February 17, 2026
Coffs Coast welcomes new school principals
School

Coffs Coast welcomes new school principals

Mark Peterson. Photo: Andrew Vivian. Michael Linet. Photo: Narranga PS. Kristina Stewart. Photo: Crossmaglen PS. THE school year has begun with several Coffs Coast public schools welcoming new principals. The principals and their schools are Mark Peterson, Sawtell Public School; Michael Linet, Narranga Public School; Kristina Stewart, Crossmaglen Public School; and Karen Lane, Dorrigo Public […]

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Bishop Druitt College Principal Simon Doyle, volunteers to deliver aid in Ukraine Simon Doyle helps deliver aid to Kryvyi Rih.
Community, School

Bishop Druitt College Principal Simon Doyle, volunteers to deliver aid in Ukraine

Simon Doyle helps deliver aid to Kryvyi Rih. Simon in Kyiv, in extreme snow conditions. A visit to a School 88 class in Zaporizhia. Helpers from Molochany Community at the Internally Displaced People’s Centre Zaporizhia. BISHOP Druitt College Principal (BDC) Simon Doyle, from Sawtell, spent five weeks of the summer break volunteering in war-torn Ukraine.  […]

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School’s back for Bishop Druitt College Playgroups Bishop Druitt College Playgroups in action.
School

School’s back for Bishop Druitt College Playgroups

CHILDREN and educators of the Bishop Druitt College (BDC) Playgroups resume on Monday, 2 February across four Coffs Coast locations. Bishop Druitt College, Coffs Harbour, Wiigulga Sports Complex, Woolgoolga, Urunga Neighbourhood Centre and Valla Beach Hall are free, inclusive and open to the wider community. The primary goal is to support young families and early […]

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A Unique Return to School for MGG Students Ellie Buchanan in the white shirt, leading a MGG dance. Photo: MGG.
School

A Unique Return to School for MGG Students

SEVERAL Maam Giingana Gumbaynggirr (MGG) students began their school year in Aotearoa New Zealand on Wednesday, 28 January. MGG students were joined by the local Gumbaynggirr Giingan Yiiliwiyay Girrwaa Dance Troupe in an immersion language field trip overseas. Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation (BMNAC) staff members, dancers, MGG students and parents previously travelled to Akerama […]

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CSU study reveals the ‘ecosystem’ feeding on great whites
National, School

CSU study reveals the ‘ecosystem’ feeding on great whites

A WORLD-FIRST study by Charles Sturt University (CSU) has identified an ecosystem of parasites inside great white sharks. The global study by researchers in CSU’s School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, and the Gulbali Institute for Agriculture Water and Environment, found evidence of at least 116 parasites inside the apex predator. Professor in Veterinary […]

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SCU streamlines credit recognition across 300-plus vocational pathways Deputy Secretary, Education and Skills Reform, NSW Department of Education Jeremy Kurucz; Chief Executive Officer ETC Damon Munt; Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Innovation) at Southern Cross University Professor Erica Wilson (panel chair); Associate Director Engagement, Partnerships & Growth at TAFE NSW Marty Braley; and Acting Executive Director at Jobs and Skills Australia Cliff Bingham.
School

SCU streamlines credit recognition across 300-plus vocational pathways

SOUTHERN Cross University (SCU) is streamlining its recognition of TAFE and vocational qualifications, improving clarity around existing pathways and enabling students to receive greater credit towards a wide range of undergraduate degrees. The refined pathways framework draws together more than 300 formal credit arrangements already in place with TAFE and other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). […]

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SCU students awarded for ground-breaking coastal management work Emeritus Professor Bruce Thom AM with PhD candidates Chris Klaas and Muhammad Islami. Photo: East Coast Conferences.
School

SCU students awarded for ground-breaking coastal management work

Emeritus Professor Bruce Thom AM with PhD candidates Chris Klaas and Muhammad Islami. Photo: East Coast Conferences. Student award winners Chris Klaas and Muhammad Islami with their supervisor Professor Kirsten Benkendorff. Chris Klaas with a leaf oyster. Photo: Chris Klaas. Muhammad Islami on his River Research project. Photo: Southern Cross University. TWO PhD candidates from […]

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Coffs Harbour’s Evangelene Rushforth awarded Apprentice of the Year GTNT Group CEO Kathryn Stenson, Apprentice of the Year Evangelene Rushforth and GTNT Group Employment Services Manager Emma Koerner.
School

Coffs Harbour’s Evangelene Rushforth awarded Apprentice of the Year

GTNT Group CEO Kathryn Stenson, Apprentice of the Year Evangelene Rushforth and GTNT Group Employment Services Manager Emma Koerner. Evangelene in the GTNT workshop on Groote Eylandt. Evangelene Rushforth was named the Apprentice of the Year at the 2025 Australian Training Awards. COFFS born and schooled Evangelene Rushforth, the Apprentice of the Year in the […]

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Toormina Public School opens ‘Food For Thought’ garden The garden is the result of a year’s work.
Community, School

Toormina Public School opens ‘Food For Thought’ garden

Toormina Public School’s Food For Thought Garden. The garden is the result of a year’s work. TOORMINA Public School has officially opened its Food For Thought Garden, following a year-long collaborative effort involving students, local businesses, families, friends, and sponsors. Driven by the school’s P&C Project Co-creator Christey Ferreira, the garden came about after parents […]

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Bonville Sawtell Lions celebrate year-end with student presentations Bonville Sawtell Lions Club members.
Community, School

Bonville Sawtell Lions celebrate year-end with student presentations

BONVILLE Sawtell Lions Club members marked a successful first half-year at their Christmas meeting, which included giving cash to local schools for end-of-year student awards. “We thank the City of Coffs Harbour Council for a Community Grant of $1650 which helped finance the presentations,” club spokesperson Ida Scolari told News Of The Area. “The eight […]

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