Welcome to Kardinia International College. A College that endeavours to be a symbol of hope for the world by being a place of quality learning and personal development and where people from every corner of the earth feel welcome and at home. This is both the privilege and the challenge of Kardinia International College.
Whether you are a prospective student, parent, teacher or a casual visitor to our website, I think you will find something that will capture your imagination and provide you with a brief insight into what is a truly unique and amazing College.
As a relatively young College, Kardinia has developed an outstanding reputation in the local and international educational community for providing a unique, all through schooling experience which is based on the living motto of the College:
“Wisdom leads to respect and friendship”
This motto is the energising source of all College activity and is embedded in the ethos of the College, the challenging and personalised curriculum we offer and the relationships we develop with our College community, our local community and the wider educational community.
The word “Kardinia” is a Wadawurrung Aboriginal word which means “sunrise” or “new beginning”. If you are reading this as a prospective Kardinia student, parent or family, I invite you to visit us at Kardinia International College and discover this unique learning environment and start the beginning of what I hope will be a life-long learning partnership.
Kardinia International College is a K-12 educational, non-denominational, independent school located in Bell Post Hill, Geelong. The College is situated on 52 acres of spacious grounds with a large number of lawns, sporting ovals and well-developed gardens. It is the setting for a most impressive array of first class facilities.
The College began on 3 February 1996 with 31 Senior School students and 42 Kindergarten children, growing to over 1400 students in its first seven years. The College population has now stabilised and is maintained at around 2000 students. The total student population is comprised of approximately 120 kindergarten, 490 primary and 1400 secondary students.
While students live predominantly in Geelong and its' surrounds, students attend the College from Western Melbourne, Colac, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast and nearby regional centres. The student population also includes approximately 60 overseas students from countries including China, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Kardinia International College is an International Baccalaureate World school, which offers the IB Primary Years Programme to students in Years K-6, a vertical curriculum based on the guidelines of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority to students in Years 7-10 and both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the Victorian Certificate of Education options to students in Years 11 and 12.
In February 2017, our Kardinia Grove Year 5 Campus was officially opened. This purpose-built campus sits on approximately 30 acres of farm land, just minutes from our main campus at Bell Post Hill.
The College provides a nurturing environment for our students from Kindergarten to Year 12, preparing them to be leaders and productive participants in the 21st century. The drive for high academic excellence not only serves to give students leading and productive places in the future, but also gives rise to a wisdom and an understanding that provide a foundation for our all pervasive ethos of respect and friendship.
Yoshihisa Katsumata has been involved in school education for more than 40 years and is also the Chairman of the Board of Gotemba Nishi Senior High School in Japan. He carries out the College’s modern philosophy to educate students to be leaders of the 21st century with international understanding in the light of the ideals of the late founder Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata.
Beth Blackwood AM is the newest member of the Board appointed in April 2023. Beth was CEO of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia from 2016 to 2022. Prior to this, she had a 30-year career in the education sector, as teacher, head, deputy principal, and principal of various schools throughout Australia. She was appointed to the AITSL Board on 17 June 2018 and reappointed for a second term effective from 31 September 2021. Other areas of interest include the education of Indigenous students, international baccalaureate programs, positive psychology, technology as an educational tool, and women’s leadership. In 2022, Beth received a Member of the Order of Australia award for services to education and youth.
Takahiro Katsumata is the grandson of our founder, Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata. Takahiro comes with a wealth of experience in education. He has been a teacher of English from 2012 and is currently the Principal of Gotemba Nishi High School in Japan. Takahiro began his tertiary studies with a Bachelor of Business and Commerce from Keio University and then went on to study English for Academic Purposes at the Gordon Institute of TAFE, followed by a Master of TESOL International at Monash University. Takahiro has expressed a keen desire to be involved in the future development of Kardinia International College and to continue to strengthen the bond between Gotemba Nishi High School and Kardinia International College.
Hiroko Suzuki is one of the longest serving staff members of the College, with more than 20 years of experience working closely with the Chairs of the Board the entire time. She has an extensive work history within the corporate sector of Tokyo and along with other board members she is determined to pass the legacy of the founders to the next generation and beyond.
Kardinia International College acknowledges the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin
Nation, as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, play, and teach.
May we learn from the WISDOM of the Elders.
May we show RESPECT for the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
May we walk together in FRIENDSHIP.
