Faith, Justice and Formation

NCLS Student Spiritual Life Survey Results

Late last term all students in Years 7 to 12 were required to complete the Student Spiritual Life Survey run by the National Church Life Survey organisation. This is the second year we have run the survey which has helped us see change and consistency across the student cohorts. The survey was broken into the following sections:

Personal Wellbeing
Religious or Spiritual Identity
Spiritual beliefs, experiences, and practices
Civic action – service and the like
Spiritual formation – influential people and practices
Views on the role of the school in spiritual development and culture.

Some overall observations include an overwhelming sense of happiness, a feeling of hope for the future despite it declining slightly since last year and a strong understanding and practice of faith, much higher than the average for Australians. At least half of our students don’t see a barrier to their faith development and the majority recognise what the College is trying to teach them.

A few areas that could be improved include an understanding of and commitment to advocacy, an appreciation for nature and the Earth (taking the opportunity to watch sunrise and/or sunset would be a step in the right direction), and the recognition that spiritual practices can guide individuals to deepen their faith and purpose.

It is very clear our student community is faith-filled and surrounded by others who demonstrate faith to them.

Below is a quick snapshot of the results.

We will continue to look at the results of the survey through interaction with the Wellbeing Team.

National Volunteer Week

This week, 18-24 May, is National Volunteer Week with the theme ‘Your Year to Volunteer’. So much of what we encourage our students to do is to contribute to society, making a better world for all. To all those who step up, we say well done and to those who need a push then this might be your year to volunteer!

I was fortunate to observe the Volunteer Awards for St Vincent de Paul this week and was humbled to listen to so many stories. Vinnies, for over 100 years, is one of the most recognisable charitable organisations in Australia, as well as being well known for the role of volunteers; more than 12,000 in NSW alone. As a community we are very proud that one of our parents, Yolanda Saiz, is the Chief Executive Officer for St Vincent de Paul NSW. She spoke about the core values of Vinnies being connected to volunteers, reminding us that people volunteer for three key reasons:

To put their faith into action
To follow in the footsteps of family members like parents and grandparents
They see a need and want to do something about it.

Maybe this is the reminder some of our community may need to take on the challenge of volunteering themselves! What better example for life is there?!

Well done wherever you volunteer! And again, thanks to all those who enable us to support all of our justice partners including St Vincent de Paul, especially through Vinnies Vans and different appeals. I particularly thank those parents and carers who support us in the different tasks through SOL Parents, currently coordinated by Mrs Raja Touma who epitomises what it is to volunteer, along with others. I also thank staff who go above and beyond to ensure our students get these opportunities.

Volunteering is about time, not donations. It shows people they are valued because of what you do. They get your precious gifts and presence. Pope Francis once described volunteers as the ‘artisans of compassion’, a truly beautiful expression.

Happy Volunteers Week! Pat yourselves on the back boys if you step out there on SOL Service and truly give of yourselves and your time.

Thank you to all.

Grief Sharing Circles

One of our College partners, St Merkorious Charity, is running Grief Sharing Circles being held at Olive Tree Cafe, Hudson Park, Strathfield.

These circles provide a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space for individuals navigating grief, loss, or significant life changes to connect and feel supported within the community. They are open to anyone.

Sessions will be held from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM on the first Wednesday of each month, commencing 3 June 2026.

See the flyer below for more details and spread the word.

Kids Giving Back

Anyone interested in volunteering with Kids Giving Back are encouraged to get in contact with them – info@kidsgivingback.com or 8599 5595.

They offer various activities for students in Years 3 to 12, including the Youth Changemaker Program (Ages 14–18) complete Duke of Edinburgh or school service hours through meaningful volunteering. It includes access to their App with a wide range of vetted hands-on volunteering opportunities students can track.

See the flyer below for the upcoming holidays.

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity