Our History
St Paul's College has been supporting children with disabilities for over 65 years.
1957 — St Paul's College was founded on 12 February 1957, the gold jubilee year of the Villa Maria Society of the Blind. The school was named after the patron saint of the Society, St Paul — a name previously used for the children's religion classes at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind.
1957–2018 — For more than 60 years, St Paul's was located in Kew, originally supporting children with vision impairments. Over the decades, it evolved into a specialist school offering tailored education for students with diverse needs, including intellectual disability, autism, and complex communication needs.
2019 — The College relocated to a modern, purpose-built campus at 3-13 Brenbeal Street, Balwyn — a vibrant, state-of-the-art learning environment designed to support the unique needs of our students.
Today — St Paul's is a proud part of Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH) and is deeply connected to the local Balwyn community, including All Hallows Church and the local Rotary Club. In 2024, we began a collaboration with the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA), enhancing professional development and resources for our school.
St Paul's is integral to VMCH — linked to our history and overseen by strong governance structures. The Principal annually reports to VMCH governance committees, including the Quality Compliance Risk committee and the Board of Directors.