Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) oversees a vibrant network of Catholic schools committed to delivering high-quality, faith-based education across four key regions in New South Wales: the Illawarra, Macarthur, Southern Highlands, and Shoalhaven. Situated approximately 100 km south of Sydney, the Diocese of Wollongong is one of eleven dioceses in the state, with its episcopal seat in the dynamic regional city of Wollongong.
CEDoW supports a flourishing system of Catholic education, comprising 29 parish primary schools, eight co-educational secondary schools, and one K–12 Catholic school, all working collaboratively with the Catholic Education Office. These schools are unified in their mission to nurture students spiritually, intellectually, and socially through a Christ-centred learning environment. Additionally, eight independent congregational schools—seven secondary and one K–12 for students with special needs—are also located within the diocese, administered by various religious orders.
The diocese is deeply rooted in a rich history of Catholic education, dating back to the earliest days of European settlement. Its development has been shaped by the enduring dedication of laypeople, clergy, and religious communities who laid the foundation for the schools that continue to thrive today.
CEDoW acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which its schools stand—the Dharawal, Tharawal, Gundungurra, and Yuin peoples. The influence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures remains central to school life, and respect for Elders past, present, and emerging is actively upheld across the system.
Spanning from Camden and Campbelltown in Sydney’s south-west, down through the coastal corridors of Wollongong and Shoalhaven, and inland to the Southern Highlands towns of Bowral, Moss Vale, and Mittagong, the diocese encompasses a broad and diverse geographic region. This unique footprint enables CEDoW to serve both metropolitan and regional communities with a unified commitment to Catholic education.
