecting students.

Motorists must not perform U-turns over unbroken or continuous dividing lines.

At Coolock, drop students in either the Visitor Carpark (enter Gate 3, then turn left) or the Trade Training Centre Carpark (enter Gate 5). Students should not be dropped off in the Staff Carpark.

At St Mary’s, motorists must observe 2-minutes pick-up/drop off areas, not stop in ‘No Stopping’ zones and approach the pedestrian crossing prepared to stop.

Bikes and scooters

Suitable places are provided at both campuses for the safe storage of bikes. Students must stow their helmet in their lockers and provide their own locking device to secure the bike.

Students at Catherine McAuley College Bendigo are not permitted to ride e-scooters to or from school, or at any time while wearing the CMCB uniform.

Bus travel

Catherine McAuley College Bendigo is well-served by the urban and country bus networks. Students have access to four bus networks:

• Urban Bus Travel (suburbs of Bendigo)
• Country Bus Travel
• CMCB Charter Bus Service
• Castlemaine Bus Travel

General Information

All enquiries regarding bus travel are directed to the Bus Coordinator Miss Erin Varker on 5445 9100 or email evarker@cmcb.vic.edu.au. Other useful contacts are:

• Christians Buses – 5447 2222
• Regional Country Bus Coordinator – Country Bus Network – 4433 4317
• VLine – 5440 2739

Public Transport Victoria

Conveyance Allowance

Travellers who reside more than 4.8kms from the College may be eligible for Conveyance Allowance. This allowance is only available to those travellers who have purchased a bus pass.

To claim the allowance please see form below. This form is to be completed, along with the receipt for the bus pass, and returned to the Finance Office, St Mary’s, Barkly Street, Bendigo.

Conveyance Allowance Application Form 3 - Public Transport Travel

Conveyance Allowance Application Form 1 - Private Car Travel Only

School Fees 2026