Acting Principal Leader

Welcome to Term 4

Welcome back to Term 4 at Caroline Chisholm College. I hope that our students and their families enjoyed a restful break and have returned feeling refreshed, re-energised and ready for the final term of the school year.

Term 4 is always a significant time in our College calendar. It is a time to reflect on how far we have come, celebrate our achievements and remain purposeful in the goals we have set for ourselves. For some students, this means preparing for examinations and completing assessment tasks; for others, it is an opportunity to strengthen their skills, consolidate their learning and finish the year with confidence.

As we begin this final term, I encourage every student to revisit the goals they established earlier in the year. Ask yourself: What do I want to achieve before the end of the year? What steps do I need to take to get there? What habits will help me become the best version of myself?

Achieving our goals requires more than good intentions. It requires consistent effort, organisation, resilience and a willingness to seek help when needed. Attending classes prepared, completing tasks to the best of your ability, managing distractions and making constructive use of feedback are all important steps towards success. Remember that progress is not always measured by a single result; it is also reflected in the commitment, perseverance and growth demonstrated along the way.

At Caroline Chisholm College, we want every student to recognise her potential and feel supported to achieve her personal best. I encourage our students to make the most of the learning opportunities available to them and to approach the term with a positive mindset. Our teachers and support staff remain committed to guiding and encouraging each student, and I thank our families for the continued partnership and support you provide at home. Together, we can help our young women finish the year with a strong sense of achievement and pride.

Keeping our young people safe in an online world

As we continue to support the learning, wellbeing and development of our young women, I would like to take this opportunity to remind families of the importance of online safety and the role we each play in protecting our children in an increasingly connected world.

Since 10 December 2025, Australian legislation has required designated social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from having accounts. These restrictions are designed to give young people more time to develop the digital literacy, emotional maturity and resilience needed to navigate the risks associated with social media. I encourage all families to familiarise themselves with the requirements and the guidance available through the eSafety Commissioner.

While legislation and platform controls are important, they are only part of the solution. The conversations we have at home, the boundaries we establish and the supervision we provide remain essential to our children's safety.

I often encourage families to consider the following question: Would you send your daughter into the city on her own, without an adult to supervise her, knowing that she could encounter strangers, unsafe situations or experiences beyond her maturity to manage? For many families, the answer would be no. Yet, when we allow our children unrestricted access to online spaces, we can inadvertently expose them to similar risks in an environment that is often less visible and much harder to supervise.

Online platforms can provide opportunities for connection, creativity and learning. However, they can also expose young people to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, harmful social comparisons, contact from strangers and pressure to share personal information or images. These experiences do not always occur in public view, and children may feel embarrassed, worried or reluctant to tell an adult when something goes wrong.

As a College, we work hard to educate our students about respectful relationships, digital citizenship, personal responsibility and the importance of seeking help. We will continue to provide guidance and respond to concerns when they arise. However, the first and most consistent line of supervision, teaching and boundary-setting begins at home. School and family must work together to ensure that our young people understand not only how to use technology, but also how to recognise risks, make safe decisions and seek help when they need it. Families need to understand that the reporting and protective measures we encourage parents and carers to take are no different from those we as a College follow and recommend when responding to online harm. The most effective outcomes occur when the College and families work in genuine partnership. This partnership requires parents and carers to take an active role in addressing concerns, which may include reporting harmful content or behaviour directly to the relevant social media platform, requesting the removal of inappropriate material, securing or closing accounts where necessary, making a report to NSW Police and to the eSafety Commissioner when the circumstances warrant it.

I encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their daughter's online world. This includes knowing which apps and platforms she uses, understanding the age requirements, reviewing privacy and safety settings, establishing clear expectations about device use and maintaining open, non-judgemental conversations about what she sees and experiences online. Where a child encounters something distressing, our response should prioritise her safety and wellbeing, reassure her that she has done the right thing by speaking up, and help her access appropriate support.

The eSafety Commissioner provides practical, reliable advice for families, including the following resources (linked below):

• Social media age restrictions and your family – information about the Australian minimum-age requirements and how to support your child.
• Guide for parents and carers – practical steps and conversation starters to help families navigate online safety.
• Report online harm – information about reporting serious cyberbullying, image-based abuse and illegal or restricted online content.
• How to help a child experiencing online abuse – guidance on responding to online abuse, documenting concerns safely and seeking assistance.
• The eSafety Guide – information about the safety features, privacy settings and reporting tools available on popular apps and platforms.

Our shared responsibility is to help our young women become confident, compassionate and discerning digital citizens who understand that their safety and dignity matter both online and offline.

A wonderful announcement for our College community

I am delighted to share the wonderful news that Mrs Shauna Nash, from Delany College, has been appointed Principal of St Andrew's College starting 2027. This announcement also enables Mrs Tania Cairns to begin her transition back to Caroline Chisholm College, with increased time at the College throughout Term 4 following her secondment to St Andrew’s. We look forward to having Mrs Cairns back more regularly and to the opportunity for her to reconnect with our students, staff and wider College community as we move towards the end of the year.

I would like to thank our community for its continued support and flexibility during this period of transition. Leadership changes bring opportunities for growth and renewal, and I am grateful for the commitment and collaboration shown by our staff, students and families throughout the year.

As we move into the final term of 2026, let us continue to live out our College values of faith, courage, tolerance, dignity, compassion and justice. May we encourage one another, remain focused on our goals and approach each opportunity with a willingness to learn and grow.

I wish all our students every success for Term 4 and encourage each of you to finish the year with purpose, pride and a strong sense of what you can achieve.

Mrs Julie Petrovski

Acting Principal Leader