Wellbeing - Whole School

International Women's Day - March Forward

Thirty years ago, the world committed to a bold vision for gender equality through the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Since then, we’ve seen women break barriers, reshape policies, and ignite global movements. Yet, despite significant progress, the promises made remain largely unfulfilled for millions of women worldwide. We are simply not where we should be.

Minister for Women, Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher recently commented on the 2025 focus, 

“The theme ‘March Forward’ reminds us that progress is not just about reflection but about taking decisive, bold steps to turn our commitments into action. This is our moment to drive change and ensure a truly equal future for all women and girls.”

Our College is committed to continuing to turn these promises into progress as we celebrate and advocate International Women’s Day (IWD) through our Assembly and PCLs for this week. Each year group will be focusing on content and case studies relating to women in different countries i.e. Pakistan, South Sudan, Australia and the Pacific to name a few. Activities with discussions will follow.

IWD at the College can foster a sense of global solidarity. It unites people from different cultures, backgrounds, and professions to speak up for women's rights and gender equality. It also highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion, our touchstone focus for 2025 at the College in all aspects of life - where women from all backgrounds, racial, economic, religious, and cultural, are given equal opportunities and recognition.

Robert Simpson                                                                              Alexandros Sinadinos

Director of Senior School                                                          Director of Middle School 

EREA Young Leaders' Network Day 2025: Making a Difference

On Thursday 27 February 2025, members of the Year 6 and Year 12 Student Leadership Team joined peers from Edmund Rice schools across New South Wales for the EREA Young Leaders' Network Day, hosted by Waverley College. This significant event is designed to inspire and empower young leaders by fostering leadership development, deepening their understanding of Edmund Rice values, encouraging networking, and promoting social justice. The program plays a crucial role in shaping students' leadership qualities and their commitment to service within the Edmund Rice tradition.

The theme of this year’s gathering, Making a Difference, resonated throughout the day as students explored the impact of leadership both within and beyond their school communities. The event began with a meaningful Smoking Ceremony led by our Walawaani group, followed by a liturgy in the War Memorial Chapel. This powerful opening grounded the day in a deep sense of reflection, respect, and connection to culture and faith.

The gathering continued with an insightful keynote address from General Sir Peter Cosgrove, former Governor-General of Australia and Chief of the Defence Force. Drawing from his distinguished career, Sir Peter shared invaluable lessons on resilience, integrity, and the responsibility of leadership. His humble and grounded address encouraged students to embrace the challenges of leadership with courage and purpose, using their positions to uplift and serve others.

Following the keynote, students engaged in a series of workshops aimed at enhancing their leadership skills and developing strategies to maintain a healthy wellbeing. These sessions covered essential topics such as ethical decision-making, balancing responsibilities throughout their final school year, and applying leadership skills beyond the school environment.

A highlight of the day was a panel discussion featuring St Patrick’s College Old Boy and 2022 College Captain, Michael Bejjani. Michael shared his experiences as a student leader and reflected on how the skills and values he developed at St Patrick’s have positively influenced his life beyond school. He provided valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of leadership, emphasising the importance of staying true to one's values and always striving to make a difference. His words served as a powerful reminder to the current student leaders about the lasting impact of their roles.

The event concluded with an exchange of ideas and goal-setting discussions among student leaders from EREA NSW Colleges, reinforcing a shared commitment to leadership and service.

It was apparent that the SPC student leaders returned to school with a renewed motivation to lead by example and uphold the Edmund Rice tradition of faith, excellence, and social justice. We extend our gratitude to Waverley College for hosting this valuable event, as well as to Ms Gillian Daley and the other organisers from across the participating schools for their dedication in making the day a success. A special thank you to Sir Peter Cosgrove and Michael Bejjani for their wisdom and inspiration, which deeply resonated with all student leaders in attendance. This experience has undoubtedly equipped our senior and junior leaders with the skills, confidence, and sense of purpose to make a lasting impact within our school community and beyond.

Megan Santiago

Wellbeing Coordinator