Our Identity

The Order of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan was the first religious congregation founded in Australia. In 1857, Archbishop of Sydney, Bede Polding, and Mother Scholastica Gibbons came together to help vulnerable convict women. From the very beginning, a commitment to justice and the education of young people – girls in particular – has been at the heart of the congregation’s mission.

Mater Christi College is an independent Catholic school that operates under the support and direction of the College Board and is owned by Good Samaritan Education.

Our College was established in its present location overlooking Belgrave in 1963. Our contemporary approach to girls’ education continues to attract students from Melbourne’s outer eastern and south-eastern suburbs.  

Mater Christi College is a Catholic girls’ secondary school that takes its direction from the person and message of Christ as proclaimed in the gospels.

In a caring atmosphere of Christian love and understanding, which encourages excellence in all things, Mater Christi College provides educational programmes relevant to the individual needs of its students.

The College respects the traditions and spirit of its founders, the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, and strives to be organisationally and educationally innovative to meet the challenge of a rapidly changing society.

Through balanced growth of the whole person, Mater Christi College aims to develop informed and compassionate women of faith who will take part freely and creatively in the affairs of society.

College Motto

Informed Compassionate Creative

College Logo

‘Doves in Flight’

The dove is associated with St Scholastica, sister of St Benedict, the author the eponymous Rule of Benedict. The doves in flight portray the concept of growth and movement through education. The doves in formation relate to the community striving together. The line acts as a horizon and indicates direction and purpose. The circle represents the common ground for all the elements, interactive, supportive, and indicative of the workings of a Catholic school.

Acknowledgement of Land

Mater Christi College respectfully acknowledges that our place of learning sits upon the lands of the Wurundjeri people. We honour the past, present, and emerging leaders of all First Nations whose lands were never ceded and commit to ongoing efforts towards reconciliation.

Child Safeguarding

Mater Christi College holds the care, safety and wellbeing of its students to be at the core of all we do.  The College is resolutely committed to ensuring that all staff of the College act in a manner that promotes the inherent dignity of each of our students and their fundamental right to be respected and nurtured in a safe school environment.  This commitment includes regular and appropriate learning opportunities in relation to child safety and young people’s protection and wellbeing.

We also commit to listening to, and taking seriously all concerns voiced by students, staff, parents and caregivers, volunteers, contractors and members of the community.  We commit to continuously reviewing and improving our systems to protect children from abuse. Our commitment is drawn from and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel.