By Elaine Rooney - Learning Leader – VCE/Vocational Major

Homelessness Week Origami Houses

On 4 August, our Year 12 VCE-VM Community Engagement students joined the Central Highlands Homelessness Alliance and Cafs to help install 6,000 origami houses at Lake Wendouree as part of Homelessness Week.

By contributing to this community initiative, our students not only lent a helping hand but also gained a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. The installation raises awareness that, on any given night, more than 30,000 Victorians including 6,800 children are without a safe place to call home.

The Lake Wendouree display forms part of 60,000 origami houses installed across Victoria, symbolising the number of additional social homes needed to meet the current demand.

We are incredibly proud of our students for engaging with their community, supporting an important cause, and demonstrating compassion in action.

The Raven Collective

By Sunni and Mikala

In early September, the Year 12 VCE‑VM students at Loreto College Ballarat hosted a celebration Lunch in support of The Raven Collective, a local organisation we have partnered with as part of our Personal Development Skills assessment. The Raven Collective is a Ballarat‑based charity that provides a 10‑week paid training and employment program for women who have experienced domestic or family violence. Our goal in hosting this event was to raise awareness, strengthen community connections, and learn more about how young people can contribute to meaningful advocacy within our region.

Throughout the lunch, students engaged in conversations with guests from the Raven Collective, Loreto staff, and community partners including representatives from the Salvation Army and WRISC. When asked what Loreto students could do to support the Raven Collective, many guests shared similar ideas. Ms Shaw encouraged us to bring information to a school assembly and to the wider Loreto community, explaining that public advocacy and building partnerships would help initiate active support. Nat, the founder of the Raven Collective, emphasised the importance of raising awareness not only about the organisation itself but also about domestic and family violence more broadly. Debbie and Jacki highlighted the need for education, explaining that promoting conversations about violence, teaching men respectful behaviours, and helping women understand the different types of violence are essential steps in prevention.

Guests also shared what surprised them during the event. Ms Carriage and Ms Knoble noted that they found the program particularly interesting and were surprised to learn how simple actions such as following, liking, and sharing the Raven Collective’s social media posts can significantly help spread their message. This reminder showed that advocacy can begin with small, accessible actions that collectively create meaningful impact.

Representatives from the Salvation Army also offered valuable insight into how their work connects with the Raven Collective. Debbie and Jacki explained that many of their clients are experiencing homelessness, often with children, and that the Raven Collective plays a crucial role in helping these women rebuild confidence and stability. They shared that their motivation comes from seeing women and their children achieve small successes, even when their circumstances remain challenging. Witnessing these moments of progress, no matter how small, inspires them to continue supporting families who are trying to find their way forward.

The celebration Lunch demonstrated the importance of community partnerships and the power of student-led advocacy. By choosing to work alongside the Raven Collective, our Year 12 VCE‑VM students are helping to amplify the voices of women in our community, encouraging conversations about domestic and family violence, and showing what it means to be young women committed to justice, compassion, and social responsibility. This event was not only an assessment task but a meaningful opportunity to contribute to positive change within Ballarat and to learn how we, as students, can continue supporting organisations that uplift and empower vulnerable members of our community.

Please help and support the Raven Collective by just following their social media.

Instagram - ravencollectiveservices

State of Being Excursion

By Evie Clarke - Year 11

This term in PDS, our class visited State of Being, a wellbeing space that helps people slow down, reset, and manage stress. Because PDS is all about wellbeing, self‑management, teamwork, communication, and preparing for real‑world situations, the excursion connected well to what we’ve been learning. Even though our class went in two separate groups, everyone who attended got to experience a calm and supportive environment that helped us understand our own wellbeing better.

During the visit, we moved through different wellness activities like hot and cold immersion pools, a magnesium mineral pool, a sauna, and a steam room. Before we started, Claire, the owner, guided us through a breathing exercise to help us regulate our bodies and get into the right mindset. This made it easier to focus and be present during each activity.

I learnt a lot about how different techniques can affect the body. The breathing exercises showed me how quickly I can calm my nervous system just by slowing down my breath. The hot and cold immersion helped me understand how temperature affects circulation and mental focus. The magnesium pool was really relaxing, and the sauna and steam room showed how heat can help with muscle tension and recovery. By the end, I felt more relaxed and centred, which proved how effective these practices can be when I take the time to use them.

One of the biggest things I took away was how simple these techniques are to use in everyday life. Even small habits like taking a quiet moment, grounding myself, or just stopping to breathe can help me manage stress at school, during work placements, or in any overwhelming situation.

Overall, the State of Being excursion was a valuable experience. It reminded me that wellbeing isn’t something that just happens, it’s something we build by slowing down and being present. If I could pass on one message, it would be to take things slowly and not rush. The skills we learnt will help us both in PDS and in our everyday lives.

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