Montessori Academy Founders Inspire at Formal Hall

Campion College’s latest Formal Hall on Thursday 9 October welcomed guest speakers Charles and Colette Assaf, co-founders of Montessori Academy, whose story of faith, perseverance and service left a lasting impression on students and staff alike.

From humble beginnings in 2000, when the couple purchased a small Montessori kindergarten in Croydon, the Assafs have grown Montessori Academy into Australia’s largest privately owned childcare group, with more than 60 centres across Australia and China. Throughout their journey, they have remained guided by a profound sense of purpose and faith.

Reflecting on their mission, Mrs Assaf spoke of how her early experiences as a child refugee from Lebanon shaped her belief in the power of education. “Education is so much more than lessons or literacy,” she said. “It gives children dignity when they feel unseen, stability when life is uncertain and hope when the future feels far away. Education is the ladder that allows us to climb towards the life we dream of.”

Her testimony of resilience and gratitude was grounded in her faith: “I thank God, our Blessed Mother Mary, and St Joseph for giving us the courage to begin, the strength to persevere, and the grace to serve others with love.”

Mr Assaf continued the story, sharing the business challenges they faced and the principles that sustained them through uncertainty. “Faith has always been at the heart of our philosophy,” he explained. “For us, nurturing the mind also means nurturing the spirit.” He described their partnership with Catholic parishes to create childcare centres on parish grounds and to establish the Good Shepherd Program, which helps children “build a moral compass grounded in Christian values like love, service, and purpose.”

He also offered practical lessons drawn from their growth: “Courage comes before certainty. We didn’t have all the answers when we began, but we had purpose,” he said. “Growth means little without purpose… and the right partners don’t just fund your dreams, they share them.”

In his closing remarks, Dr Paul Morrissey, President of Campion College, thanked the Assafs for their example of living faith through vocation. “It’s inspiring to see a couple working together with passion and purpose,” he said, noting the profound alignment between the Montessori philosophy and Campion’s own commitment to holistic, values-based education.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks and the traditional singing of the Salve Regina, leaving guests uplifted by a reminder that faith and service can be the foundation of both personal and professional flourishing.

See below for photos of the night.