Mission and Wellbeing (AP)

McAuley Day 

McAuley Day will be held on Friday, September 12th. This day of celebration acknowledges our Mercy traditions and the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley. The day will include a McAuley Day Liturgy starting at 9:30am, to which we extend an invitation to any parents and carers who wish to attend.

McAuley Day is one of the highlights of our school year. It is a day when we celebrate our traditions and come together as a community of Faith and Action. The day will include a range of activities and events, and each homeroom will run a fundraising activity. Money raised on the day will support Mercy Works programs run by the Sisters of Mercy. 

‘The poor need help today, not next week.’ – Catherine McAuley. These words have been the guiding mantra for all who have contributed to Mercy Works since its inception.

In 2025, Mercy Works celebrates its 25th anniversary of supporting vulnerable communities in Australia and the Asia Pacific, focusing on women and children. Mercy Works aims to improve the lives of vulnerable communities. They believe everyone has the right to education, health care and social welfare, regardless of where they live. Starting in our own country and expanding to our nearest neighbours, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Timor-Leste, Mercy Works run world-class programs that partner with challenged communities to enjoy the right to these basic resources. 

We encourage all students to participate in McAuley Day and support their homeroom and plan for this day. This is a day of social justice, where we come together to put others first. We ask students to bring a small amount of money to participate in the homeroom stalls and contribute to the fundraising for Mercy Works. 

National Week of Action Against Bullying 

Bullying No Way Week was held 11–15 August 2025. The theme for 2025 was 'Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.'

It takes courage to spark change.

Our Tell Them From Me Data for 2025 showed that 44.2% of students reported being victims of bullying. Students who are victims of bullying are classified in three ways: 

• having experienced at least one of the four types of bullying; 

• or being victims of moderate

• or severe bullying

Bullying is everyone's responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate. There are 4 types of bullying identified in the data, Physical, Verbal, Social and Cyber. The results for each are listed below: 

Verbal abuse is the most common type displayed within our College. Students can be bold and kind and take a stand to support others who are being bullied. 

In our community and in our school, we want a place where everyone can belong, a place that celebrates everyone, and where bullying is never accepted.  

Students are reminded that they can seek support from staff at any time if bullying is occurring. They can also access the Bully Free form on their intranet site and suggest processes that can be improved to help students feel safe at school.  

Connected Catholic Communities 

Last week, Mrs Nikita Robinson (Acting Leader of Pastoral Care) and I attended the Connected Catholic Communities Symposium in Sydney. The theme - Connected for Impact - continues the journey of exploring and advancing opportunities to build impactful, sustainable partnerships, both within and beyond the school gate, to support the students and families enrolled in our schools.

I was invited to be a guest speaker on a panel discussion regarding the Family Connect in Schools program that has been rolled out in our Diocesan schools in partnership with Social Futures. This program has been a great success within our College and has provided support for many families since its beginning in 2019. 

Our Family Connect Worker, Gemma Buckley, provides a valuable bridge between the College and families, offering advice, support, education, and facilitating access to services and community support agencies. If you feel you would like support from Gemma, please contact the College and speak with your child’s Year Coordinator, our Acting Leader of Pastoral Care, Mrs Nikita Robinson or me. Alternatively, you can contact Gemma directly (see below for details)

CTRL SHFT

Last week, Kirra Pendergast from CTRL SHFT spoke with our staff and parents regarding the digital realities of what really happens behind the screens, grounded in research. Kirra gave practical advice helping parents understand and mitigate digital risks such as cyberbullying, AI abuse, and sextortion, empowering them to manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and foster a safe and balanced online environment for their children. 

For more information and to read more about CTRL SHFT and the Blogs and Podcasts that Kirra and her team provide, please visit https://www.safeonsocial.com/