Social Justice News

World Humanitarian Day of Advocacy at St Augustine's - Thursday 22nd August

In May, a small group of Years 10 and 11 students attended the Catholic Education Office’s ‘Justice Matters’ camp.  The camp focused on many social justice issues including poverty, environment, asylum seekers, human trafficking and slave labour.  The students were encouraged to choose one issue that could be advocated for back at school.  Our students have chosen to focus on the plight of people seeking asylum in Australia.

On Thursday 22nd August, all teachers and students in Years 5-12 will be allocated a number and be called only by that number, not their name, for the duration of the school day.  The idea behind this is to raise awareness of the dehumanising way that asylum seekers are treated in many detention centres both in Australia and on Nauru and Manus.  We hope that all participants do their very best to avoid using names on this day and reflect on how a lack of a name makes them feel.