As Macquarie Community College celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025, Board Chair Ian Maitland and CEO Theresa Collignon reflect on the College’s rich legacy—and its vision of building stronger communities through the power of learning and connection.
Macquarie Community College has grown since its origins in 1950 as the Education Department’s Eastwood Evening College, into one of the largest and most diverse independent community colleges in New South Wales.
A Legacy of Growth, Inclusion and Community Service
Guided by the belief that education should be accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance, the College took a significant step forward in 1988 when Eastwood Evening College merged with Carlingford and North Ryde Evening Colleges.
This amalgamation established the College as an independent, not-for-profit entity, setting the stage for continued growth and impact across Greater Sydney. For 75 years, it has opened doors for students from all walks of life—providing opportunity, connection, and practical skills to help individuals thrive.
“We’re thrilled to be celebrating 75 years of being a trusted community-based provider of inclusive education and training. Over that time the College has gone from a single location teaching around 60 courses to seven campuses plus on-line offerings of hundreds of courses to thousands of students each year. We are also thrilled to have continued to meet evolving community needs with the establishment of Gateway Community High our independent alternative high school,” says Board Chair, Ian Maitland.
It’s this legacy of inclusion and community service that Theresa Collignon has championed over her decade as Chief Executive Officer. With a clear vision for the future and deep respect for the past, she has expanded Macquarie Community College’s reach, deepened support for those facing barriers to participation in education and training, and ensured the College remains agile and responsive—especially through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Macquarie Community College’s commitment to inclusion and opportunity is what drew me to the organisation in the first place” Theresa Collignon says.
“It’s also what keeps us pushing to have greater impact in how we meet the changing needs of our communities.”
Under Theresa’s leadership, the College has undergone a period of renewal and growth. New campuses have opened, course offerings have expanded, and the College has strengthened its position as a high-performing provider under the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled program.
One of the most transformative initiatives has been the launch of Gateway Community High, supporting young people to re-engage with learning in ways that are flexible, supportive, and relevant.
Looking Ahead: Innovation, Inclusion and Impact
The College’s focus has always been on outcomes and impact—not just educational, but social and economic. It plays a vital role in helping people improve their lives, whether that means learning English, gaining job-ready qualifications, building digital literacy, or simply connecting with others in their community.
“Education has the power to provide more than just learning,” she says. “It’s about gaining confidence. It’s about belonging. It’s about opening doors to new possibilities.”
While Macquarie Community College’s legacy is a powerful foundation, the Board and management have clear priorities for the future. This centres on a strategic direction that will see the College grow its programs and services, explore innovative approaches and collaborations and strengthen its existing capabilities and capacity.
With its focus on innovation and collaboration, the College is well positioned to respond to the evolving needs of students, employers, and communities in Western and North-Western Sydney.
This includes the upcoming opening of a new campus in Mt Druitt later this year that will support students from very diverse backgrounds.
The larger site will allow the delivery of additional face-to-face courses including the Skills for Employment and Education program that targets foundational skills such as English language and literacy, work-readiness and digital literacy.
The new campus will also allow the College to expand opportunities for locals to enrol in its nationally recognised VET Qualifications and pathway programs in childcare, aged care and disability, business and hospitality. These practical, quality programs are of huge benefit to learners, local employers and our communities as they lead to employment in industries that always need well-trained graduates.
“The roots of Macquarie Community College were laid in the boom of community colleges between the 1940s and 1970’s, but it’s been our deep understanding of our local communities and commitment to delivering lifelong learning that have seen us grow into the diverse and highly regarded organisation we are today” says Ms Collignon.
“We’ve come a long way, but we’re not standing still,” Maitland says. “We’re continuing to invest in our people, our infrastructure, and our programs so we can make an even greater impact over the next 75 years.”
This anniversary year is not just a celebration of history—it’s a celebration of purpose. For Macquarie Community College, that purpose is clear: to create and provide affordable and inclusive learning opportunities that meet the needs of individuals, organisations and communities for generations to come.