With a goal to opening the school at the former Deniliquin Christian School campus in 2026, the application must be submitted to the NSW Education Standards Authority by the end of March 2025.
Approvals are usually then known by July or August.
Meanwhile, planning will continue on the approach to teaching and learning, and the renovations and improvements at the site, in anticipation of a January 2026 opening.
Melos Foundation took ownership of the west Deniliquin campus in 2023, after the December 2022 closure of the Deniliquin Christian School.
The school’s board made the tough decision to close because of waning enrolment numbers, which it identified would create “significant financial risk going into 2023”.
The school had 31 students and 10 staff at the time of closure, and was catering to primary and secondary students.
Melos Foundation member Phillip Nash, who is principal of Green Point Christian College in North Gosford, said while they are unable to take formal registration for the school yet, there has been enough interest shown to continue with the application process.
He said this has included online expressions of interest, and from an open house event in Deniliquin earlier this year.
“The open house went very well, with a steady stream of people through to see us,” he said.
“We’ve also since heard from someone that many more people are interested but they were unable to attend the open house.
“So we are very encouraged by the response so far.
“We are hoping to get 15 to 20 students to start, in Years 7 and 8.
“We can’t take official registrations until we have approval for the school, but we’ll continue taking expressions of interest.
“And we’ll be back in Deniliquin in early 2025 for another open house, to try and firm up those expressions of interest.
“We’re also looking at holding an open house in Finley while we’re in the area.”
While he cannot pre-empt the process, Mr Nash has maintained throughout the process that he is confident the Deniliquin proposal would be approved.
“We’ve been through this process before so we know exactly what steps we need to take, and NESA has already been very supportive of what we’re planning.”
While Melos Foundation schools are all “grounded in a philosophy of education that sees the Christian faith informing the perspectives presented in education”, the Riverina Christian College will be available to people of all faiths.
Families at the school must, however, accept that the College will “present the evangelical Christian faith to all students and ground all its work on the basis of Biblical teaching and beliefs”.
For more information, go to www.melos.education/member-schools/riverina-christian-college.
13°C