From the Senior Leadership

Happy International Women's Day (IWD) everyone! It is a privilege to be leading an all girls community where we inspire our Chisholm students to believe in themselves and their ability to achieve their dreams. In 2024 the theme of IWD is to ‘Inspire Inclusion’ and we are looking at the various ways that each of us can continue to build a culture of inclusivity both within our college, and in the local and global community where we can make a difference in the world.

Last week we launched IWD with the presentation of the first CCC Alumni award to the Honorable Prue Car, Deputy Premier, Minister of Education and Early Learning & Minister for Western Sydney. We are all very proud that Prue is an ex-student and College Captain of Chisholm (2000).  Prue was able to articulate a strong message to our students about the importance of education and the role models that have inspired her

It is our role as women to ensure that we forge ways to embrace the possibilities that are before us each and every day. Students, have no fear when you experience discomfort and invite others to come with you on the journey. Our role as females is to ensure we not only try and reach our personal goals but that we encourage those who may feel disconnected, lonely or left behind to bring all of those girls and young women with us. When you do well, and care and support the women around you, we all do well and that is how you and I can inspire inclusion each and every day.

As Helen Reddy told us in her infamous song … ``I am woman’  ...”you can bend but never break me, because it only serves to make me more determined to achieve my final goal … I am strong … I am woman.’

I have personally looked up to Julie Gillard, our first female Prime Minister, Grace Tame, Australian of the Year 2021 and Ann D Clark, the first Executive Director of our Parramatta Diocese. All outstanding female leaders in their own right. Never frightened to use their voice and be agents of change for a better world that inspires and invites inclusion.

As Chisholm girls, we need to be inspired now more than ever to seek inclusion for all women, of all cultures, of all faith denominations, and all backgrounds and cultures. We are capable of any career pathway in a contemporary world that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion to create a world of peace, justice, tolerance and harmony. Our roles are critical in a world that is unsettled and disruptive, to always look for solutions that create a better world for today, tomorrow and the future. In saying that, I am confident that you will be able to do this with an empowering education and opportunities to make a difference in your community both locally and globally.

This week we have participated in a wide range of activities showcasing and celebrating what it means to be a woman in a contemporary world with inequities, bias and injustice that is still prevalent today. The challenge for all women is to be confident in who we are, to use our voices to articulate how we feel and take a stance to continue to strengthen our roles in society as mothers, daughters, sisters and women with careers in a wide range of areas such as health, public office, service and care, law officers, STEM leaders, nurses, artists, musicians and many more! We need to realise that we can dream big and achieve any role that we aspire towards as women in a modern world. I am inspired by the young women of Chisholm who continually demonstrate their willingness to aspire in their personal passions and career pathways, ultimately making an enormous difference in the world.

Thank you to our college leaders who organised an outstanding week of activities to empower women such as the Lunch and Learn Alumni student presentation by Alanah Eisenhuth and the Slam Poetry presentation by Monette Banda that inspired our Chisholm ladies to dream big and be all that they can be as young women of Sydney’s west!

Happy International Women's Day to everyone! Be the best version of yourself everyday!

May God Bless you and keep you safe.

Mrs Tania Cairns

Principal Leader