Humanities Captain’s Wrap-up  

This year, the exceptional teamwork from the Senior-school Humanities Captains allowed Melbourne Girls’ College to promote its wonderful Humanities program and successfully run numerous events throughout the year. We were so lucky to have several guest speakers this year, including former Attorney General Rob Hulls and politicians such as Georgie Purcell, Ryan Batchelor, Jess Wilson, and Monique Ryan, as part of MGC “Law Week” and “Politics Week.” We proudly hosted successful events, including a mock trial, an interschool debate competition, and an all-girls government interschool Model United Nations. The Humanities Captains also helped to promote many external activities such as The National Conference in Brisbane and the UN Youth, Crisis Point program. The Humanities department at MGC plays a vital role in our students' education. With subject areas ranging from Australian politics and refugee rights to legal studies, International Studies, Explosive Decades and Economics we understand the importance of making these subjects accessible and are committed to enhancing our students' learning experiences and helping them navigate their career paths.  

Senior-school Humanities Captains: Sylvie Parker, Madeleine van Vliet and Swathy Nair 

A Week in Politics 

Hi, my name is Jess, I’m a year 10 student at MGC. A week ago, I returned from work experience which I completed with MP Georgie Purcell. I was lucky enough to get an inside look at the parliament house as well as spend time at her electorate office in Woodend. It was incredible to gain a deeper understanding of our government through firsthand experience.  

 UN Youth Australia Crisis Point  

A few weeks ago, we were given the opportunity to attend UN Youth’s Crisis Point event.  The day compromised of interactive problem - solving activities centred around contemporary issues. This year, we explored the republic movement in Australia. All the delegates were separated into 3 groups- the government, republicans, and monarchists. 

I was placed in government as the minister of foreign affairs. Our main aim was to organise a referendum posing the question about whether Australia should become a republic. Throughout the simulation, we faced many challenges including conflict with opposing groups, a media circus, and unexpected twists. 

But our critical-thinking and negotiation skills ensured the referendum’s success and secured our win. In the end, Crisis Point was a very inspiring and enjoyable experience that I would recommend to all!   

Anna Issac (Yr 10) 

Attending Crisis Point 2024 was an incredibly fun and enriching experience. The event was engaging and offered numerous opportunities to forge new friendships, get creative, and develop various skills. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, which made it easy for everyone to feel comfortable and contribute. Even though it was a more casual and fun environment, there was still a good balance of structure.  I enjoyed all the interactive workshops and group discussions - they were both fun and educational. Overall, Crisis Point 2024 was a fantastic experience that exposed me to new people and engaged me in discussions about global issues. For those who enjoy debating and delegating, Crisis Point is an excellent event.  

Swathy Nair (Yr 11) 

MGC participants included: Swathy Nair (Yr 11), Freya Thompson (Yr 11), Yomna Jalbani (Yr 11), Anna Isaac (Yr 10), Zeina Abbass (Yr 10), 

 Evatt Debating – UN Youth Model UN Security Council 

In August, I participated as a pair in the Evatt Debating – UN Youth Model UN Security Council Competition held at Melbourne Law School. Priya and I represented the French Republic and were involved in debating the important topics of armed conflict in Columbia, Universal Healthcare and the Environmental issue of plastic waste in the world’s oceans. We had a wonderful time and made several friendships with girls from other schools that have only grown stronger outside of the Model UN. While we did not progress to the next round, we had such a wonderful time discussing amendments and forming alliances and (friendly) enemies with the other students there. I recommend any students who may be interested to participate next year! 

Sammi Sastradipradja 

Senior Drama Captain 2024 

Law Week 

For Law Week, MGC had the privilege of hosting former Attorney General Rob Hulls, who shared his extensive experience in Australian law and politics with our students. The event saw a great turnout, with many students eager to hear from a distinguished figure in the field. Hulls discussed his pioneering efforts, including establishing Australia’s first Charter of Human Rights for Victoria and setting up Koori Courts to support Victoria’s indigenous community. His insights provided students with a deeper understanding of Australia’s judicial system and highlighted various career pathways in law. It was an empowering and inspiring experience that left students motivated by Hulls' remarkable achievements and his dedication to justice. 

MGC Model United Nations Assembly – Enough is Enough

Melbourne Girls’ College hosted its inaugural Model United Nations in June for Year 9 to 12 students on the very important topic of Enough is Enough: Ending Global Violence against Women and Girls. Some 120 students from MGC and four other Victorian government girls’ schools, including Pascoe Vale Girls’ College, Mentone Girls’ Secondary College, Matthew Flinders Girls’ Secondary College and The Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School participated in the event. MGC students represented delegations from 14 countries, including Australia and Slovenia comprised of some of our international students studying at MGC. 

The student delegates discussed global strategies to eliminate violence against women and it was lovely to see how well prepared they were and how strongly they were able to debate the topic. Secretary-General Ian Howie reported to the June UNAAV board meeting on what a successful day it was saying “the future is in good hands with young people such as those participating in the MGC model UN”.  

Thank you to College Principal Tamy Stubley and the MGC Parents’ Association for their support of this event. We look forward to providing this wonderful opportunity to our students again next year. 

