Dean of College

Mandatory Reporting 

In New South Wales, mandatory reporting is a legal obligation under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998. All teachers are required to report to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) when they suspect, on reasonable grounds, that a child (under 16) is at risk of significant harm. 

This includes concerns about physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, psychological harm, exposure to domestic violence, or serious carer issues such as substance abuse or mental health problems. Teachers do not need to be certain—just have well-founded concerns. Reports can be made directly or through school leadership, and the identity of the reporter is generally protected by law.

When disclosures are made to any employee working for SCS, even in confidence, we are required under law to report these matters to the relevant authorities including SCS wellbeing and safety teams, department of community and justice and police.

Please see the below information about Mandatory Reporting from SCS. 

Up Coming Parent Seminar - Wednesday, 10 September - 6pm

Sydney University has launched a remarkable new study and program aimed at helping parents manage the mental wellbeing of their children - Growing Minds Check-In. The Check-In is a new, free wellbeing Check-In for Australian parents and caregivers of children aged from birth to 17 years. The Check-in allows you to track your child's wellbeing and get access to personalised feedback and research-backed programs and information. 

As a part of this program Dr Jaimie Northam, a clinical psychologist from Sydney University will be giving a talk to our parent community after hours on Wednesday, 10 September at our College. Dr Northam will speak about the program but also present on “early recognition of mental health stress in young people”. We will be shortly sending out details regarding this talk via email and compass. 

See flyer below for registration details.

“But Everyone Else Is Doing It…” – Why that’s never a good excuse

Reading an article in the SMH about some of the decisions made by our sport stars and celebrities made me think about a phrase I hear often at school. It’s a phrase we’ve all heard—and maybe even used ourselves: “But everyone else is doing it!” Whether it’s ignoring uniform expectations, using a mobile phone, or making poor choices in the playground, this excuse is often used to justify behaviour that doesn’t meet our school’s standards.

But let’s be honest—this reasoning doesn’t hold up in any other part of life. You wouldn’t get away with speeding just because other drivers are doing it. You wouldn’t skip paying taxes because someone else did. And you certainly wouldn’t be excused from responsibilities at work just because a colleague wasn’t doing their part. In every area of life, we are judged by our own actions, not by the crowd around us.

It’s natural to feel frustrated when others break the rules and seem to face no consequences. That sense of injustice can be powerful—especially when you’re trying to do the right thing. But it's important to remember that integrity isn’t about being seen or rewarded; it’s about staying true to your values, even when it feels unfair. In life, accountability often comes in ways we don’t immediately see. Just because someone appears to “get away with it” doesn’t mean they’re truly ahead. We also have a policy of not discussing other students and consequence with other students and their families so things are not always as they seem.

At our College, we value personal responsibility and integrity. That means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching—and especially when others aren’t. It’s easy to follow the crowd, but it takes real strength to stand apart and make choices that reflect your values and character.

Being a leader doesn’t always mean standing at the front—it often means standing firm in your beliefs. So next time I’d ask students who are tempted to follow what others are doing, pause and ask yourself: Is this who I want to be? Because in the end, your behaviour is your own—and that’s what truly matters.

Winter uniform 

A reminder to students and their families that Winter Uniform is still the correct uniform for Term 3. This includes the long sleeve shirt, ties for boys and the College blazer to and from school. Any changes to the uniform for the term will be made by the College Principal only and students who do not meet the expectations of the College in this regard may be sent home to change. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

Championing Mental Fitness: A visit from Zane Branco

Last week, our students had the privilege of hearing from Zane Branco, elite athlete and ambassador for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Mental Fitness Program, delivered in partnership with the Black Dog Institute. Zane’s visit was part of a national initiative aimed at promoting mental health awareness and resilience among young Australians. Zane is an Athletics athlete specialising in Long Jump and Sprints.

Drawing from his own experiences in athletics and personal growth, Zane spoke passionately about the importance of mental fitness—not just for athletes, but for everyone. He shared how developing strategies to manage his mental wellbeing has been just as vital as physical training in his journey, and how mentors played a key role in helping him navigate challenges.

Zane’s message of the importance of having  strong social connections across a number of areas: family, school, sport, work and social settings is critical to resilience in tough times. The more social connections the more support systems young people have - so when things get tough in one area young people have other connections to keep them going. 

It was a pleasure to host Zane and listen to his lived experience and his strong message about the importance of building resilience and looking after one’s mental fitness.