St Thomas Aquinas College, located in the rural township of Tynong (approximately 75 km south-east of Melbourne), is a traditional Catholic co-educational school serving students from Preparatory (Foundation) through to Year 12. Established by the Society of St. Pius X in 1993 with the acquisition of a 16‐acre property, the College was founded on the vision of offering a complete Catholic education grounded in the Church’s enduring teachings. The College motto, "Honor Excellentiae Debetur" (“Honour is owed to excellence”), is derived from the writings of St Thomas Aquinas. The institution’s vision is to form in each youth “the true and perfect Catholic,” while its mission is to provide a holistic education—spiritual, intellectual, physical, moral, social and domestic—according to the example of Christ. To this end, St Thomas Aquinas College strives to: cooperate with Divine Grace so that souls may return to God (their ultimate destiny) develop students of strong Catholic character—rooted in principles, faith, and love for Christ and His Holy Mother promote a love of the traditional liturgy and the perennial devotions of the Catholic faith provide a safe, happy, home-like environment, modelled on the Holy Family offer an education that challenges and nurtures students’ spiritual, moral, academic, cultural, sporting and creative growth expect teachers with strong interior life, moral strength and vocational fidelity cultivate in students affability, respect, good manners, self-responsibility, self-discipline, devotion to family and service to Church and society. As a co-institutional school (boys and girls from Preparatory to Year 12) under the Society of St. Pius X, the College offers a “wonderful learning environment” combining rigorous academic standards with faith-centred formation. Located in a regional setting, the campus gives students the benefit of a spacious and peaceful setting while remaining within reach of the Melbourne metropolitan area. Within this context, the College encourages each student to develop their God-given talents fully, in a spirit of academic excellence, personal maturity, and service. The community emphasises tradition, reverence, character, and the understanding that education is not simply about knowledge, but about forming the whole person—body, soul and spirit. In today’s fast-changing world, St Thomas Aquinas College offers a distinctive choice: one that holds fast to the time-tested teachings of the Catholic Church, fosters a love of truth, beauty and goodness, and prepares young men and women to be faithful, capable, and generous members of both Church and society. By situating its educational mission in the traditions of the faith and the rigorous demands of moral and intellectual life, the College stands as a beacon for families seeking more than just academic credentials—they seek formation of character, virtue and a meaningful life.Mission & Ethos
Educational Offering & Community
Why It Matters
