Our School

At Sacred Heart Primary School Mildura, faith, learning and wellbeing are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We are a welcoming and inclusive Catholic community, grounded in Gospel values and committed to celebrating the unique gifts of every child.

Through curiosity, creativity and collaboration, our students grow in confidence, compassion and a love of learning. We proudly serve a diverse community and are dedicated to providing a high-quality education that nurtures the whole child—spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically.

Guided by the DOBCEL Strategy 2035, we are shaping a future-focused school that:

Nurtures a contemporary Catholic identity through faith and dialogue
Strengthens quality teaching and learning built on evidence-informed practice
Builds belonging and inclusion so that every child can flourish and pursue the fullness of life

At Sacred Heart, we are more than a school—we are a community of learners, families, and staff working together in faith, hope and love.

Our History

Sacred Heart has been educating children in Mildura since 1906, making us one of the region’s most respected and long-standing schools. Originally founded by the Sisters of Mercy, our first classes were held in the parish church before a purpose-built school opened on Walnut Avenue in 1914.

In 1955, the school moved to its current site in central Mildura. Since then, Sacred Heart has continued to evolve—blending tradition with innovation to create a modern and welcoming learning environment.

Our enrolment peaked at 550 students in 1974, before the opening of St Paul’s Parish School. Today, we are proud to educate approximately 330 students from a rich variety of cultural and family backgrounds.

The Sisters of Mercy continued their ministry at Sacred Heart until 1976. From 1977 onwards, lay principals and dedicated staff have carried forward their mission of education, faith, and service.

Ours is a story built on community spirit—shaped by generations of families, staff, and parish members who have worked together to help Sacred Heart grow and thrive. Since 2021, the school has been governed by the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL), aligning us with contemporary best practices in governance and educational leadership.

We are proud of our heritage—and excited about the future. Sacred Heart remains a school where students are known, supported, and inspired to live with purpose, joy and compassion.

Governance

Since 1 January 2021, Sacred Heart Primary School has been governed by Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL)—a governing body established by Bishop Paul Bird to ensure all parish schools are well-managed, inclusive, and aligned with current legal and educational standards.

DOBCEL supports:

Strong school-parish partnerships
Responsible stewardship of resources
Transparent, accountable leadership
A consistent and professional model of school governance

Before this change, Sacred Heart was led by a series of Canonical Administrators from Sacred Heart Parish. We remain deeply connected to our local faith community through the Parish of Saints Anne and Joachim, Sunraysia, which includes churches in Mildura, Red Cliffs, Irymple, Merbein, Robinvale, Werrimul, Ouyen, Patchewollock and Manangatang.

This governance structure ensures Sacred Heart continues to be a safe, inclusive, and faith-filled place of learning for all families.

Learn more about DOBCEL: https://dobcel.catholic.edu.au/

Vision and Mission

At Sacred Heart Primary School Mildura, we are committed to empowering every child to thrive—academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally. We strive to provide a high-quality, inclusive Catholic education where each student experiences explicit, evidence-based teaching and a safe, supportive environment for learning.

Diocese of Ballarat Education Vision:

As partners in Catholic education and open to God’s presence, we pursue fullness of life for all.

Our Vision:

At Sacred Heart, we pursue ‘fullness of life for all’ (Jn 10:10), ensuring every child feels known, valued and supported to achieve their personal best.

Our Mission:

In 2025, we bring our vision to life through a shared commitment to:

Cultivating resilience by embedding gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness, enabling every student to flourish academically, socially, and spiritually.
Implementing structured, evidence-based literacy practices to develop confident and capable readers and writers.
Fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment through embedding Catholic Social Teaching and Scripture into our behaviour matrix, tiered supports, and a culture of dignity, responsibility, and positive relationships.
Championing learner agency by promoting reflection, goal-setting, and a growth mindset, embracing mistakes as opportunities for deeper learning.

Annual Report to the School Community

Each year, all Victorian schools are required to publish an Annual Report to the School Community (ARSC). This important document keeps families and the wider community informed about Sacred Heart’s highlights, progress, and achievements.

Our Annual Report includes:

Celebrations of learning and wellbeing growth
NAPLAN and academic data
School priorities and improvement progress
Community engagement and student voice
Staff professional learning and faith formation
Financial accountability and compliance

The report also affirms our alignment with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic), Australian Education Act 2013, and Catholic Education Commission of Victoria policies.

Read our Annual Reports below:

Child Safety

The safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority at Sacred Heart.

We are a proud Child Safe School, committed to creating a culture where all students feel respected, valued, and protected. Our policies and practices reflect the 11 Child Safe Standards set by the Victorian Government and are embedded in every part of school life.

We are committed to:

Zero tolerance for child abuse
Actively listening to and empowering children
Creating a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families
Supporting the inclusion and safety of students with disabilities
Ensuring child safety in recruitment, training, and staff conduct
Continuous professional learning and risk management

We partner closely with families to promote openness, trust, and shared responsibility for keeping children safe.

Our school has a Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy, a Code of Conduct, and clear procedures for reporting and responding to concerns. All staff, volunteers, and contractors are required to follow these expectations.

Our Child Safety Officer, Mrs Fiona Pike, is available to support students and families with any child safety concerns.

Phone: (03) 5023 1204
Email: fpike@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

Sacred Heart operates with the consent of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat and is governed by DOBCEL.

Child Safety policies and procedures can be found on our Policies page and the DOBCEL website.

Visit: dobcel.catholic.edu.au