Term 1 Secondary Service
Term 1 Middle and Senior School (Years 7-12) Service
Students at The Friends’ School are strongly encouraged to engage in service activities either through their own community links or through structured service activities and initiatives offered at school. Students are also strongly encouraged to show leadership in service, and are able to approach student leaders and service coordinators for support with new or existing service initiatives.
Clipboard Service Co-curricular Sign-up
Students will need to use their Google login details to access the Service sign-up page using the following link.
Or copy/paste the following web address into your browser:
https://portal.clipboard.app/the-friends-school/
Make sure once you have selected your activity that you want to join and go to Cart - click check out now.
Key Contacts
Service Coordinator K-12 Karina Churchill
Years 9-12 (Senior) Service
Hamish Hall (IB CAS Coordinator)
Years 7 and 8 Service
Megan Eddington, Amber Lawson - (Stewardship)
Mathu Martin (Environment)
Mark Macleod , Liesa Winkler(Diversity)
Esther Hoggart (House Leader)
Primary School Service
Debbie Taylor (Co-curricular Coordination)
TBC - (Environment)
Middle School (Years 7 & 8)
Students can approach Student Leaders to contribute their own service ideas and to help plan and run service-based events, including those with wellbeing and environmental focus, both in and outside school hours.
Contact: Esther Hoggart
The Service Committeemeet once a week at lunch time in C121. Students can learn about upcoming service opportunities and can choose to take on various levels of responsibility for service events. Students can count 30 minutes of each meeting towards a Service Award if desired.
Contact: Megan Eddington, Amber Lawson
Senior School (Years 9-12) Stewardship Committee
This Committee is for students in Years 9 to 12. Students meet once a week for half an hour to discuss, plan and organise service projects for the Senior School In addition, they work with other sections of the school to facilitate service initiatives that have a whole school theme. The Senior Student Council Service and Environment Representatives are responsible for the running of the Committee, including organising minutes to be taken and distributed to all members. All Years 9-12 students are welcome to join the Committee and they are encouraged to initiate, plan and participate in service events that are school or community based. The hours they accumulate can count towards their Service Award application and/or The Friends' Certificate. The Committee convenes once a week on Mondays at lunch time in W209.
Contact: Karina Churchill
Sewing for Service: The group is designed for beginner to advanced sewing skills. You will be involved in sewing to create items for service in the community. This might include Boomerang Bags and various useful sewn items. It will take place on Tuesday afternoon after school in the Senior School Textiles room (T103) from 3:45 pm -5:00 pm. Open to students from both Middle and Senior School.
Contact: jsmith@friends.tas.edu.au to find out more or to register for the group.
Climate Action / Advocacy Service Learning
For students interested in the impacts of Climate Change on the world, leading to actions for change. The group researches issues of climate, then drafts letters to community and government leaders in action for change. Students also write letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience on behalf of Amnesty International. Occasionally, members of the group are encouraged to attend rallies and the Justice Action Network group meetings. This group meets at lunch time once a week.
Contact: Mathu Martin (Years 7 & 8)
Environment Action in the Middle School
Environment Actionis a group that works towards improving the Middle School and the greater community through positive action to reduce waste, reduce energy use, and educate and encourage the community towards sustainable practices.
We will be holding a number of events such as the Snow Cone stall to fund the FOGO bins the students purchased last year. Students will also present at assemblies about direct action to improve the schools environmental footprint. We will also lobby governments and companies to improve their practice and regulations.
Meet once a week at first break in M102, Meredith Building in the Middle School.
The group is student-led, Mathu Martin is coordinating the group.
Landcare
The Landcare group involves a hands-on approach to environmental action. This student-lead group follows students’ interests linked to the core Landcare ideals of environmental conservation and land management, as well as education and advocacy of environmental issues. Possible weekly activities may include: native plant propagation from seed, division, and cuttings; germination techniques; revegetation projects; how to care for/maintain native plants; macro photography; participation in national events such as Clean Up Australia Day, National Tree Day, and Earth Hour; promoting environmental issues and potential change; local rubbish monitoring and collection. The Landcare group usually meet once a week at lunchtimes.
Contact: Peter Smythe (Years 9-12)
Environment / Sustainability
The Sustainability group focusses on actions that can develop, promote and enact reduction in negative environmental impacts. This student-led group engages with a range of interests and concerns, and seeks to enact sustainable practical means for carbon-offset and waste reduction such as the bus-buddy system, the worm farm on the Primary School campus, the recycling bins across campuses, supporting the Indigenous Garden outside the WN Oats Centre via the Landcare group, and various other student-initiated projects.
Contact: Emma von Poupe (Years 9-12)
Friends of Diversity
Diversity group is for students interested in a forum for students to discuss topics around the inclusion of all members of our School community, and to celebrate the diverse range of people at The Friends’ School. The group promotes the recognition, respect and valuing of students with differences based on ethnicity, gender, religion, disability and sexual orientation. This group is meeting once a week.
