Principal's Message

International Women’s Day

Globally this week we celebrated International Women’s Day. As a College we were looking forward to hosting another breakfast and listening to various speakers to mark this significant day. Unfortunately, COVID restrictions meant that such celebrations were somewhat modified, but the significance of the day, what it represents, and the important message it seeks to emphasise, was still very apparent within our College. Postcards, gratitude walls, recorded messages and even some cupcakes highlighted this year’s theme of ‘Break the Bias’.

International Women’s Day is a celebration of respect, love and care towards women. It is wonderful that this special day has an increasingly important place in our own College and the wider community. I am particularly proud that it forms an essential part of the curriculum and formation programs within Trinity College, and that teaching and talking about respectful relationships forms part of our holistic education of our students. Our boys are respectfully challenged to examine and fully appreciate the historical struggle of women to find equality, to be aware of the empowerment of women, to celebrate their many achievements and to develop a genuine and deep respect for all women – to break the bias! All have been encouraged to open some sincere, honest and developmentally appropriate discussions on this theme if such an opportunity arises.

             Imagine a gender equal world.

             A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

             A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

             A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

             Together we can forge women’s equality.

             Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

These encouraging and equally challenging words come from the 2022 International Women’s Day theme. They provoke deep thought and emphasise the challenge that lies with each one of us, individually and as a community, to make a difference to the inclusion, equity, quality, and opportunity for women. It certainly highlights that we all have a responsibility through our everyday actions and words to break the bias that has existed historically and sadly, still exists today. Just as important, maybe even more so given the recent focus on issues around consent and the #MeToo Movement, it also suggests that it is what we fail to say, or stand up against, or take action on, that either accepts or challenges bias.

Trinity College is first and foremost a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition. As a school, together with families, we are largely responsible for the education and formation young men who engage in respectful relationships with women. In referring to all of our schools and EREA organisations taking the challenge in this regard, EREA Executive Director, Dr Craig Wattam said, “Our challenge as educators is to be part of the solution. Our goals should be inclusive of the voice of women, the visibility of women in our public profile, leadership roles, quality education for all women and girls globally, and in the innate respect that we demonstrate for all of God’s people”. 

Of course, we do this in the spirit of partnering with families to educate and raise young men (and women) who will make a real difference in their own families, communities, wider society and the world. We take on the challenge to Break the Bias so that our graduates and those boys who are at school now, will stand up and speak up, and will promote and expect equality, dignity, and respect.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge all the women who work and volunteer in our College and thank them for the amazing and essential work they do in supporting, teaching, coaching, leading and advising our young men. Our College Community must be representative of our broader society in that our students must see women in positions of influence as well as care, in leadership as well as service, and in support of all our endeavours as educators in knowledge, values and faith. 

I believe it is most significant that, in an all boys’ school, we take the opportunity to celebrate the special women in our own lives and, most importantly, to celebrate women everywhere. Happy International Women’s Day.

Live Jesus in our hearts.