Under the governance of the Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition, St James encompasses the four Edmund Rice Touchstones of: Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, and Justice and Solidarity. 

The reality of the Edmund Rice Touchstones is that we strive to cater for each and every one of our students. In this way we help them to develop a sense of self, a sense of direction, and their technical and enterprise skills to equip them to step into credentialed pathways. 

The college welcomes families from many faith traditions and promotes strong ecumenical and interfaith understanding. As a diverse community with students from numerous cultural backgrounds who have high hopes for the future, we ‘live and breathe’ cultural understanding, and through daily interactions we develop tolerance, capacity, team readiness, and mutual obligation. 

The college has a special uniqueness about its context that inspires commitment from staff, families, students, and community. We have an intervention model to engage learning that supports all our students.

Student success is evidenced by some of the outstanding results the college has achieved. From the winning of the All Schools Basketball in Queensland, to the gaining of tertiary places, apprenticeships, and meaningful employment.

St James College shows its passion to see all students on a pathway to success. The range of offerings in subjects, programs, school-based apprenticeships, sport, debating, and cultural areas enables students to reach for the stars, and achieve their dreams! 

Our contemporary college campus is fully equipped with modern and state-of-the-art facilities. Located at the heart of Brisbane means that we are at the centre of all transport routes increasing accessibility for our student body.

Our community epitomises global diversity through the proud advocacy of multiculturalism and social justice movements that nurture Indigenous, environmental, and gender equity perspectives. Our rich immersion programs allow our students to experience community issues on local, national, and global scales.

I warmly welcome you to visit the college to experience the energy, vibrancy, and dazzling effect of our diverse intake of students. Many of our students speak at least three languages and represent many different countries, whether as part of an overseas study program, or as a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker. We are leaders in promoting international perspectives and understanding. We enjoy the challenge of diversity in learning and offer inclusive education to maximise the strengths of our students and minimise weaknesses.

Strategically, we position the college to nurture our community, industry, and educational partnerships so that our students are one step ahead of others. As principal, I bring a commitment to the Edmund Rice Tradition, and a track record of blending academic and vocational education to place our students at the forefront in 21st century thinking. This provides foundation skills and an ultimate purpose to drive change and make a difference.

The college is friendly, has a ‘huge heart’. We offer a broad and relevant array of subjects and certificates aiming for all students to complete Year 12 with the highest possible qualifications. We pride ourselves in our blanket of pastoral care and wellbeing to support students to meet their learning needs and aspirations. When asked of their experiences at the college, the most common response from students is that they love the school particularly because they feel accepted and greatly supported.

After 13 years of Edmund Rice Tradition principalship in the Northern Territory and Queensland, I am excited to welcome our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander, and other Indigenous students into the college, along with our local and global students. 

Together we can continue to make St James College a progressive place of learning success for all and a nurturing place for world harmony and peace.

Ann Rebgetz
Principal