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Australia, Melbourne
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Deutsche Schule Melbourne began in 2004 after Klaus Steinmetz visited Melbourne and inspired the German‑Australian bilingual school idea; the Deutsche Schule Melbourne School Association was formed with support from the German Lutheran Trinity Church, the German Catholic St Christophorus Parish, and the German Consulate. It opened in 2008 for a first composite Prep to Year 2 class with around 15 students, and the playground was inaugurated in May. In 2009 it was officially recognised as a Deutsche Auslandsschule (German School Abroad) by the German Federal Government, and a teacher training program was established. VRQA granted full primary school registration in 2010, followed by further infrastructure improvements. By 2017 the school welcomed 100 students and opened the Music Pod; in 2024 a new Vision & Mission was launched along with campus upgrades.
DSM fosters transparency, openness and collaboration with the community; transparency and communication are key to the educational partnership between parents, teachers and students. Principal Jörg Dopfer engages in open dialogue with students, parents and teachers and seeks annual feedback to understand what they love about DSM. A Parent Representative Committee (PRC), a Student Council and a Consultative Committee meet regularly with school leadership to discuss new ideas, listen to feedback, and implement improvements. In 2023 DSM created a new Vision & Mission Statement after workshops involving students, parents, the Board and staff.
Deutsche Schule Melbourne is a not-for-profit incorporated association with around 120 members. Membership fees are $25 per year, and members support the school through working groups or committees and by helping with school events. Organisations can sponsor the school, and donations can be directed to gift funds. The Board is responsible for the overall governance, strategy and performance and oversees school management. DSM operates gift funds including the DSM Scholarship Fund, the DSM Library Fund and the DSM Building Fund, with donations over $2 tax-deductible.
Deutsche Schule Melbourne is a German-English bilingual primary school in Fitzroy North. It delivers a dual curriculum that blends the Victorian Curriculum with the Thüringen curriculum, enabling a smooth transition between systems. The school is VRQA-compliant and KMK/ZfA-recognised as a German Auslandsschule, emphasising cross-curricular connections and bilingual, intercultural learning. In Foundation Year, about 80% of instruction is in German and 20% in English; by Year 3 the German component balances to 50/50. Core subjects include German, English, Mathematics (German in the early years, bilingual from Year 3), Sachunterricht, HPE, Art, Music, Ethics and Class Council, with French introduced from Year 5. The program uses immersion, CLIL and explicit language instruction with a one-teacher–one-language approach, taught by German and English native speakers. Facilities at 96 Barkly Street include a library with German, English and French resources, an Instrumental Program, and after-school care. Extra-curriculars span sport, choir, chess, circus, theatre and garden clubs.
