In a dramatic sign of the times, parents in Geelong are taking extraordinary steps to secure their children's educational future, enrolling them for school before they are even born. The intense competition for places at the region's top private institutions has led to waitlists stretching years into the future, forcing families to plan a decade or more ahead.
The Rush for Early Registration
Schools across the Geelong region, including prestigious names like The Geelong College, Christian College, and Clonard College, are reporting unprecedented demand. Parents are contacting admissions offices during pregnancy to add their expected child's name to enrolment lists for Year 7 in 2036 and beyond. This trend highlights a significant shift, where securing a secondary school spot is now a primary concern for new and expecting parents, rather than something considered years later.
One local mother, Rebecca Moloney, shared her experience of enrolling her daughter, Isla, for Year 7 in 2033 when Isla was just six weeks old. She felt compelled to act after hearing stories of families missing out. Similarly, Chris and Emma Prestidge put their son, Oscar, on a waitlist before his birth, aiming for a 2034 start. They viewed it as a necessary "insurance policy" amidst the fierce competition.
Understanding the Waitlist Pressure
The pressure isn't uniform across all year levels but is acutely felt for the transition into secondary school. Christian College's Bellarine Campus, for instance, has a waitlist for Year 7 in 2026 that is already full. The Geelong College has noted a significant increase in early expressions of interest, with some lists for future years being closed due to overwhelming demand.
School leaders point to several factors driving this surge:
- Population growth in Greater Geelong and surrounding corridors like Armstrong Creek.
- A growing preference for private education among families.
- The limited number of available spots in established, sought-after schools.
David Baker, Principal of The Geelong College, explained that while they welcome early registrations, they also try to manage expectations. The formal enrolment process typically begins around three years before the intended start date, and being on an early list does not guarantee a place.
What This Means for Geelong Families
This hyper-competitive environment is creating anxiety for parents who feel they must make binding educational decisions for their children before they can even walk or talk. The phenomenon underscores the perceived value and scarcity of places in certain educational institutions within the community.
For the schools themselves, the demand presents both a validation of their offering and a logistical challenge. They must balance long-term planning with fair and transparent enrolment processes. Many emphasise that sibling policies and other criteria will always play a role, and an early application is just one part of a complex equation.
The situation also sparks broader conversations about educational access and planning in a growing city. As Geelong expands, the pressure on its most popular schools shows no sign of abating, making early planning a new normal for proactive parents determined to navigate the system successfully.
