Students in Bomaderry have started Term 4 in their new world-class public school facilities three months ahead of schedule, following a recently-completed stage of an upgrade for Bomaderry High School.
Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney officially opened the school's new Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) building, with home economics and industrial arts lessons underway in new workshops for woodwork, metalwork, and food technology.
Bomaderry students will now be able to use the new facilities to learn contemporary skills on industry-standard equipment, providing a pathway for students to tertiary education and employment in the region.
Students and staff are already benefiting from major improvements, with a new administration office and refurbishment works to two buildings-including the installation of two new lifts to enhance accessibility-now complete and in use.
Further upgrades at Bomaderry High School are on the way, including the refurbishment of almost 50 existing classrooms and the installation of a new vocational education kitchen.
For over a decade, the former Liberal National government neglected public schools on the South Coast and failed to deliver the Bomaderry High School upgrades, despite promising to do so in 2021.
The upgrade to Bomaderry High School is among 12 new schools and major upgrades being delivered across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region, including:
- Calderwood - new public school and public preschool
- Dapto High School - new covered outdoor learning area
- Flinders - new high school
- Milton Public School - upgrade
- Minnamurra Public School - new nature playground
- Nowra East Public School - upgrade
- Ulladulla High School - upgrade
- Ulladulla Public School - upgrade
- Vincentia High School - upgrade
- West Dapto - new public school and public preschool
- Worrigee - new public school and public preschool
The Minns Labor Government is also building nine additional new public preschools in the region, offering more than 700 places per week for the area's youngest learners.
The public preschools will be co-located with Barrack Heights, Berkeley West, Bomaderry, Cringila, Greenwell Point, Hayes Park, Lake Heights, Lake Illawarra South, and Sanctuary Point public schools.
These upgrades reflect the NSW Government's commitment to delivering better schools for NSW students. The 2025-26 Budget includes a record $9 billion investment in school infrastructure, with $2.1 billion allocated to new and upgraded schools in regional NSW.
Alongside the Minns Labor Government's investment in education infrastructure, we are making sure there are more teachers in front of students in NSW classrooms and have reduced teacher vacancies by 96 per cent in the electorate of Kiama.
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:
"These upgrades represent our significant investment in the Bomaderry community and will deliver long-term benefits for local students and their families.
"For far too long, families on the South Coast were promised new schools and upgrades that never progressed past a media release by the Liberals.
"The Minns Labor Government, with the leadership of Deputy Premier Prue Car, is committed to building better public schools for our children."
Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney said:
"It is crucial that our students have access to a world-class public education, and that is being delivered.
"Our government is investing in ensuring students learn in the best quality learning environment possible, have access to modern, industry-standard equipment that sets them up for success in their learning and the workforce, and an education experience that builds their belief in themselves so they can go out and make our community an even better place."
Bomaderry High School Principal Ian Morris said:
"These new upgrades are just brilliant. Importantly our students can see that the equipment and facilities they have are absolutely world class.
"Our students are excited by them and the new office at the front of the school is a game changer for our community.
"Our support staff feel more valued as their workplace has been completely modernised, and our students will leave school with experience using industry-standard hospitality, woodwork and metalwork equipment.
"This level of support for regional education is just fantastic and welcomed by our entire school community."
