Religious Education
Mrs Laura Gilbert, Pathways Middle Leader
This term, many of our students have been fortunate to engage with a range of inspiring guest speakers and hands-on learning experiences that have deepened their understanding of faith, spirituality, and social responsibility. These opportunities reflect our commitment to meaningful, real-world learning and interfaith dialogue.
Recently, our Year 12 Catholic Faith in Action and Study of Religion classes welcomed Wafa from the Islamic Museum of Australia. Visiting all the way from Melbourne, Wafa led an engaging presentation and creative activity that introduced students to key aspects of the Islamic faith, including its beliefs, customs, and spiritual practices. Her visit also helped to challenge common misconceptions, fostering greater understanding and respect for Islam. We are grateful to Wafa and the Islamic Museum for supporting this important interfaith learning.
Our Year 11 and 12 Study of Religion students were also privileged to conduct a live Zoom interview with Nomi Kaltmann, a Melbourne-based lawyer, writer, and Australia’s first Orthodox Jewish female rabbi. Nomi generously shared her personal journey to religious leadership, as well as insightful reflections on Jewish beliefs and ethics—particularly regarding beginning-of-life issues. Her visit was not only intellectually enriching but also deeply inspiring, especially in highlighting the evolving role of women in religious traditions.
Our Year 11 Religion and Ethics students were honoured to host visitors from the Mareeba Community Centre, learning about the various projects and initiatives being run to support those experiencing social disadvantage in our local area. This conversation offered students valuable insight into how community needs are identified and addressed, and also sparked ideas for their own upcoming assessment task: designing a project to respond to a contemporary social issue. Students also explored career pathways in the community services sector and how they, even as young people, can make a meaningful contribution.
Meanwhile, Year 10 Religion and Ethics students have been exploring the theme of Spirituality across the World Religions by engaging in various contemplative practices, including creating mandalas. Used in various religious and cultural traditions, this spiritual art form provided a calming and reflective way for students to consider the universal human desire for meaning, connection, and inner peace. They were also fortunate to be visited by local Imam Daimin Murat from the Mareeba Mosque and learn first-hand about how Muslims engage in spiritual practices. They look forward to zooming with Buddhist nun Venerable Rinchen this week to learn about Buddhist spirituality.
These experiences have provided students with opportunities to reflect, question, and connect—both with people of different faiths and with their own developing values and worldviews.
We sincerely thank all our guest speakers and community partners for enriching our learning journey.
Laura Gilbert | Middle Leader Religious Education