McAuley Donation Drive & Welcome Packs

Our annual McAuley Services for Women Donation Drive begins on Monday! This important initiative supports women and children seeking help from McAuley Services for Women, with a special focus on providing “welcome packs” to those arriving in need. These packs include essential toiletries to help make their first days a little easier.

The drive will conclude on Thursday, 21 August, with guest speaker Hayley Marriot from McAuley Services for Women, who will share insights about the organisation’s impactful work and the difference your donations make. The event will also include a hamper packing session for students and staff to actively participate in.

What to donate:

All year levels: Tote bags
Year 7: Shampoo, conditioner, hair accessories
Year 8: Dental hygiene products
Year 9: Sanitary products
Year 10: Body wash & soaps
Year 11: Moisturisers (hand, face, body)
Year 12: Deodorant

Donations can be brought to school from next week and dropped off in the library. The year level with the most contributions will enjoy a special morning tea, hosted by the Justice Group.

Together, we can make a real difference to women and families supported by McAuley. Thank you for your generosity and support.

For more information about McAuley Services for Women, please visit their website at https://www.mcauley.org.au/

Feast For Freedom: A Night of Solidarity and Community

Last Thursday evening, 24 July, our Academy community came together with the wider Mercy network for the Feast For Freedom—a truly inspiring night standing in solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers and stateless people. The event filled the hall to capacity, with students, staff, parents, Mercy Sisters and community members uniting in a powerful display of compassion and support.

It was an evening dedicated to awareness-raising, fundraising, and community building. Guests enjoyed a vibrant cultural buffet, lively entertainment from the College Big Band, soloist Alyssa Nardo, pianist Georgia Adams and Young Mercy Links members Cass and Caitlyn, along with a stirring performance from Academy alumna Lucy Diggerson. The atmosphere was further enriched by the presence and participation of so many dedicated community members.

The audience was both captivated and informed by a video address from Sr Denise Coghlan, a Mercy Sister and head of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Siem Reap, Cambodia, as well as an engaging keynote by Dr Jade Roberts of Melbourne University.

Sr Denise shared insights from her years of dedicated advocacy, describing the life-changing work of JRS Cambodia and the hope it brings to displaced people—a message of particular importance as both Young Mercy Links and students from Academy and OMLC will soon visit and work alongside her during upcoming immersions.

Dr Jade Roberts, Lecturer and PhD candidate at Melbourne Law School, brought expertise in international law, forced displacement, statelessness and human rights to her address. Drawing on extensive experience with the United Nations and leading research projects, Jade provided thought-provoking perspectives on global displacement and statelessness, moving and inspiring all in attendance with her passion and commitment.

This evening would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of our student leaders. A heartfelt thank you to Emma and Eloise (Justice Co-Captains) and Clara (Sustainability Captain) for their extraordinary efforts organising every aspect of the event— from coordinating donations and decorations to arranging entertainment, hosting the evening, and all while managing their VCE studies and leadership commitments.

Sincere thanks also go to the Senior Student Leadership team for their assistance in set-up, ushering, performances, packing hampers and more—you were exceptional. We are deeply grateful to Young Mercy Links coordinator Angela Scarafilo and her members for partnering with us, and to the many staff and families who donated hampers and silent auction items. Special appreciation goes to Sr Mary, Mr Di Camillo, Ms Neil, Ms Salvo, Ms Tassone, Ms Muller and Mr Baker for their support throughout.

Together, we raised over $4,000, which will be shared between the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (Melbourne) and Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia—organisations making a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Thank you for your participation, generosity and solidarity. The Feast for Freedom is a testament to what our community can achieve together.

NAIDOC Week

The Justice Group was proud to lead the celebration of NAIDOC Week at Academy, honouring the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy,” focused on the lasting contributions of First Nations people and the importance of empowering future generations to carry forward this proud legacy.

Throughout the week, students and staff engaged in a range of activities:

A special NAIDOC Week presentation was displayed in the Kirrip Hub, exploring the year’s theme and the significance of NAIDOC Week.
Regular Compass posts offered information, stories, and activities designed to deepen understanding and foster cultural appreciation across our school.

NAIDOC Week Highlights

Native Animal Origami Competition

Students were offered origami paper to craft amazing representations of native Australian animals. The competition saw creative entries across year levels.

Congratulations to our winners:

1st place: Emma O (Year 12) – Kangaroo
2nd place: Mia P (Year 9) – Kangaroo
3rd place: Amelia (Year 9) – Sea Lion

People’s Choice Awards:

Lucy C (Year 12) – Koala
Chloe D (Year 7) – Stingray

Well done to all participants for their talent and creativity!

NAIDOC Scavenger Hunt

The scavenger hunt saw enthusiastic teams navigating clues and learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture. Winners:

1st place ($30 voucher): Ada, Ava, Adhya & Violet (Year 7)
2nd place: Maya & Mirabella (Year 7)
3rd place: Violet, Mackenzie, Chloe, Giulia (Year 7)

Special Thanks

We would like to extend my gratitude to the dedicated teams who made these events a success:

The Year 7 Justice Captains for organising and running the Scavenger Hunt with great enthusiasm and care.
The Year 9 Justice Captains for hosting the Origami Competition and supporting student participation throughout.
The Year 11 Justice Captains for their hard work in creating the inspiring NAIDOC Week presentation displayed in the Kirrip Hub.

Thank you all for your leadership, commitment and efforts in celebrating NAIDOC Week with such spirit and respect.

