College Principal
Last week we celebrated International Women’s Day in a variety of ways. Our Student Leaders organised an informative panel discussion for Assembly. Emily Whitehouse from the ‘So They Can’ organisation which plays a vital role in providing young women with access to education in Africa, and Ms McGovern, our Deputy Principal Staff joined the prefect panel to discuss the UN Global theme for all women: rights, equality and empowerment. We were then treated to an inspirational panel discussion organised by the Ex-Students’ Association in collaboration with the P&F Association where we heard from accomplished ex-students from the entertainment, corporate, leadership, sport and technology sectors. I was very excited to meet and hear from Paula Duncan AM, (who first entered my life as Detective Dani Francis in Cop Shop in 1977); a trailblazer in Australian television. Bridget Clark, Olympian spoke about overcoming barriers in her field while Amy Rixon and Annabel Crowley added corporate and technology perspectives. Our thanks to moderator Anne Salem, who challenged all of us to keep marching forward for women and girls. On Friday, our Student Leaders had the privilege of joining 1700 people at the UN International Women’s Day Lunch, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, shared powerful insights on leadership, gender equality and creating lasting change. Comedian and activist Celeste Barber also contributed to a rich conversation.
Over time, women have had many occasions to celebrate their wins for gender equality but there is still a long way to go. The positive steps forward are sadly being overshadowed by current world events. The breakdown of social cohesion. Conflict in the Middle East, in Europe and the Sudan. The loss of major funding via USAID to critical services for women and children globally. Ever-increasing abuses of women’s rights in places like Afghanistan. And at home in Australia, the current populist rhetoric attacking everything from women’s rights to access to working from home.
One in four countries globally experienced a backlash against women’s rights in 2024, according to today’s report by UN Women. Only 87 countries have ever been led by a woman. A woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by a partner or a family member.
There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of women and girls living in conflict areas. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said about recent events, ‘Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we’re seeing the mainstreaming of misogyny.’ He has called on everyone to make human rights, equality and empowerment a reality for all women and girls. ‘When women and girls can rise, we all thrive,’ he said. Enabling more women and girls to thrive happens with collective, determined action.
Congratulations to both our Year 7 and Year 4 students who had a very positive and engaging outdoors learning experience at Tallong for their respective camps recently. Teachers reported that students stepped out of their comfort zones trying new activities and enjoying the great outdoors. I was fortunate to be able to spend time with the Year 7 students and I really enjoyed seeing them be self-sufficient, brave and able to get along well with their camp mates. The Year 10 Outdoor Camp Leaders showed great enthusiasm and took very good care of their younger friends, encouraging them and supporting them to overcome their fears.
Next week we will celebrate two national campaigns – Harmony Week as well as Neurodiversity Week will provide the foundation for a whole host of activities that will celebrate diversity. While Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s rich cultural diversity, it also urges us to combat racism wherever and whenever it arises. Putting the spotlight on Neurodiversity is also important in contributing to a more inclusive world. Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. Tts theme – Celebrating Different Minds – is at the core of what it means to be a Christian – to love unconditionally, and to respect the human dignity of every person.
As we approach the upcoming federal election, we want to share some important information about the potential impact it may have on our school and the Independent school sector as a whole. Decisions made during this election could directly affect funding and the ability of families to choose schools that align with their values and aspirations. Independent schools like ours play a vital role in offering diverse and high-quality educational opportunities. These schools are funded through a combination of government support and the significant contributions of families and communities. Ensuring stable and fair funding is essential to maintaining the high standards of education we strive to provide.
Independent schools educate over 716,000 students nationwide, offering families diverse educational options that reflect their values and aspirations. These schools enrich our community by fostering inclusion and supporting students from a range of backgrounds, including
- 60% from low- to middle-income families
- 19,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- 157,000 students with disabilities.
Government funding is essential to making Independent education affordable for families, particularly as costs continue to rise due to inflation and increased demands for resources. However, Independent schools receive significantly less government funding than public schools. On average, Independent school students receive $10,000 less in government funding per year than their public school counterparts. Raising awareness about these issues is an important step in protecting the diversity and accessibility of education for all families.
Paulina Skerman
College Principal