MGC VS MHS DEBATE  

As part of the MGC and MHS Cup, Melbourne Girls’ College and Melbourne High joined forces in a series of competitions spanning sports, arts, and academics. One of the highlights for Humanities was an exciting debate on the topic, "Schools should eliminate homework." Organised by our Senior Humanities Captains, the event brought together students from all year levels for an engaging and thought-provoking debate. 

Both teams delivered standout performances, passionately defending their arguments with some friendly fire, engaging the audience but in the end, MGC rightfully took home the win with well-argued points and rebuttals. The debate competition was a fantastic opportunity for students from all year levels to come together, boost school spirit, and engage in friendly competition with our neighbouring high school. It also provided a great platform for students to showcase their skills to an enthusiastic audience. 

 Myths and Legends 

Students studying Year 10 Myths & Legends had some incredible opportunities this year. Across the year the students attended the Hellenic Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria's renowned 'Pharaoh' exhibit. During Semester 1, the Year 10's explored the incredible collection at the Hellenic Museum that celebrated the 8,000 years of Greek history, art and culture.  While in Semester 2, the Year 10's were able to attend the landmark exhibition on all-powerful kings from ancient Egypt.  

Nurturing Future Leaders 

In May, Anna Isaac and Zeina Abbass participated in Rotary Club of Richmond’s (RCR) District 9800's Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) program, where they debated critical global issues and honed their diplomatic skills. Later in July RCR hosted Anna and Zeina who shared their Model United Nation’s (MUNA) experience with their audience.  

MUNA Experience 

"Hi, I’m Zeina, and this is Anna. Today, we’ll be sharing our experiences at the Model United Nations and the National Conference. But first, a little about us!" 

Anna introduced herself as a Year 10 student at MGC with a keen interest in international relations, fuelled by her extensive travels and exposure to diverse cultures. Her passion for advocacy and social issues led her to participate in various Rotary-run events, including the Zeina, also a Year 10 student at MGC, spoke about her Egyptian heritage and how the political discussions in her family sparked her interest in global politics. Her passion for humanities and law further motivated her to engage in law-related debates and competitions, including the Ainger Peck public speaking competition. 

Their first Model UN experience, held on 18th-19th May at Melbourne University, was both challenging and rewarding. Representing the UK, they navigated the complexities of advocating for a country’s stance rather than their own. They quickly adapted and engaged in meaningful debates on issues ranging from the humanitarian crisis in Sudan to antimicrobial resistance. The camaraderie and friendships formed with other delegates, particularly those representing India, added to the enriching experience.   

Author: Maria Makris, Director of Youth Services, Rotary Club of Richmond (RCR) 

Politics Panel 

MGC was really lucky to host 4 Victorian and Federal MPs in 2024 (Georgie Purcell, Ryan Batchelor, Jess Wilson, Monique Ryan).  

The first half of the panel was dedicated to a Q & A conducted by the Humanities Captains. The questions were structured to allow students to get an insight into what it is like to be in Politics, such as the question, “What has been the most eye-opening experience from your time in politics?” The second half of the panel allowed students in the audience to participate by asking questions from the floor. 

Following the event, students were given the opportunity to interact with the politicians 1 on 1. Some students even took up the opportunity to book in a work experience placement, whereas others just had genuine questions for their local members. We hope to continue this event into 2025, as it brought together so many amazing and unique experiences for MGC students. 

Senior-school Humanities Captains: Sylvie Parker, Madeleine van Vliet and Swathy Nair 

 Talk Money 

Fostering an understanding of financial literacy is the focus of the Year 10 Economics program at MGC.  Students have experienced the opportunity to talk money through Talk Money’s and Banquer High’s education programs.   

The incursion, run by Talk Money, saw students explore the workplace, including the rights of employees, taxation and superannuation. Banqer High’s program(which is like an online version of the boardgame classic, The Game of Life), involved students participating in an on-line simulation platform that invited them to learn how to open a bank account, make  

career decisions (including whether to go to Uni, and then pay off a HECS debt), compare superannuation accounts and trade shares. Some students have even gone so far as to work out how to take out a mortgage and purchase a house!  

Students were highly engaged in the opportunity to improve their financial understanding and wellbeing.  

Monet Atkins (Yr 10) and Simone Bomar  

UN Youth’s National Conference in Brisbane 

Anna Isaac (Yr 10) and Freya Thompson (Yr 11) attended the UN Youth’s National Conference in Brisbane, where they were two of 14 Victorian delegates. This week-long event was filled with multiple Model UNs, workshops, and guest speakers, all aimed at fostering a deep understanding of international relations and UN procedures. 

The students represented their respective countries in the General Assembly. Anna represented Kazakhstan while Freya represented Indonesia with both contributing to policy and decision-making processes on a range of critical global issues.  

One highlight for Anna was participating in the UNICEF Local Conference of Youth Workshop, where she contributed to a National Youth Statement for the upcoming COP29. For Freya the experience culminated in the appreciation that the world needs future leaders but also empathetic listeners, capable of fostering new perspectives and amplifying diverse voices on the world stage.