Justice
Project Compassion
Our Final Tally is In! We are thrilled to announce the final results of our Project Compassion fundraising efforts. As a community, we have once again demonstrated our commitment to the Mercy Values of compassion and service to others. We are incredibly proud to announce that the Academy has raised a grand total of $3,780!
Year 7 Leading the Way
A special shout-out must go to our Year 7 cohort, who showed extraordinary dedication and spirit throughout the appeal. Together, our newest students raised over $1,000! This is an outstanding achievement for their first major social justice initiative at the Academy. Whether it was through loose change collection, bake sales, or creative mentor group challenges, your generosity will make a tangible difference in the lives of those supported by Caritas Australia.
Where Your Support Goes
The funds raised through Project Compassion go directly toward supporting vulnerable communities both in Australia and globally. From providing clean water and food security to supporting education and healthcare programs, your contributions help empower individuals to build a better future for their families. Thank you to every student, staff member, and family who donated. Your kindness ensures that we continue to be a community that acts with a "heart for justice."
"A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just." — Pope Francis
'Kids View'
Last week, a select group of six students from our Year 7 and 8 Justice Group had the rewarding opportunity to attend the Kids View event. The session focused on the inspiring work of the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation (meaning "House of Refuge"), an organisation dedicated to tackling severe social justice issues in the Philippines, where over 20 million people live in poverty.
Students learned how the foundation was established after its founder, Catherine, participated in a school immersion trip to the Philippines. What started as a simple desire to help children living on the streets has transformed into an ever-expanding social enterprise. Today, Bahay Tuluyan supports vulnerable young people—from infants through to their twenties—working tirelessly to close the education gap and advocate for children’s rights.
The foundation focuses on creating sustainable, long-term change by:
- Empowering Youth: Equipping young people with leadership, independent living, and job-seeking skills to help them transition into happy, healthy, and self-reliant adults.
- Creating Social Enterprises: Fostering independence through practical businesses, including farming, running a guest house, and operating a cafe.
- Supporting Families: Providing family care and reintegration support to ensure parents are empowered and able to care for their children.
This was a fantastic experience for our students, demonstrating how a single idea and a genuine desire to help can grow into a powerful movement that changes lives. To learn more about Bahay Tuluyan Foundation or make a donation please visit their website https://www.btpa.org.au/
Connecting with Country
Our FIRE Carrier students were invited to attend an inspiring Indigenous immersion excursion hosted by Catherine Glenister, Director of the Mercy Hub. The students visited Merri Creek to learn about the area's unique bioregion and the ongoing services dedicated to caring for this vital waterway.
A key focus of the excursion was gaining a deeper understanding of the First Nations profound connection to the waterway. Students explored how the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people have traditionally cared for and connected with the land. They learned about the vital concept that everything is connected—we are not separate from the ecosystem, but an active part of it. This prompted meaningful discussions on our role within nature and how we can cultivate a respectful relationship with the creek, drawing inspiration from Indigenous perspectives.
The immersion also touched on broader global issues, highlighting the sobering reality of global water poverty and our shared responsibility to protect the precious resources we have. To conclude the day, students spent quiet time sitting with and connecting to the land, bringing their learnings together through a beautiful reflective art activity.
Shattering the Chains
This week, six senior Justice Group students attended the Seeds of Justice Conference, themed "Shattering the Chains: Mercy Against Human Trafficking." The event challenged students from ten Mercy schools across Victoria to explore how faith and action can work together to combat modern slavery and exploitation. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, the conference drew on the legacy of Pope Leo XIII’s teachings on the dignity of all workers, as well as the inspiring life of St Josephine Bakhita. As the patron saint of human trafficking victims, St Bakhita's journey from being kidnapped and sold into slavery to living a life of forgiveness and service provided a powerful framework for the conference.
Students were deeply moved by a keynote address by Kristi Davison from the Offspring Project and a guest speaker Usher Rumney, with lived experience working alongside rescued girls and boys in India. These sessions highlighted the vital importance of safe housing, education and empowerment programs in the healing process. Connecting these real-world stories with our core Mercy values, students participated in hands-on workshops, which included crafting keychains from recycled saris. The discarded fabric symbolises the restoration, healing and reclaiming of lives that were previously exploited. This practical activity sparked engaging discussions on how we can make change through ethical consumer choices and led students to brainstorm innovative advocacy ideas. We are incredibly proud of our students for stepping up as true "seeds of justice," and we eagerly anticipate seeing their new awareness campaigns come to life later in the year for Anti-Slavery Day.
You can learn more about the Offspring Project at https://www.offspringproject.org/
National Reconciliation Week🖤💛❤️
At Academy, we proudly acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land our Academy stands on.
Next week is National Reconciliation Week (NRW). Guided by the 2026 theme, "All In", our student-led FIRE Carriers and Justice Group have planned a wonderful lineup of activities to help our school community reflect, learn and celebrate First Nations culture:
- Daily Dreamtime Stories: Every morning in Mentor Group, students will explore different Creation stories, participating in the passing down of knowledge from the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
- Kirrip Hub Displays: Throughout the week, the Hub will feature presentations on Wurundjeri history, women's ceremonies, and significant First Nations trailblazers.
- National Sorry Day: On Tuesday, 26 May a lunchtime Scavenger Hunt with prizes to help students learn about our shared history and honor the Stolen Generations.
- Indigenous Bake Sale: A lunchtime bake sale on Friday, 29 May featuring treats made with native bush tucker like lemon myrtle, Kakadu plum, and wattleseed -please remind your children to bring spare change!
Reconciliation is everyone's business, and it starts with a willingness to learn. We are incredibly proud of our students for leading these important initiatives!
Coming events
- Reconciliation Week: 27 May - 03 June
- Refugee Week: 14 June - 20 June
- Community Action, Day Two: 16 June
Ms Melinda Sachanandani
Justice Leader