Northam Residential College is a home away from home.
Students
Our students board at the college while they attend Northam Senior High School and St Joseph’s School. Most students come from farming areas in the Wheatbelt, but we also have students from other regional areas. Our boarders love living in the country and they enjoy the amenities of a large regional town.
Many students start boarding in Year 7 and develop life-long friendships. As a boarder, they get to share this amazing experience with people of their own age. They also learn to be independent, work well with others and create support networks.
Staff
The college manager, Russell Winsor, leads a highly skilled and passionate team of supervisors and other staff. Russell has spent the last 10 years working in community services, specialising in the disability and mental health fields.
Our experienced staff care for every student and they will work with you to support your child while they board away from home. We are committed to providing a high standard of care for our students. We ensure all students are safe and their emotional and physical wellbeing is a priority for our staff. Together, this team ensures that your child receives the best quality care and support in a fun and rewarding environment.
Our full-time boarding supervisors are experienced and trained to care for young people in a residential community. They have industry-recognised qualifications and police clearances along with a Working with Children card. Our supervisory team live and work with students and become significant adults in their lives.
To ensure the best possible standard of duty of care, all supervisory staff hold current qualifications, including:
- Certificate IV in Community Services - Student Residential Care (CHC42021)
- Provide First Aid (HLTAID011) certificate and Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (HLTAID009) certificate
- water safety qualifications including Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC), Bronze Medallion and Aquatic Rescue for Group 3 Pools
- bus driver’s license with Passenger Transport Declaration (PTD) Authorisation
Our staff also include a manager of corporate services, cooks, cleaners and a grounds person, who all aid in the day to day operations of the residential college.
Schools
Northam Senior High School
Northam Senior High School is a public secondary school that provides a comprehensive program of subjects in the West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking (ATAR) pathways to students seeking access to university. The school also provides for students wanting to graduate and move into the workforce or gain nationally recognised trade training qualifications. It offers a wide range of programs, courses and subject options.
Find out what's on offer from the Northam Senior High School website.
St Joseph's School
St Joseph’s School is a private Kindergarten to Year 12 school. It is a community school committed to preparing students to succeed through the promotion of Christian values from a Catholic tradition. The school offers a range of learning experiences that provide a strong educational foundation for future years. Students have plenty of subject options and opportunities for outdoor education and other sports.
Discover more about the school from the St Joseph's School website.
Community
The college is located in the town of Northam, 95 kilometres east of Perth in the heart of the Avon Valley. Northam is a major regional centre with a population of 8000. Northam offers a full range of health services, shopping, social, sporting and recreational opportunities.
The college has strong ties to the community. To enhance this connection we have a local input networking and communications (LINC) committee at the college. The LINC committee is made up of representatives from the community and provides advice and support to the manager and staff regarding the operation and management of the college. The LINC committee promotes the college and ensures that activities are in the best interest of students.
Find out more about Northam by visiting the Shire of Northam and Northam Visitor Centre websites.