Principal’s Welcome

Welcome to Colac West Primary School – Where Every Child Thrives

At Colac West Primary School, we pride ourselves on being a small, inclusive school community located in the heart of a city. Our close-knit community allows us to truly know each child and support their individual learning journey. 

We offer small class sizes, enabling our staff to provide personalised attention and foster strong, supportive relationships with every student. Many of our teachers hold additional qualifications in areas such as psychology and educational wellbeing, and several have been recognised with top academic honours in teaching excellence. This depth of expertise helps us create a learning environment where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered to achieve their best. 

A standout feature of our school is our unique Nature School program. This immersive outdoor learning experience is a favourite among students and encourages creativity, resilience, and a deep connection to the natural world. Our school works with university researchers on our innovative Nature School program. 

Colac West has a proud history and an exciting future ahead, with a newly approved school building project soon to begin. We are committed to continually improving our learning spaces to support modern, engaging education. We also work closely with local community organisations and allied health professionals to support the learning and wellbeing development of our students. These partnerships help us ensure that every child has access to the support they need to thrive. 

Literacy and Numeracy form the foundation of our curriculum, giving students the essential skills they need for lifelong learning and success. Just as importantly, we place a strong emphasis on values such as being respectful, responsible and showing resilience, helping to shape not only 21st Century learners but also compassionate and confident individuals. We warmly invite you to visit Colac West Primary School, meet our dedicated team, and discover what makes our school such a special place to learn and grow. 

I am proud to lead this caring and dynamic school. We look forward to welcoming you and your family to our school community. 

Kind regards, 

Ashley Kalkandis 

Principal (Acting) Colac West Primary School 

BA (Psych & Soc) with Linguistics, GradDipEd (P–12), GradDip (Autism Ed), 

MEd (Inclusive Ed)