Justice
Justice & Service in Action
It has been an extraordinary period for social justice across our school community. From putting our Mercy values into immediate practice through the overwhelming generosity of our McAuley Donation Drive, to preparing our students for transformative experiences in Cambodia and exploring spiritual ecology alongside neighboring Mercy schools, our students continue to lead with heart, courage, and compassion. Below are the stories, outcomes, and upcoming journeys from our recent community and justice initiatives.
McAuley Donation Drive Wrap-Up
A heartfelt thank you to our entire school community for your incredible support during this year’s McAuley Donation Drive. Thanks to your generosity at home, our students collected a massive volume of essential items—including toys, art supplies, toiletries, kitchenware, bedding, and gift cards. These donations will go directly toward supporting women and children escaping family violence and homelessness through McAuley Community Services for Women.
We were also privileged to host Hayley Marriott from McAuley, who spoke to our students and staff about the vital, life-changing work their organisation performs every day. Following her presentation, our Justice Group students helped load the overwhelming stack of donations straight into her car to be delivered to families in need.
Winning Year Level Announcement
To add some friendly spirit to the drive, the year level with the highest total donations earns a special morning tea served by the Justice Group.
Congratulations to Year 7 for bringing in the highest total contributions!
Thank you once again for supporting your children with their donations and partnering with us in this annual Mercy tradition. Your generosity brings real comfort, dignity and safety to vulnerable families in our wider community.
Mercy Cambodia Immersion
This Sunday, 23 August, a group of 16 students—ten from Academy, four from Our Lady of Mercy College (OLMC), and two from St Aloysius College—will embark on a transformative journey for our upcoming Cambodia Immersion. Traveling together as one united Mercy group, these students will experience local Khmer culture, historical reflection, and hands-on service, returning on Saturday, 5 September.
Be sure to keep an eye on our social media channels throughout the trip to see regular updates and photos of what our students are up to.
Cultural Exploration & Deep Learning
Throughout the two-week program, students will immerse themselves in the rich traditions, history, and daily life of Cambodia. Their itinerary includes exploring local communities, learning about Cambodia’s complex history, and experiencing the warmth of the local culture through traditional cuisine, language, and community visits.
House Building Project & Community Blessing
The core focus of the immersion is a hands-on house building project in Kampong Cham. Working alongside local builders and community members, our students will help construct safe, sturdy homes for local families in need.
This meaningful effort will culminate in a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony, where the team will celebrate alongside the local community as the new home is handed over to the family we are supporting.
Meeting Sister Denise Coghlan rsm
A highlight of the trip will be spending time in Siem Reap with Sr Denise Coghlan, a Sister of Mercy whose lifelong dedication to social justice continues to inspire people around the globe.
Advocacy & Impact: Sr Denise has spent decades working in Cambodia, serving landmine survivors, advocating for the international ban on landmines, and supporting displaced refugees.
Global Recognition: Her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines contributed to the organisation receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.
Inspiring the Next Generation: Hearing directly from Sr Denise will offer our students a powerful real-world example of living out the Mercy charism with courage, compassion, and relentless commitment to justice.
We keep our students and accompanying staff in our thoughts and prayers as they prepare to depart this Sunday. We look forward to sharing their stories and experiences upon their return.
Seeds of Justice Conference
Last week, our Year 9 and 10 student leaders participated in the annual Seeds of Justice Conference, joining student representatives from eight other Mercy schools to explore the important theme of Spiritual Ecology.
Five outstanding Academy students represented our school at the event, immersing themselves in deep discussions about our shared responsibility to care for the Earth and one another.
Key Highlights from the Conference Guest Speaker Insights: Students heard from Catherine Glenister, Director of the Mercy Hub, who shared insights into how the teachings of Pope Francis align closely with First Nations perspectives. Held on the lands of the Wadawurrung people, the conference highlighted the beautiful parallel values shared between Indigenous connection to Country and Catholic ecological teachings.
Art & Connection to Country: Through interactive art workshops, students reflected on their personal connection to the environment and created meaningful acknowledgments of the traditional lands on which their respective schools stand.
Collaborative Leadership: Our representatives collaborated with peers to share current initiatives and brainstorm future actions. These ideas will help shape the ongoing work of our FIRE Carriers group and support the continued implementation of our school’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
A Message of Hope: Beyond the workshops and collaborative sessions, one of the greatest outcomes of the conference was the strong sense of community formed across the Mercy network.
During our final reflection circle, our students expressed immense gratitude for the experience. Many shared how hope-filled they felt after connecting with so many like-minded young people who share their passion for social justice, environmental stewardship and caring for our common home.
We congratulate our student representatives for their active participation and look forward to seeing their inspiring ideas brought to life back at school.
Coming up in Justice
- Overnight selected students Cambodia Immersion - 23 Aug to 05 Sep
- Mercy Works Presentation
- Mercy Works Bake Sale - Mercy Day
Ms Melinda Sachanandani
Justice Leader