The announcement was welcomed by community leaders, many of whom have worked for years to bring the project to life despite repeated setbacks. The proposed school is envisioned not only as an educational institution, but as a cultural and linguistic center where Assyrian heritage can be preserved and passed on to future generations.
However, the funding remains conditional on Labor winning the upcoming state election scheduled for November 2026. The Labor Party, which has governed Victoria since 2014, is seeking to retain power in what is expected to be a closely watched contest.
In 2024, the Victorian state government rejected the plans for the St Joseph’s Christian College, 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.
Barseen Oshana
Labor MP Iwan Walters praised the announcement about the funding, stating: "The announcement by the premier brings Victoria’s first Assyrian school much closer to reality, and only Labor is financially committed to delivering Victoria’s first Assyrian school." He added: "We stand firmly behind the St Joseph’s project, as we always have, and this $10 million commitment brings it so much closer. It matters for Assyrian families across Victoria, and it stands as a symbol of our collective commitment as the Victorian Labor government to religious freedom and to ensuring that Assyrian language, culture and faith thrive in our state for generations to come."
