Student Involvement & Academic News 

United Nations 80th Anniversary Celebration at Government House

In recognition of the United Nations turning 80 in 2025, Dromana College was invited to a special Model United Nations Conference hosted within the historic Government House ball room. In order for Dromana College to attend we had to be formally invited from the Governor of Victoria. Eliza Sawyer, Ethan Tangatatutai and Ruby Williamson represented Dromana as the People’s Republic of China with 18 other specially invited schools from across the state and independent sectors. The Model United Nations Association of Victoria held this special event with many dignitaries including, Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria is Professor James Angus who officially opened proceedings, Associate Professor Maria O’Sullivan who was the Honourable Secretary General, Dr Gillian Triggs the current Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and Professor Ian Howie who has also had a significant career at the United Nations.

A Model United Nations is a simulation of the General Assembly where students debate from the perspective of their allocated country regarding the issue at hand. In this instance, students were debating and amending the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in terms of protecting human rights and their state’s obligations to follow it.

A revised UDHR was successfully passed by all attending states and the day was a real celebration and reminder of the importance of human rights in our world. Government House generously catered a beautiful morning tea and allowed students to explore the grounds and enjoy a rare opportunity to visit a special and historic part of Melbourne. I congratulate the students on their effort to prepare and represent Dromana College to such a high standard. Model United Nations will continue in 2026 and we will be hosting a conference in Term 3 2026. 

Mr Woolley 

Junior Debating

DAV Junior Debating has been running throughout the term at Woodleigh, giving our Year 7 and 8 students a valuable introduction to the world of argument, teamwork and public speaking.

Students who participated developed confidence in speaking to an audience, learned how to structure strong arguments, and practised thinking on their feet. They also had the chance to work collaboratively, build clear communication skills and engage respectfully with different points of view.

It has been wonderful to see students grow in both skill and confidence, and we look forward to continuing to support their development as speakers and thinkers in future debating seasons.

Nara University High School Visit

On Wednesday, 3 and Thursday, 4 December, students from Years 8TH, 9, 10, 11 and 12 who study Japanese took part in a vibrant two-day language and culture exchange. Our visitors from Nara University High School were warmly welcomed with a speech from Simon Jones and the Language Captains, Umi Wright and Abbie Lee, before pairing up with Dromana College students for a bilingual tour of the school, speaking in both Japanese and English!

After the tour, everyone shared a morning tea of ANZAC biscuits and juice before diving into a range of activities, including basketball, table tennis, football, origami (traditional Japanese paper folding), and shodo (calligraphy).

The exchange wrapped up with an Aussie favourite — a sausage sizzle — followed by group photos and plenty of smiles as we farewelled the Nara students onto their buses.

It was a memorable and enjoyable experience for all involved, strengthening language skills, cultural understanding, and international friendships.

A quick word from Year 9 Japanese language student, Levi Mazzarella:

“The Nara University High School visit was two days filled with fun and engaging activities where my partners and I could share and learn about each other’s very different cultures. My partner taught me how to do traditional Japanese calligraphy, and I taught him how to kick the footy. I hope my partners enjoyed the days as much as I did and learnt a thing or two from me.”