St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Childers turns new page in centenary year

Flourishing students
Beyond the classroom
Primary school

22 Apr 2026

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Childers has 100 reasons to celebrate in 2026!

The school is not only celebrating its centenary year, but also the opening of its new $1.3 million Penola Library.

With increased demand for enrolment at the primary school, the upgraded library, designed by Gibson Architects, will help meet the needs of families locally.

St Joseph’s School Principal Christina Day said the school had received more than $1.4 million worth of new infrastructure in the past two years.

“With enrolment numbers currently at 168 and continuing to rise, it’s important we continue to grow alongside our community, and the library is one way we are doing that,” she said.

“The library will help provide our students with extra study space, technology access, enhance our literacy programs, increase access to flexible learning spaces, which will increase student creativity, and act as a central hub where students and families can gather and connect.”

The new air-conditioned space includes new flexible workspaces, a cosy reading corner, flexible learning spaces, an outdoor learning area, and 100 new library resources.

Other infrastructure upgrades at the school include new air-conditioning, painting, carpeting, and bubblers.Christina adds, “the library stands as a reminder that geography should never limit a student’s potential”.

“Our students deserve access to the same facilities as inner city schools,” she said.

“This new building will ensure our students have everything they need to thrive both locally and globally.

“As we celebrate 100 years of Catholic education at our school, the upgraded library is a powerful symbol of how we honour our past while investing confidently in the future of our students.

“We are proud to mark this milestone with a space that will serve generations of learners to come.”

To mark 100 years, the school also hosted a school reunion and gala dinner, with former students and staff in attendance.

Behind the name

Penola, the South Australian town where Saint Mary MacKillop began the Sisters of Saint Joseph, is a place central to the origins of Catholic education in Australia.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School hopes the name Penola Library will spark fresh ideas in students and encourage them to follow in the footsteps of those who built the beginnings of Catholic education in Australia.

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) Open Week (27 April to 3 May)

For more information about St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Childers or to find out more about their BCE Open Week event on Wednesday 29 April click here.

Discover the heart of BCE schools in the Wide Bay Burnett. Find out more here. 

Fast facts about St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

St Joseph’s was established in 1926.

The school was established by the Sisters of St Joseph, of which Saint Mary MacKillop was their founder.

The school vision, ‘Learning together to make a difference’ is derived from the work of Saint Mary MacKillop who once said, “never see a need without doing something about it.”