Justice

Cambodia Immersion 

This Sunday morning, 24 August, a group of students and staff from both Our Lady of Mercy College (OLMC) and Academy will embark on the highly anticipated Cambodia Mercy Immersion.  Over the past eight months, these students have been preparing for this transformative journey—sharing meals at a Cambodian restaurant, building bonds, learning about Cambodian culture, religion and language, and reflecting on how to manage their emotions when facing new and sometimes challenging experiences.  Their preparation has also included exploring the connections between our Mercy faith and Buddhism, especially through the shared theme of compassion. 

During the 13-day program, students will:

• Experience the vibrant history of Phnom Penh and deepen their understanding of Cambodia’s remarkable resilience. 
• Work side by side with local NGOs, including a partner founded by monks, on meaningful community service projects focused on education and infrastructure. 
• Collaborate in Siem Reap with the Jesuit Refugee Service and Mercy Sister, Sr Denise Coghlan, seeing firsthand the life-changing impact of community outreach. 
• Conclude their immersion with an unforgettable exploration of the Angkor Wat temples—one of the world’s most valued cultural and spiritual sites. 

This Mercy Immersion promises to be an unforgettable adventure.  It will not only introduce students to Cambodia’s unique traditions and history, but also nurture their capacity for empathy, teamwork, and global citizenship through a Mercy lens.  Keep an eye on our Academy socials for regular updates throughout the journey! 

Mercy Works 

On Wednesday this week, students had an inspiring experience hearing from Executive Director Sr Sally Bradley of Mercy Works, whose visit deepened their understanding of social justice, partnership, and sustainable change.  

Through stories of outreach across Australia and the Asia Pacific, students learned how projects like the Mobile Laundries in remote central Australia are building both dignity and self-reliance—providing free washing facilities, local employment and essential health education to First Nations communities.  Sr Sally highlighted how this innovative project is helping to prevent diseases like scabies and rheumatic heart disease, directly improving living conditions and health outcomes for First Nations Communities.  

The session showed students how Mercy Works is making a real difference by supporting vulnerable communities and fostering compassion, hope and resilience for a better future.

For more information about the amazing work by Mercy Works or to make a donation please go to https://www.mercyworks.org.au/ 

McAuley Donation Drive

Yesterday, our community rallied together for the annual McAuley Services for Women Donation Drive, supporting women and children in need.  We are thrilled to announce that Year 7 claimed the prize for most contributions and will enjoy a special morning tea hosted by the Justice Group—well done! 

The event was made truly memorable by our guest speaker, Hayley Marriot from McAuley Services for Women.  Hayley’s informative talk gave students and staff a deeper understanding of how McAuley’s vital work brings comfort, dignity and hope to vulnerable women.  Her insights helped everyone appreciate just how much their donations matter.

Students especially enjoyed showing their Mercy in action by enthusiastically packing “welcome packs”—filled with essential toiletries and cared-for touches—for women seeking support through McAuley’s services.  The energy and compassion in the room was a testament to our community’s generosity and spirit. 

Thank you to all families for your kindness and support during this year’s drive.  Together, we are making a real difference for women and children in our wider community. 

For more information about McAuley Services for Women, please visit: .

Seeds of Justice Conference

On Thursday and Friday 14 - 15 August, four of our students—Eima, Heike, Meleuc and Sophie—from Year 9 and Year 10 attended the Seeds of Justice Student Conference at Araluen Camp in Anglesea.  This valuable overnight experience brought together Mercy schools from across the state to learn, share insights and deepen their commitment to social justice. 

The conference supports our school’s dedication to raising awareness of critical social justice issues both locally and globally.  It provided a space for students to learn, listen, and be inspired, while also inspiring others through their reflections and actions. 

Throughout the conference, students were encouraged to reflect deeply on their own engagement with the Mercy charism and what it means to live a life committed to justice and compassion.  They explored urgent environmental challenges facing our planet and considered ways they might contribute to positive change in their communities.  This reflective commitment to our environment and planet was centered around Pope Francis’s designation of 2025 as a Jubilee Year, with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. This calls for ecological conversion and care for creation, aligning with the Pope’s encyclical Laudato Si’, which highlights the moral imperative to address environmental degradation and climate change—especially as they impact the poor and vulnerable.  The Jubilee Year encourages spiritual renewal and a rediscovery of hope amid these urgent global challenges. 

Students also gained valuable insights from a presentation and workshop led by Juliet Talarico from Terra Leaders, equipping them with knowledge and tools to further their journey as advocates for a more just and sustainable world. 

This experience has been an important step in nurturing our students’ passion for justice and empowering them as changemakers in our community and beyond.  Below is a student's reflection of this opportunity.

“I was honoured to be presented with the opportunity to go!  We got to meet many new like-minded people and were able to discuss relevant topics in new and creative ways. It was the perfect way to press pause on life and meaningfully reflect.” — Sophie 

Young Mercy Links 

Join us at the Young Mercy Links Sausage Sizzle on Saturday, 30 August, from 8:30am to 4:30pm at Bunnings Brunswick, 415 Sydney Rd.  For just $3.50, enjoy a sausage and support a great cause!  

All funds raised will go towards the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Cambodian Housing Project, which provides vital housing and support for landmine victims in Cambodia. Young Mercy Links members, who will be travelling on their own immersion to Cambodia this January, are proud to present this fundraiser.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the Academy community to come together, support the important work happening in Cambodia, and stand in solidarity with those affected by hardship. 

We encourage everyone to come along, enjoy some tasty food and help make a positive impact!   Let’s unite as a community to support this meaningful cause and continue living out the spirit of Mercy in action. 

Coming up in Term 3 

• 24 August 24 - 5 September:  Mercy Term Cambodia Immersion 
• 12 September:  Mercy Day Bake Sale 
• 18 September:  Mercy Works Casual Clothes Day