Justice
Project Compassion 2026 – Lent Campaign
As we enter Lent, our school community is uniting for Project Compassion 2026, Caritas Australia’s annual appeal to help vulnerable communities overcome poverty and injustice.
Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, our students will learn about the real impact of their generosity, supporting life-changing projects worldwide.
Key Events This Term:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Stall – Tuesday 17 February before school at Food Technology. 2 pancakes + toppings for $3 (flyer attached).
Big Water Walk / March for Women – Friday 6 March, Casual Clothes Day (gold coin donation). Students will join thousands walking to raise awareness and funds for clean water projects in communities where women and girls spend hours daily fetching water, preventing them from attending school or work.
Mentor Group Fundraisers – Throughout Weeks 3–9 (16 February–3 April), each mentor group will host their own creative fundraiser, from bake sales and chocolate tosses to dodgeball competitions and sausage sizzles. These events help students take ownership of their giving and see the collective impact of small actions. This campaign is a wonderful opportunity for our students to put faith into action.
Donations can be made via the donation boxes in class rooms, supporting mentor group fundraises, our causal clothes day or online at projectcompassion.org.au
Thank you for supporting our students in living out compassion!
Volunteering Program
Following the huge success of our Sacred Heart Breakfast Club, we are excited to expand our volunteering program across 2026.
This initiative gives students hands-on opportunities to serve their community while living out our values of compassion and justice.
Sacred Heart Breakfast Club
(Thursdays before school)
Semester 1: Year 10 students will support the Breakfast Club, helping provide nourishing meals and a welcoming space for students.
Semester 2: Year 9 students will take over, continuing this vital service.
St Mary’s House of Welcome
(Wednesdays, Fitzroy – supporting people experiencing homelessness)
Year 11 & 12 students aged 16+ are invited to volunteer throughout the year.
Semester 2: Year 10 students will have the opportunity to join.
These programs build leadership, empathy, and practical skills while making a real difference. Information sessions and consent forms will be shared soon.
We thank our families for supporting our students in these rewarding experiences!
Justice Captains 2026 – Get Involved!
We are thrilled to introduce our 2026 Justice Co-Captains, Sion Sarma and Charlotte Berryman, who will lead the Justice Group in promoting social justice and Mercy values across the Academy.
Justice Captains (open to Years 7–12) play a vital role in raising awareness of social justice issues, leading mentor group fundraisers like Project Compassion, attending weekly meetings (Thursdays lunch, Days 4 & 9), and participating in events, incursions, and excursions.
Students who meet attendance and participation requirements will receive a Justice Captain Badge at semester assembly.
How to get involved: Students can nominate for this leadership role (same process as Class Captain). Contact the Justice Group or speak to Sion or Charlotte for more information. This is a wonderful opportunity to develop leadership, empathy and make a real difference!
Student Leadership Formation
Our Justice Co-Captains, Sustainability Captain, and College Co-Captains this week attended the Young Mercy Link Student Leader Formation at the Mercy Hub in Carlton.
This inspiring event brought together student leaders from Mercy schools across Victoria for workshops, networking and reflection on what it means to lead with Mercy values.
The program helped our captains connect with peers from schools in Geelong, Mildura and across Melbourne, sharing ideas and planning collaborative initiatives for the year ahead. These experiences strengthen their leadership skills and deepen their commitment to making a positive impact in our school and wider community. We are proud of their enthusiasm and representation of the Academy!
📬The Academy Stamp Box! 📬
Did you have a cleanout over the summer break or receive Christmas cards in the mail? If you found any used stamps, we want them! 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 would 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!
How it works:
Snip your stamps-leave 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).
Got 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. Where can you drop off your stamps? The Stamp Station is located at Student Reception, open before school, at recess and lunch, and after school.
Ms Mel Sachanandani
Justice Leader