St Joseph’s first opened its doors to students in 1982, with one hundred and forty students commencing under Brother Mat Murphy as the founding Principal. The initial plans for the school were suggested by Bishop William Murray in 1978, after which a project team led by Father John Ward of the Dapto Parish saw the construction through to its completion.

St Joseph’s Catholic High School is a systemic co-educational high school. The school provides a quality Catholic education for young men and women in the southern Illawarra, drawing students from areas bounded by Gerringong and Kiama in the south, Unanderra in the north, Shellharbour and Warilla in the east and Albion Park in the west.