Contact: Mark MacLeod
The Smith Family Student2Student Buddy Reading Program
The Smith Family's Student2Student Buddy reading program matches an older student (Buddy) with a younger student (Reader) who is behind in their reading. The Buddy provides support and reading assistance to the Reader so that they can improve their confidence and skills in reading. Each Buddy will be reading for 18 weeks with their Reader. Buddies receive appropriate training and the resources required to fully participate in the Program. Buddies call their Reader 2 or 3 times a week and read for 20 minutes per session. Buddies need to have their phone (landline, mobile phone or on a website called 'Chatty Kids' using tablet or computer) and books (these are posted out in the mail or on the Chatty Kids website) ready at the agreed scheduled times and days they are working with their Reader.
Key Dates for recruitment and training of students for Student2student in 2026: Please note Phase 1 is for Year 11/12 students as it concludes in Term 3 to allow for external examinations in Term 4:
Program Reading Dates for 2026:
- Phase 1: 4th May to 18th September
- Phase 2: 18th May to 2nd October
Buddy Registration due dates:
- Phase 1: By Friday 10th of April
- Phase 2: By Friday 24th of April
Buddy Registration Link:
Buddy Training due dates:
- Phase 1: By Friday 1st of May
- Phase 2: By Friday 15th of May
Contact: Karina Churchill for any inquiries.
Young Leaders of Tasmania Ltd (YLOT)
Young Leaders of Tasmania Ltd is a community not-for-profit organisation whose vision is for every young Tasmanian, including those living with disability, to reach his or her full potential. Interested students in Years 9*-12 apply in Term 1 for the 'School Buddies' Program and will visit classes at the Southern Support School fortnightly between mid Term 1 and the beginning of Term 4. Participating students need approximately 2 hours for their visits so need appropriately placed study periods* and must have a current WWVP Registration.
There will be an Orientation visit at Southern Support School soon.
Contact: Karina Churchill by Friday 6 March if you are interested: kchurchill@friends.tas.edu.au
Students that have previously participated in the School Buddies Program can apply to participate in the Work, Social and/or Cooking Buddies programs which are held once a week, as follows:
Mondays: Work Buddies (10am - 2pm), Young Leaders are welcome to attend for an hour or so. Held at the new Social Hub venue at Rokeby. (Work skills and Social Enterprise Focus)
Wednesdays: Social Buddies (1-3pm) - out and about in the community. Timetabled each School term. (Fun and Social Activities in the Community)
Fridays: Cooking Buddies (10am - 2pm), Young Leaders welcome to attend for an hour or so. Held at the new Social Hub venue at Rokeby. (Garden Kitchen and Cooking Focus).
There are also opportunities for visits to Dark Mofo* and helping in the Holiday Buddies Program* (NB. 2026 events TBC, 2025 dates currently listed via links)
Southern Support School Social
The Young Leaders of Tasmania - All Abilities Programs (YLOT) runs in conjunction with the staff and clients at Southern Support School. In addition to the YLOT Program, a Social is generally planned for students and parents of the Southern Support School in Term 3. This is organised through Senior School Students enrolled in the YLOT Program, the Years 9-12 Stewardship Committee and/or as an IBDP Year 11 CAS project.
Contact: Karina Churchill
The Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, commonly known as the Duke of Ed, offers students at The Friends’ School a transformative experience. Through this voluntary, non-competitive program, young participants aged 14 to 25 engage in practical, cultural, and adventurous activities. By setting and achieving goals across various sections, they earn internationally recognised certificates, fostering personal growth, skill-building, and a sense of purpose. The Duke of Ed journey prepares these students to become world ready. To find out more, access the Outdoor Education - Duke of Edinburgh page
Contact: Thomas Van Sant
Year 7 & 8 Service Awards 2026
If you are considering applying for a Service Award this year, you can find instructions about how to engage in Service on the Service Learning Site under Service Awards. Your hours must meet the Service Award Guidelines.
Applications for Service Awards are due: TBC
The Friends' Certificate 9-12 and CoCurricular Awards 2026
If you are considering applying for the Friends' Certificate and/or a CoCurricular Award, here are the links to the Friends' Certificate Guidelines, theCAS Record template. You will need to submit your application through the relevant Google Form prompt on the Submission Instructions page of the Friends' Certificate site.
Friends' Certificate and Co-Curricular Award applications are due: TBC
For information on how to engage in a Service Learning Project, please encourage your student to visit the Service Learning site
Term 1 Service Events:
Volunteers needed - RHHRF Easter Egg Packing/Hunt:
The Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF) is seeking around 50 Year 10-12 students to volunteer for their annual Easter event(s):
EGG PACKING + VOLUNTEER BRIEFING
4.30 – 7pm Thu 2 April, WhiteWater Room, Kingborough Hub (next to the Kingston Park)
EASTER EGG HUNT 2026
7am – 3pm – Bump in/Bump out plus assisting at the event.
Interested students should complete the linked Google Form, indicating interest, preferences/availability by this Friday 6 March at 5pm.