In 2024, the Victorian state government rejected plans for St Joseph’s Christian College, a proposed Assyrian Christian school intended to serve the concentrated Assyrian population in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. The decision came despite widespread backing from Assyrian community leaders, religious authorities, opposition MPs, a federal minister, and thousands of petition signatories.
The original proposal, led by Assyrian Christian Schools Ltd, an entity of the Assyrian Church of the East, outlined a K-12 school for up to 825 students, designed to meet both educational demand and the cultural and spiritual needs of the Assyrian community. The project was blocked by the Department of Transport and Planning, reportedly due to traffic safety concerns. The church appealed the ruling to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) but ultimately lost, incurring significant legal and planning costs.
The rejection was widely criticised as contradictory, particularly as the state government simultaneously fast-tracked major housing developments in the area, including the Craigieburn West precinct, which will add around 8,000 new homes without corresponding education infrastructure.
Parliament Petition Highlights Community Support
Public frustration culminated in a petition of nearly 5,000 signatures being formally tabled in the Victorian Parliament, triggering debate and placing the issue on the parliamentary record. The petition called on the government to support the establishment of an Assyrian school in Melbourne’s north, reflecting widespread concern about the lack of planning for schools in high-growth areas and the treatment of the Assyrian community’s proposal.
Opposition MPs described the government’s refusal to approve the school as “bizarre,” particularly given the clear demand and the state’s responsibility to plan essential infrastructure alongside population growth.
New Site Proposal Sparks Further Controversy
In mid-2025, hopes were briefly revived when the state government informally proposed a new potential site at 3 Kosciuszko Drive, Craigieburn, part of the Mt Aitken (Aitken Hill) Reserve. However, Hume City Council later advised that the land sits within a protected public park and is not suitable for development.
Councillors said they were not consulted before the site was raised with the Assyrian community, creating what they described as false hope. Hundreds of Assyrian-Australians packed the council chambers, urging transparency and a genuine commitment to finding a viable solution.
Community members spoke about the importance of education in preserving Assyrian identity, language, and culture, particularly for a people who have endured genocide, displacement, and persecution in their ancestral Assyrian homeland divided between Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. The Assyrian language is recognised by UNESCO as endangered, making educational institutions critical to its survival.
Assyrian Church of the East Bishop of Victoria and New Zealand, Mar Benjamin Elya, reiterated that the proposed school is not solely for the Assyrian community, but would serve the broader population, contributing to education, cultural continuity, and social cohesion.
At the same time, residents and environmental groups objected strongly to the use of parkland, arguing that Mt Aitken Reserve should be protected for open space, conservation, and its cultural significance to First Peoples.
A Proven Model Already Exists in Sydney
The prolonged uncertainty in Victoria stands in contrast to New South Wales, where Assyrian schools are already operating successfully. St Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School and St Narsai Assyrian Christian College together cater for students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and serve not only as places of learning but as bridges between heritage and civic life, educating students while contributing positively to the broader Australian society. The construction of a third Assyrian Christian school, St Yosip Secondary School, is currently underway in Sydney's Western suburbs.
Barseen Oshana
