College News

Message from the College Principal

As we move through another busy and successful term at Kurnai College, it is wonderful to reflect on the many achievements, celebrations and opportunities taking place across our campuses.

Recently, members of our leadership team attended the Victorian Government Principals Conference, where we joined educational leaders from across the state to learn from leading thinkers, explore new ideas and strengthen professional networks. The experience provided valuable insights that will continue to support our improvement journey.

Our college community proudly celebrated Reconciliation Week through a range of activities involving students, staff and local community members. These events provided meaningful opportunities to learn, connect and celebrate Aboriginal culture, with strong student engagement across all campuses.

We were also honoured to host the Marrung Showcase, welcoming representatives from 80 schools across Southern Victoria. The event allowed us to share the work we are undertaking to create an inclusive and culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families.

Inclusiveness was also on display during IDAHOBIT Day at our University Campus, where staff and students proudly dressed in rainbow colours to demonstrate support for our LGBTQIA+ community and reinforce our commitment to ensuring everyone feels welcome and valued at Kurnai College.

Student leadership opportunities continue to flourish, with a group of Year 9 students preparing to attend the Victorian School for Student Leadership's Gnurad-Gundidj Campus. We look forward to seeing the skills and confidence they develop through this outstanding program.

The Uni Campus Formal was another highlight of the term, providing students with a fantastic evening of fun, friendship and celebration. It was wonderful to see so many students enjoying the occasion and creating lasting memories.

We have also welcomed several new staff members to the college who have already made a positive impact within their teams and classrooms. Their enthusiasm and expertise are helping to strengthen the excellent work taking place across Kurnai College every day.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Education Support Officer Bree Jago following her battle with cancer. Bree was a highly respected and much-loved member of our college community whose kindness, dedication and care for students will be remembered by all who knew her. Our thoughts remain with her husband, Danny, and sons, Jack, Eli, and Archer, during this difficult time.

Thank you to our students, staff and families for your ongoing support. Together, we continue to make Kurnai College a welcoming, inclusive and successful learning community.

Anthony Rodaughan

College Principal 

Reconciliation Week

During Week 6, Kurnai College acknowledge National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June), a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared history with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to celebrate culture, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year’s theme, "All In for reconciliation", calls on a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day. At Kurnai College, we recognise the importance of learning from the past, listening to First Nations voices, and continuing to build a future grounded in understanding, equity and unity. Because reconciliation will not happen on its own, we must all be All In for reconciliation.

Across all campuses, students participated in a range of activities to recognise the week and deepen their understanding of reconciliation and Indigenous culture. 

Our Indigenous students proudly celebrated and acknowledged their rich culture and history through several events over the last two weeks.

Sports News

Cross Country

We are incredibly proud of all the students who participated and represented the College at the Wellington Region Cross Country. Congratulations to all students who represented Kurnai College on the day. Cross Country is a challenging event that requires determination, resilience and perseverance, and every competitor should be proud of their efforts and sportsmanship.

A special congratulations to our standout performers in the U12–13 age group:

Austin M – 1st place

Mason H – 6th place

Axel S – Top 12 finisher!

And in the U15 age group:

Ashden M – Top 12 finisher!

All four students have qualified for the Gippsland Championships, which were held on Thursday, 4th of June, at the Drouin Golf Course.

Congratulations to Austin on his outstanding achievement of placing fourth and securing a spot at the State Cross Country Championships. 

Intermediate Boys AFL

Earlier this month, Kurnai College's Year 9/10 Boys Football Team, comprising students from both our Morwell and Churchill campuses, travelled to Sale to compete in the Wellington Division AFL competition.

Taking part in a round-robin series against schools from across the region, the boys played four matches throughout the day and represented Kurnai College with outstanding effort, teamwork and sportsmanship.

The team's opening match against Maffra Secondary College was a thrilling contest, with Kurnai holding the lead for much of the game before Maffra kicked a goal on the siren to force a draw. The boys then faced strong opposition from Lavalla Catholic College and Catholic College Sale, showing great determination and resilience despite falling short on the scoreboard.

To finish the day, Kurnai produced a fantastic performance against Sale College, securing a well-deserved victory and ending the carnival on a high.

Congratulations to all students involved for the way they represented Kurnai College throughout the day. Your resilience, teamwork and school pride were on full display, and you should be incredibly proud of your efforts!

Intermediate Boys and Girls Soccer

Students recently represented the school at the Year 9/10 Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer competition. The boys’ team competed strongly throughout the day, finishing with one win and three losses. The girls’ team showed great effort and determination in their matches, recording two losses. It was great to see students who had never played soccer before giving it a red-hot go!

“At school soccer, we had a group of year 9’s from Morwell and Churchill campus combined and went to the Traralgon soccer grounds and competed against a range of schools like Sale college, Sale Catholic, Lavalla and Maffra. At the end of the day, we went 1 win and 3 losses.” – Jaxon B

“The year 9 girls and boys from Kurnai College attended school soccer this term. The girls’ team didn’t have much luck throughout the day and lost all our games. Apart from losing, we all enjoyed our day and were extremely grateful for the opportunity to try out a new sport.” – Pippa M and Ebony L

Senior Boys Soccer

Kurnai College's Senior Mixed Boys Soccer Team has secured a place in the Gippsland Finals after an outstanding undefeated performance at the Wellington Division Round of the School Sport Victoria (SSV) competition, held at Harold Preston Park in Traralgon on Friday 22 May.

The squad opened their campaign against a strong Lavalla Catholic College side. In a tightly contested match, the scores remained locked at half-time before Zak calmly converted a penalty in the second half, securing a hard-fought 1–0 victory.

The team carried that momentum into their second match against Maffra Secondary College, producing an outstanding performance. Clay led the way with two goals, while Yahya and Lachlan also found the back of the net in a convincing 4–0 win.

After the extended break, the team returned focused and ready to take on Sale Catholic College. Another dominant display saw the team claim a 4–0 victory, with Clay adding another two goals to his tally for the day, while Harry and Jack T also scored.

The final match against Sale College would determine whether the team progressed to the Gippsland Championships. A win or draw was enough to secure qualification, and with a growing crowd watching from the sidelines, the atmosphere reflected the importance of the occasion.

The match proved to be a thrilling contest. After falling behind, the team fought back to level the scores, only to find themselves chasing the game once again. When it mattered most, Hamzh stepped up with two crucial goals to secure a draw and, importantly, a place in the next stage of the competition.

Every player contributed throughout the day, demonstrating outstanding teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. Special recognition must also go to Jack A and Kobie for their excellent support and encouragement throughout the tournament.

We are incredibly proud of this talented group of students and congratulate them on their success. We look forward to seeing what they can achieve at the upcoming Gippsland Championships.