From the Principal

Catholic teachings are firmly based in the belief that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves dignity, respect, and opportunity. Social justice is the living out of this belief through action—by advocating for the marginalized, caring for the poor, and working to dismantle systems of inequality.

We live in a world that often tells us to focus on ourselves—our image, our success, and even our comfort. While it is important to take care of ourselves, we know that as Catholics we are called to be selfless and have a responsibility to help others.

We are incredibly proud of our students and the social justice initiatives that take place within our MSCW community. Time and again, our students have shown empathy, initiative, and a deep commitment to helping others.  Their actions reflect the Gospel in motion. They are guided by their Compass for Life and empowered to be Marist Women of Action. 

We congratulate our Social Justice Student Leaders, Billie Aboud and Valentina Scuderi who are leading a whole-school initiative themed ‘Empathy in Action: Stepping into Someone Else’s Shoes,’  for Social Justice Week 2025.

The leaders have organised a series of interactive and reflective activities across the week; including tutor awareness sessions, a public butcher’s paper empathy wall, and a letter-writing and film experience, just to name a few. Students will be invited to explore social justice issues through the lens of compassion and solidarity. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the 2025/26 student leadership team’s College theme, ‘With goodness at heart, we unite in action, by encouraging students to listen, reflect, and respond to the needs of others with courage and kindness. By stepping into someone else’s shoes, the student leaders hope to foster a culture of empathy that moves beyond awareness into meaningful action.

In addition to this, we were honoured to welcome a representative from Mary’s House to speak at our Week 6 Principal’s  Assembly. Mary’s House Services is a not-for-profit charitable organisation that provides refuge, case management, and community programs for women and children escaping domestic and family violence. Since opening its refuge doors nine years ago, Mary’s House Services has delivered over 16,500 safe nights of accommodation to women and children in crisis and built an expert suite of community programs and clinics that continues to grow. This powerful presentation reminded us of the real and urgent needs that exist just beyond our school gates. 

Last year our staff and students participated in Mary’s House Walk and not only raised awareness but also contributed a significant donation to support the important work of this organisation. 

This year we are again going to participate in Mary’s House Walk. It will be held on Sunday 26 October and we encourage as many students as possible to get involved. Whether it be through participating in the walk, donating, or simply spreading the word, every contribution matters. We will share more details over the coming weeks.

I congratulate every student who has accrued Marist Service hours this year and has already contributed to making the local and/or wider community a better place. Thank you.