On the banks of the Murray River, the picturesque town of Echuca is known for its rich history and natural beauty. Echuca also boasts a variety of educational opportunities from primary and secondary schools to vocational training, higher education, specialist schooling and community based learning. Enjoy the best of old world charm, contemporary living and a myriad of learning opportunities in Echuca.
Types of Schools in Echuca
Echuca has a variety of educational facilities from primary and secondary, private and government schools, to higher education facilities. Echuca has 5 primary schools, 4 secondary schools, 2 TAFE facilities, schools in the Moama area, and access to university placement programs.
Primary Schools in Echuca
Echuca Primary School
413-431 High Street, Echuca
Echuca Primary School provides a warm, caring and supportive environment, where children feel happy and relaxed while learning in a modern, well equipped environment. The school is a co-educational government primary school, serving students from prep to grade 6. The school of 25 classrooms contains 515 students. There is also a library, performing arts room, visual arts room, scienceroom, canteen and gymnasium.
Echuca East Primary School
21-31 Eyre St, Echuca
Echuca East Primary School is a government primary school with 328 students in prep to grade 6. It has a student to teacher ratio of 1 to 15. Echuca East Primary School offers a wide variety of activities including academic, sporting, social, leadership, environmental and cultural pursuits. The staff have a holistic approach to teaching, knowing the importance of both home and school to children’s growth and learning.
Echuca Twin Rivers Primary School
66 Wilkinson Drive, Echuca
Opened in 2018, Echuca Twin Rivers Primary School is the combination of two schools, Echuca South and Echuca West. The co-educational government school has 262 students in prep to grade 6, and caters to a growing community in Echuca West.
Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School
66 Wilkinson Drive, Echuca
Located within the same grounds at Echuca Twin Rivers Primary School, Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School opened in 2020. The school caters to students from five years of age to 18 years of age with disabilities. Currently approximately 113 students attend the Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School.
St Marys Catholic School
15-33 Bridlington Ave, Echuca
St Marys is a catholic coeducational primary school with a history dating back to 1887, when it was founded by the Brigidine Order and ministered by the Augustinian Order for over 100 years. St Marys has approximately 630 students in prep to grade 6. The mission of St Marys is to educate the whole person, spiritually, physically, academically and socially within the catholic faith. It is currently the only catholic primary school in the Echuca area.
Secondary Schools in Echuca
Echuca College
20-50 Butcher Street, Echuca
Echuca College is a government secondary school with approximately 800 students from years 7 to 12. The school focuses on a comprehensive and innovative curriculum for students that can lead to further study or employment.
Australian Christian College
29 Rose Street, Echuca
Australian Christian College is a coeducational, independent school for prep to year 10. As part of a network of 15 christian schools in Australia, Australian Christian College in Echuca is a not for profit, non denominational, christian organisation with admission to develop each student to be equipped, spiritually, academically and socially.
Rochester Secondary College
26 Edward Street, Rochester
Rochester Secondary College is a coeducational secondary college with approximately 290 students in year 7 to 12. Situated about 25km from Echuca on the Campaspe River, it caters for the educational needs of a mixture of rural and semi-rural communities. Rochester Secondary College is focused on an environment of respect and developing a strong community for their children to feel supported.
St Joseph’s College, Echuca
21 Dickson Street, Echuca
St Joseph’s College is a co-educational secondary college that has been open for about 140 years. St Joseph’s College believes in a holistic education that must attend to the faith development needs of students, staff and community.
Schools in Moama
Moama Anglican Grammar
2 Kirchhofer St, Moama
Moama Anglican Grammar is a coeducational, independent, private school that caters for students from kindergarten all the way to year 12. Located in Moama, it is the only independent private school catering for kindergarten to year 12 in the Echua Moama region. The school opened in 2005 with 16 students and since then the campus has continued to expand and grow. Moama Anglican Grammar is now situated on 10 hectares with about 712 students.Teachers and staff have the philosophy that students should care for themselves and others.
Moama Public School
Simms St, Moama
Moama Public School is a coeducational primary school with about 191 students in 8 classrooms, and caters for kindergarten to grade 6. The Koluka Preschool is in the grounds of Moama Public School and is open to all children turning 4 years before 31st July, the year before they attend primary school.
Vocational Education and Training
Bendigo TAFE
Corner of Hare and Darling streets, Echuca
The Echuca campus of Bendigo TAFE is a modern purpose built facility in the heart of Echuca, offering courses in health and community services, culinary, indigenous and general education, retail, and VCAL to name a few. The Echua campus also provides independent career and pathway advice in conjunction with the new Skills and Jobs Centre.
Image credit: Bendigo TAFE
GOTAFE Echuca
GOTAFE stands for Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE. It is an online service that provides access to more than 161 accredited and non-accredited courses across regional Victoria. Students can apply for courses that are in the classroom, online or a combination of both. GOTAFE uses a dedicated online campus for courses delivered fully or partially online. GOTAFE courses range from agricultural and conservation to automotive and engineering.
University Programs
While there are no university campuses located in Echuca, there are university programs and pathways for those who wish to pursue a degree qualification. University studies can be pursued online or at regional campuses that are not too far away like La Trobe Bendigo. Alternatively, the University of Melbourne and Monash University have programs that involve placements in Echuca, and online study options.
Other Educational Opportunities
ITHEA
ITHEA is the Institute of Tertiary and Higher Education Australia, a leading education provider that specialises in the field of disability care. ITHEA offers disability courses in Echuca that help candidates practice real world cases to prepare them for becoming a professional in disability care.
Port of Echuca Education Program
The Port of Echua Education Program is a classroom based learning experience for anyone from primary school children to university students. It focuses on presenting how life would have been back in the 1850s to 1900s and explores the life of Echuca’s founder, Henry Hopwood.
Getting To School in Echuca
As most residents are in the local area of Echuca, the main ways to get to schools are to walk, drive or cycle. There is also the Echuca Moama Transit public bus system, Vic Railways and the Victorian School Bus program. These are the methods students can get to school when they live in Echuca.
- Car: Many people will drive their children to school particularly those in primary schools. For those living in the Echuca region, most primary and secondary schools are easy to access with a good infrastructure in the main centre of town and other main roads like the Northern Highway, Murray Valley Highway, and the upcoming Echuca-Moama Bridge.
- Cycle/walk: For those who live close to schools, cycling and walking are excellent options, particularly if within the township of Echuca.
- Public transport: There are several public transport options for school transportation in Echuca. These include the public bus and train service. The train service is ideal for those wanting to attend university or TAFE in Bendigo, for example. The train from Echuca to Bendigo runs three times a day and takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The bus service runs throughout Echuca and to Moama for schools further out. There are also buses from Echuca to Bendigo which operate several times per day.
- Private bus: Some schools offer private bus services for students. Australian Christian College Echuca has a private bus service that transports students to specific locations in the Echuca area.
Echuca is a great place to live and raise a family with a myriad of schools to choose from. From kindergarten and primary to tertiary education and community schooling, each school offers a unique opportunity for education. If you are considering relocating or already live in Echuca, the team at Yallarah are there to help with all your questions about lifestyle and facilities in Echuca.