Students at Jerrabomberra High School have begun Term 4 learning in brand-new, permanent classrooms and vocational education and training (VET) facilities, after the Minns Labor Government delivered a major expansion ahead of schedule.
The fast-tracked project doubles the school’s capacity to 1,000 and gives students immediate access to industry-standard VET facilities, including a dedicated VET kitchen, as they pursue hospitality and vocational pathways alongside their HSC studies.
The upgrade includes a new two-storey building with 16 additional classrooms, a vocational education and training (VET) kitchen, an additional semi-commercial kitchen, a new science laboratory, an additional timber workshop, and a multimedia workshop, studio and store.
The upgrade also delivers expanded outdoor green space, a large shade structure, additional staff and student facilities, and expanded bike storage and parking.
The new VET kitchen and semi-commercial kitchen give students hands-on, industry-standard training facilities to pursue hospitality qualifications at school, while the expanded timber and multimedia workshops support trades and creative industries pathways.
The expansion was a 2023 election commitment from the Minns Labor Government, addressing enrolment demand in the growing Jerrabomberra and Queanbeyan region after the permanent school opened in 2024 with capacity for 500 students. The expanded capacity at Jerrabomberra High School will support this population growth and ensure local students have a place at a world-class public school close to home.
Labor’s record education budget is also turning around the teacher shortage, with statewide vacancies at a 12-year low as a result of improved wages and conditions following the abolition of the previous Liberal National government’s public sector wages cap.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education in regional NSW, and one of a raft of school infrastructure projects being delivered in the Monaro region, with the following projects recently delivered or underway:
- New Jindabyne Education Campus (delivered) and new public preschool
- New Bungendore High School
- New Googong High School
- New primary school and co-located public preschool for Googong
- Queanbeyan East Public School Preschool (delivered)
- Queanbeyan South Public Preschool (delivered)
Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
“We made a commitment to the Jerrabomberra community to deliver this expansion, and I’m proud that we’re delivering it ahead of schedule.
“These new facilities mean local students no longer have to wait for the world-class VET and vocational training opportunities they deserve.
“This is what our record investment in public education looks like – permanent classrooms and modern facilities, delivered for growing communities like Jerrabomberra.”
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:
“Coming up to the last election the community and the two local P&Cs told us that the high school was not big enough. Chris Minns and I promised we would double the size of the school by the start of 2027.
“I’m thrilled that we have delivered our commitment ahead of schedule. It’s ready for new cohort of Year 12 students starting this week.
“As Skills Minister I am also thrilled that the new facilities boost opportunities for vocational training.
“The new VET kitchen at Jerrabomberra High School gives local students a genuine head start on a hospitality career, with the same industry-standard equipment they’ll use in the workforce.”
Jerrabomberra High School Principal Scott O’Hara said:
“Our school community is thrilled to see Stage 2 delivered ahead of schedule, giving our students access to these outstanding new facilities sooner than we expected.
“The new VET kitchen and workshop spaces will give our students genuine hands-on pathways into vocational careers, alongside the academic opportunities our school already offers.”
