From Humble Beginnings to an Order of Australia Medal

SGSCC is delighted to share that yesterday, Monday 10th June, The Queen’s Birthday, it was announced that Patricia Carroll, CEO of St George & Sutherland Community College (SGSCC), has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Patricia created a hub of education; St George and Sutherland Community College (SGSCC), which has guided students for four decades and celebrates its 40 year anniversary in 2019. Now based in Jannali, the college had its early start from a small classroom at Caringbah High School with only 14 students with a disability in 1979. The college now supports children and adults with their English and school studies, and provides vocational, leisure courses and activities. It has expanded partnerships with a number of community services including Sylvanvale and Civic, and delivers more than 400 courses to the local community, Sydney-wide and to overseas students.

Ms Carroll said. “The dream was to have a place where people with a disability could further their education, and to create a college where people with a disability could access post-school education.” This dream became reality and the college now supports 130 clients in disability each day and enrols more than 6000 people each year.

Ms Carroll is being recognised as an outstanding member of the community at a national level for her work with empowering people with a disability and for her work in education.

Patricia said “it is a great privilege to serve others and to be recognised by your country for working with people with a disability and in the field of education. All who work in these areas contribute greatly to social justice and to the development of people in our community. It is a special honour to receive this Award on the Queen’s birthday celebration weekend. The Queen is a great and gracious role model for women who take up the challenge of combining family commitment and service to the community.

This is an honour I share with my daughter, Erin, who has Down Syndrome. At the beginning of this journey there was no education past high school available for people with a disability. This motivation for change has never left me.

I also share it with my family, wonderful colleagues and Board members who assisted the dream to become a reality.”