About Us
Our Mission
Mirrabooka Study Centre is an educational centre for boys and young men that promotes education of the whole person. It offers a wide range of educational programs tailored for the needs of high school boys and university students.
To complement its central activity, the Centre provides ancillary programs for men who are already putting their talents at the service of their families and society, helping them to be better fathers of our students, better husbands to their spouse and better participants in society.
The Centre seeks to help young men to grow in character, competency, maturity and concern for others.
The history of
Mirrabooka Study Centre
In the early 2000s, a group of dads, keen to provide their sons with Christian formation in a healthy environment, organised activities in Western Sydney which soon evolved into an after-school club for high school students.
Seeing a growing demand for formation, Education Development Association purchased in 2010, a 4-bedroom house in Mt Druitt which became Mirrabooka Study Centre with residential staff moving-in, in July 2012.
However, it soon became apparent that a larger place was needed. Luckily in 2014, Mimosa - a local 1894 Victorian Italianate heritage house on a one-acre block in St Marys - was on the market. After much fundraising, Education Development Association purchased the house which subsequently underwent an extensive renovation and refurbishment. The house’s exterior was returned to its original glory with the interior customised to make it a suitable premises for Mirrabooka’s activities.
The new site was opened in November 2017 by ultramarathon athlete, the Honourable Pat Farmer, in front of a large crowd of benefactors, families and friends.
Years Established
western sydney boys attended events
Camps
assisted disadvantaged communities
Centre Name
Mirrabooka means ‘Southern Cross’ in a local Aboriginal dialect. This is also the name of a property which was owned by Ron Woodhead, one of the fathers who inspired the establishment of a Study Centre in Western Sydney.
Providentially, we later discovered the property in St Marys is called Mimosa. Mimosa is also an Aboriginal word and is the name given to the brightest star of the Southern Cross constellation.
Mirrabooka Study Centre & Opus Dei
The spiritual formation and faith-based activities at the Centre are entrusted to Opus Dei, which is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church, approved by Pope John Paul II on 28th November 1982. St Josemaria Escriva, a Catholic priest, founded Opus Dei, meaning “Work of God” in Latin, on 2nd October, 1928.
The mission of Opus Dei is to promote a deep awareness of the universal call to union with God, among people of all walks of life, through their daily activities. In other words, finding God in your everyday life. Opus Dei operates throughout the world in over 80 countries. Central headquarters for Opus Dei is located in the city of Rome. Click here for more information about Opus Dei.
Child Protection
Education Development Association (EDA) and its projects are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment to enable the development of children to their full potential, in accordance with Christian principles and relevant civil legislation. EDA has a Child Protection Policy which includes guidelines for good practice and prevention, as well as procedures for dealing with possible allegations of abuse. The policy can be found here.
Please refer to the following Child Safeguarding policies on the EDA website.
Child Protection
Education Development Association (EDA) and its projects are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment to enable the development of children to their full potential, in accordance with Christian principles and relevant civil legislation. EDA has a Child Protection Policy which includes guidelines for good practice and prevention, as well as procedures for dealing with possible allegations of abuse. The policy can be found here.
Please refer to the following Child Safeguarding policies on the EDA website.
Our Facilities
In pursuit of its mission to promote education of the whole person, the Centre utilises the following facilities.
Study Rooms
Study rooms for use by school and university students.
Tutorial Rooms
Smaller tutorial rooms to enable small group instruction and student mentoring.
Private Chapel
Private chapel for spiritual formation and faith-based worship in the Catholic faith
Testimonials
What People are Saying
“Mirrabooka’s main mission, at least from my view, is to teach boys the real, no bs, truth about God and the meaning of their lives. For me, Mirrabooka has done that well. The biggest and greatest takeaway from all the talks and activities is simply the habit of my own private and personal prayer, which literally started at 5 mins a day and now I do an hour a day. I cannot list half the effects this had on my life.”
Daniel O’Neill, studying and training at the Australian Defence Force Academy , Bachelor of Science, UNSW Canberra, School Captain 2022, ATAR 94.4
“Mirrabooka is a place where you can find a balance between study, prayer and sport. It has helped me in all aspects of life such as academically, spiritually and physically. Mirrabooka has provided me with the formation to live a committed Catholic life as well as helping me build virtues and grow as a person.”
Joe Lee, Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Commerce (UNSW), ATAR 97.8
“A second home where I’m welcomed and motivated to grow in my daily duties as a student and child of God - That’s what Mirrabooka is.”
Steve Jerome, Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) USYD, Rep. football player, School Captain 2023. Running Year 7 Club
““Mirrabooka has played a pivotal role in shaping the man I am today. Through their support and guidance, I have grown both personally and professionally. I am now proud to serve as a counselor at Mirrabooka, helping others on their own journeys of transformation.”
Eli Merjudio, Customer Banking Specialist Relief for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Singer and Musician, B.Com, University of Notre Dame Sydney