Justice

2026 Co-Justice Captains

Congratulations to Siona and Charlotte on being appointed as the 2026 Co-Justice Captains!  

As Justice Co-Captains, Siona and Charlotte will play a vital leadership role in promoting social justice initiatives and Mercy values across our school community.  Their responsibilities will include inspiring students from all year levels to participate in outreach activities such as the Sacred Heart Breakfast Club, volunteering at St Mary’s House of Welcome and engaging with programs like the Cambodia Immersion.  They will also focus on fostering inclusiveness and a strong sense of community within the school, encouraging empathy, understanding and positive action among their peers.  Siona and Charlotte are excellent role models who will help lead conversations and initiatives around social justice, making a meaningful impact on our school culture in 2026.

We look forward to seeing the positive changes they will bring as passionate and dedicated Justice Co-Captains!

Cambodia Immersion  - EOI

We welcome Year 10 & 11 students of 2026 to seize the chance to engage in meaningful service and explore issues of disadvantage and injustice within a vibrant cultural context. Students will take part in hands-on activities, educational site visits and eye-opening experiential learning across Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Siem Reap from 24 August to 4 September 2026.

🗓️ Don't miss these dates:

• Student Info Session: 14 November 🗣️
• Formal Expression of Interest closing: 17 November ✍️
• Parent Info Night: 27 November 👨‍👩‍👧

Through the Cambodia Immersion, students will witness life in a developing country, build critical analysis skills in social justice, reflect on and put their Mercy values into action—with the chance to become empowered to lead advocacy and service! 💡🌱

Estimated cost is $6,500.

For details, contact Mrs Sachanandani

Seeds of Justice - Year 7 & 8 

Thank you to all the families who generously donated to support our students attending the recent Seeds of Justice Conference.  The event was a great success, with 60 students and 11 staff from several schools coming together to learn and be inspired.  Participating schools included Sacred Heart College Geelong,  St Aloysius College North Melbourne, Our Lady of Mercy College Heidelberg, Mercy Regional College Camperdown, Catherine McAuley College Bendigo and Academy of Mary Immaculate.

A special thank you to Hannah Hale for her lovely Mercy formation session held in the chapel, where she shared the rich history of Mercy and showed Ursula Frayne’s special items such as the chalice that previously belonged to Pope Pius X.  This session was warmly received by students and inspired them to deepen their understanding of Mercy values.

Guest speaker Holly Parbin, the volunteer coordinator at St Mary's House of Welcome, spoke powerfully about homelessness and the vital services provided to support vulnerable people.  After hearing her story, students felt motivated to raise more awareness and take action in their communities.   Students also explored the theme of unconscious bias, learning how appearances can influence our perceptions.  Halle, a Year 7 student, reflected that “just having a small conversation can brighten someone’s day.” This resonated deeply, encouraging students to approach others with empathy and kindness moving forward.

The Seeds of Justice Conference was an inspiring and educational experience that has strengthened our students’ commitment to living their Mercy values in action.

St Jude's Fundraiser

After hearing an inspiring talk by Gemma Sisia, founder of St Jude’s School in Tanzania, Year 11 student Zoe and Year 9 student Heike have been passionately motivated to sponsor a student at the school.  United in their mission to fight poverty through education, Zoe and Heike have reached out to all Victorian Mercy schools, inviting them to join this important cause.

On Thursday, 27 November, with the enthusiastic support of the Justice Group, Zoe and Heike will lead a fundraiser event here at the Academy.  The day will feature a lively sausage sizzle and an all-day raffle with some amazing hampers up for grabs, including clothing, skincare items, vouchers and more.  Entertainment will be provided by a pop band, adding an extra element of fun and community spirit to the event.

Raffle tickets will be on sale all day—$2 for one ticket, $5 for three, or $10 for six.  The sausage sizzle will be available at lunch for $3 each or two for $5, and treats like fairy floss and Zooper Doopers will also be on offer.

Please take the time to support Zoe and Heike’s initiative by purchasing a sausage or two and some raffle tickets.  Funds raised will go directly to sponsoring a child’s education at St Jude’s, helping to create transformative change.  Tickets for both the sausage sizzle and the raffle will be sold before school, at recess, and at lunch.

Keep an eye out for a compass post with photos of the raffle hampers and list of prizes up for grabs.

Let’s show our support for this wonderful student-led initiative and help make a real difference together!

Christmas Hamper Drive

Christmas is a time of joy, generosity, and coming together as a caring community.  As we approach the season, our Justice Group is once again organising the annual Christmas Hamper Drive to support the clients of St Mary’s House of Welcome.  From 17 November to 4 December, you are invited to drop off non-perishable foods and essential items in the library collection box, helping provide comfort and nourishment to those in need during the holidays.

Christmas holds deep significance in the Catholic tradition as a celebration of Christ’s birth—a moment of hope, renewal, and love for all people.  In this Jubilee Year, we are especially called to practice mercy and compassion, reaching out to our neighbours and embodying Christ’s example of care and welcome.  The hamper drive is a practical way for our school community to live these values, answering the call to “love thy neighbour” through acts of kindness.

Let us come together this Advent to make a real difference for those experiencing hardship, ensuring everyone can feel the warmth and joy of Christmas.  Thank you for your support and generosity—your contribution brings hope and dignity to others, reflecting the true meaning of the season.

Please see the flyer for more information and a list of items needed by our neighbour. 

For more information about Saint Mary’s House of Welcome, please visit their website at https://www.smhow.org.au/

Sacred Heart Breakfast Club 

Year 9 students have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the Sacred Heart Breakfast Club, with every place in the program quickly filled each time.  Ruby from 9 MacKillop reflected,

 “Volunteering at Sacred Heart Primary School is such a rewarding experience. It's really nice to see the kids open up to us as we talked, played games, and shared breakfast together. Seeing their smiles and how happy they were made the whole experience feel really special. It felt good to know that just spending time with them and showing kindness could brighten their morning and help them start the day in a positive way.”

After attending, many students were eager to sign up again, demonstrating just how valued and impactful the opportunity was.  Teachers also expressed that the program has provided a truly special experience for both Sacred Heart and Academy students, building connection, joy and kindness into the start of each school day.  The Academy hopes to offer more opportunities like this for our middle school and junior students in the future to continue nurturing our strong spirit of service and community engagement.

📬The Academy Stamp Box! 📬

Thank you to all the families who have generously donated stamp collections to this wonderful cause.   We will be collecting stamps throughout the year, and your ongoing support is greatly appreciated.  If your workplace receives stamps, we would be grateful if you could collect them for us.  Additionally, if you have any personal stamp collections you are able to donate, we will warmly welcome them.  Every contribution makes a difference!

We're collecting used or new stamps to raise money for those in need around the world. Sounds small, right?  But here’s the kicker: Stamp donations can raise between $35,000 and $40,000 every year. That’s a serious impact from something you might usually toss in the bin! 

So, snip your stamps, leaving about 1 cm of envelope around the edge.  Or, bring in the whole envelope.   We accept both used and brand-new stamps, but used stamps are preferred (yes, even from your mail at home).  Own an old stamp collection?  We’ll take that too!  We send the stamps to auction, and the money raised goes toward grants that help communities in need around the world. 

Drop your stamps off at the Stamp Station located at Student Reception, open before school, at recess, lunch and after school. 

Coming up in Term 4 - Justice in Action Term

• St Jude’s Student Sponsorship Fundraiser - Thursday, 27 November

• St Mary’s House of Welcome Christmas Drive -  17 November to 4 December

   

  Ms Mel Sachanandani

  Justice Leader