Year 10 Community Action Week

During the last week of Term 2, our Year 10 students participated in Community Action—a program that brought learning beyond the classroom and into the heart of the community. Students volunteered with a wide range of organisations, including op-shops, nursing homes, special development schools, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Fitted for Work, the Islamic Museum and many more. They independently navigated their way to these workplaces, embracing both the challenges and rewards of new environments.

Community Action is a powerful, lived expression of our Mercy values. It offers Year 10s the chance to give back to their communities, learn new skills and explore a wide variety of workplaces and career pathways. We are incredibly proud of our students for their willingness to step out of their comfort zones, serve others, and grow as individuals.

As new challenges arise, we also see new opportunities for students to broaden their contributions as volunteers and deepen their understanding of community needs. Importantly, Year 10 students aged 16 and over are now invited to continue their service by volunteering at St Mary’s House of Welcome.

Please take the time to read the reflections from our Year 10 students below. Their personal accounts highlight the impact of Community Action and the meaningful memories created during this important week of service and learning.

My experience in the Aged Care department was an incredible bonding journey with the residents. On our first day, we were shy, sitting quietly in a circle beside the first lady we met. By the last day, we were celebrating a birthday together, playing trivia, and teaching the residents how to play hangman. It was wonderful to get to know each person and hear their unique stories. We met so many beautiful souls, and I know I’ll continue to miss them. Sophie N

I really enjoyed my community action experience. Everyone there was very welcoming and inclusive, even though I’m not Muslim. I learned a lot about Islam and discovered how many similarities it shares with Christianity. I was fascinated to find out that many of the medical tools we use today were created by Muslims. During my placement, we often discussed how Muslims are stereotypically portrayed in the media, as well as the need to support Palestine during this genocide. The gift shop featured many items advocating for Palestine, and I was impressed to learn that donations are also made to other countries experiencing similar hardships. This experience was incredibly eye-opening and meaningful. Tahliyah

During my Community Action placement at Brotherhood of St Laurence Op-Shop, I learned how to operate the cash register and assist customers more effectively. I was given the opportunity to develop my customer service skills by helping customers with any issues they had at the register. This experience was meaningful to me because it not only taught me valuable, practical skills but also provided a useful reference for future job opportunities. Mary S

I did Community Action at Brotherhood Books in Kensington with six other Academy students. Brotherhood Books was a very enjoyable experience as we got to do many different things—we learned how to pack and clean books for orders, collect books for online orders, and upload books onto the Brotherhood Books website. What stood out to me was how easy it is to upload books online and the impressive organisation of the workplace, right down to the way the books are sorted on the shelves before packing. Community Action at Brotherhood Books was meaningful to me because I learned new skills, supported the Brotherhood of St Laurence during one of their busiest sale periods, contributed to sustainability and became closer with other students from my year level. Sofie F

Justice Captain Induction Ceremony – End of Term 2 Assembly

At the end of Term 2, we gathered to recognise and celebrate our new Justice Captains — a role that is both an honour and a significant achievement within our Academy community. Becoming a Justice Captain represents a commitment to upholding Mercy values and leading meaningful social justice initiatives within our school and beyond.

These students pledged to attend regular Justice Group and FIRE Carrier meetings, participate in social justice activities, and actively promote Mercy values. They also commit to communicating justice initiatives to their mentor groups, leading fundraising efforts such as Project Compassion, and engaging in at least two events, incursions, excursions, or camps each term.

Through these responsibilities, our Justice Captains model compassion, engagement, and proactive leadership — continuing the legacy of Mercy women and making a positive difference in the community.

Congratulations to our 2025 Justice Captains!

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
7 Green: Leilani, Bella, Violet, Lauren, Halle, Nadia, Ayla, Mia	8 Red: Tanya, Olivia, Sandella	9 Mackillop: Eva, Eliza, Romy	10 Green: Meleuc, Sophie	11 Red: Charlotte, Zoe, Trinity	Lucy, Clara, Alisa
7 Blue: Maya, Sanna	8 Green: Emma	9 Barak: Megan, Prytha, Nefeli, Eima, Sophia, Ceana, Isabelle, Heike		11 Blue: Freddy, Chiara, Siona
7 Red: Hannah, Ada	8 Blue: Angela, Amy			11 Purple: Yuliya, Melody

We are proud of your commitment and look forward to the positive impact you will make within our community.

Academy Stamp Box!

Thank you to all the families who have generously donated stamp collections to this wonderful cause. We will be collecting stamps throughout the year, and your ongoing support is greatly appreciated. If your workplace receives stamps, we would be grateful if you could collect them for us. Additionally, if you have any personal stamp collections you are able to donate, we would warmly welcome them. Every contribution makes a difference!

We're collecting used or new stamps to raise money for those in need around the world. Sounds small, right? But here’s the kicker: Stamp donations can raise between $35,000 and $40,000 every year. That’s a serious impact from something you might usually toss in the bin!

So, snip your stamps, leaving about 1 cm of envelope around the edge. Or, bring in the whole envelope. We accept both used and brand-new stamps, but used stamps are preferred (yes, even from your mail at home). Own an old stamp collection? We’ll take that too! We send the stamps to auction, and the money raised goes toward grants that help communities in need around the world.

Drop your stamps off at the Stamp Station located at Student Reception, open before school, at recess, lunch and after school.

Coming up in Term 3 - Mercy Term

Seeds of Justice Camp, Anglesea: Year 9 & 10 Justice Students - August 15 & 16
McAuley Donation Drive - 4 - 21 August
Mercy Works Guest Speaker - 20 August
Cambodia Immersion - 24 August - 5 September
Mercy Day Bake Sale - 12 September
Mercy Works Casual Clothes Day - TBC

Ms Melinda Sachanandani

Justice Leader

Community

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Trishna Mollick