The Academy of Mary Immaculate is Victoria’s oldest Catholic girls’ college, offering nearly 170 years of history grounded in the values of Mercy and social justice.
Situated on the doorstep of Melbourne’s CBD, the Academy of Mary Immaculate truly lives up to its identity as “the city school for girls,” using the urban landscape as a living classroom. It’s a community where every student is known, every voice matters and every family belongs.
The Year 9 Synergy program demonstrates the incredible connection the school has with the city, where students swap the classroom for the city. They collaborate with business and experts using design thinking and research to explore real-world challenges. In Year 10, students continue this connection through Community Action and Work Experience to prepare for VCE and beyond. The Year 7 Transition program, including the Big Sister/Little Sister peer mentoring initiative, also ensures new students feel genuinely welcomed and supported from day one, where they are paired up with a Year 12 student who is there to share information and advice about the years ahead.
Wellbeing is embedded across every year level, not treated as an add-on. The Academy’s Wellbeing Program focuses on the whole person, building resilience, self-esteem, social and emotional skills, and a strong sense of belonging. Students also have access to a College Counsellor, peer support programs, and wellbeing support to families at home.
The Academy of Mary Immaculate has achieved impressive NAPLAN growth across writing, reading and numeracy from Year 7 to Year 9. Deputy principal (Learning and Teaching), Lucy Neil, attributes the outstanding results to the high-quality teaching and the strong relationships between staff and students.
“We are very proud that our teachers are able to bring out the best in our students and make a positive impact,” says Ms Neil. “ At the Academy, we celebrate both growth and achievement. It doesn’t matter where the students are when they join us at Year 7, it’s how we can help develop their literacy and numeracy at such a crucial point in their learning journey.”
In 2024, the Academy introduced Educate for Excellence, its model for Learning and Wellbeing which, using current evidence-based instructional strategies, has helped create a culture for students to flourish. “Our model strives to create curious, collaborative and courageous students and is designed to combine approaches to learning and wellbeing to develop the whole student,” says Ms Neil.
While the Academy celebrates strong academic results, including a 2025 Dux ATAR of 99.9, the focus is on developing young women of integrity and purpose. The Educate for Excellence model balances academic ambition with personal growth, leadership, community contribution, and the values that prepare students for life well beyond the classroom.
Independent Catholic girls Years 7 to 12 Established in 1857, The Academy is uniquely placed in both history and location. […]