Empowering the community through education
SHE calls herself an accidental educator. Meet Theresa Collignon, the CEO of Macquarie Community College (MCC), Western Sydney’s independent, not-for-profit community-based training provider and WEXPO exhibitor.
This year, the college celebrates 75 years of serving the community and it also marks 10 years of Theresa being at the helm of operations. With the College running operations at six different locations, she has been instrumental in driving the growth and success of the college, with passion and a lot of grit.
Setting the bar high in adult community education since their start in 1950, MCC prides itself in creating and providing affordable and inclusive learning opportunities catered to the needs of individuals, organisations and eventually communities. The College has seen a jump in the enrolment numbers year over year, reaching up to 3,500 students annually, under Theresa’s able leadership.
The founding of Gateway Community High, a small, inclusive alternative high school has added yet another feather to her cap.
“I was intrigued and interested in the adult community education sector and very engaged with the idea of shaping and implementing MCC’s purpose, vision and values. My journey to the role started in the early 1990s after a career in product marketing when I became an ‘accidental educator’ – tutoring at university,” says Theresa.
By now, she has held either a management or governance role in the gamut of education and training sectors – be it early childhood, the formative school years, higher education and even learning for seniors.
The Western Sydney connection
In her 10 years at MCC, Theresa says she has witnessed the big changes to places like Carlingford, Epping and Parramatta.
“The diverse backgrounds of our local residents along with development of transport options like the metro, the light rail and the roads – communities are not just houses and offices anymore – they need greater education options for all ages,” says Theresa adding that their main role to play in building the Carlingford and Western Sydney communities is to create learning opportunities in environments where everyone feels welcomed, respected and supported.
“So many of our mature-aged students have not been in a classroom for decades – and their schooling years may have been quite daunting or negative. We help them develop the confidence to set and achieve their learning goals,” says Theresa.
At MCC, the focus is on programs that support employment and social inclusion - digital literacy and English language courses for migrants and highly regarded practical qualification training for careers in early childhood education and care, aged and disability care.
Overcoming challenges
Like most sectors, MCC’s face-to-face class operations were deeply impacted during Covid times. The short-term ups ad downs in funding and government policies in the adult community education didn’t help either.
“It is unlike every other sector of education, being subject to (mostly) annual and unpredictable levels of contestable funding,” says Theresa. Currently, the College has a team of 150 professionals working with them.
Expansion plans
As CEO, Theresa has led the development of MCC and implemented a series of Three -Year Strategic plans focussed primarily on outcomes, impact and long-term operating sustainability. The College is now kicking off the 2025-27 plan looking at stronger communities through learning and connection.
As a result of her perseverance, despite the challenges of Covid, the College has grown and changed significantly with regard to program offerings, student numbers, revenue, staffing, IT systems and campuses in the last six years.
“We have deepened and broadened our trusted relationships with government and grown our network of referral and delivery partners and supporters. We are united in our belief that quality, inclusive education and training changes lives for the better,” says Theresa stressing on the importance of collaboration.
The College hopes to grow in their areas of strength - foundational skills such as English and digital literacy, lifelong learning and VET qualifications in Greater Sydney and in virtual classrooms. MCC is also looking at establishing additional Gateway Community High campuses, for the 15–24-year-olds, over the next ten years.
Theresa’s personal journey
A FIRST-generation Australian, Theresa is the youngest of six siblings. Born to entrepreneurs, her parents migrated in 1951 from the Netherlands. They initially made Victoria home, then relocated to Sydney. A keen, early reader, Theresa went to a local Catholic primary school in Baulkham Hills till Year 3, then moved to St Patricks, eventually finishing her high school from OLMC, both in Parramatta. As a Rotary Exchange student, she lived with four different families in Canada, an experience which Theresa thinks greatly shaped her educational and intercultural learning journey. She then went on to complete a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) from UNSW and moved to England as a global product manager for Derwent pencils. Theresa returned to Australia and completed her Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) at the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW. “I am grateful and fortunate that I can work in a role that aligns with my values and I can make a difference. I have the solid foundations of wellbeing and curiosity from a positive family upbringing and ongoing support, plus great education, some fantastic challenging work experiences with terrific organisations, and the energy and health to keep going on,” says Theresa.