IWD lunch and assembly 

On 3 March, the leadership team alongside Ms Skerman and Ms Granerio, were fortunate enough to attend the United Nations IWD lunch. The lunch followed The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day this year, Cracking the Code. Cracking the Code highlights the role that innovation, inclusive technologies, and accessible STEM education can play in combating the marginalisation of women globally. We heard from amazing guest speakers, most notably Tarana Burke, the creator of the #MeToo movement. She shed light on the importance of International Women’s day as an opportunity to highlight the struggles and achievements of those women who are often on the margins of society. She noted that this day should be utilised to give a platform to those women who are not on the main stage and in the spotlight.  

In addition, we hosted an IWD assembly featuring an amazing panel that explored the ideas of the United Nations theme cracking the code and the Year 12 theme breaking free. We welcomed guest speaker, Maryam Popal Zahid, an award-winning Afghan-Australian human rights champion, diversity and inclusion practitioner, self-taught artist and social commentator. She shared insights on her journey as a young girl, navigating through a life that restricted her liberty and her ability to attain an education. Maryam emphasised to all of us, the vitality of education as a tool to develop our worldview and shape us into strong, confident young women. Her immense involvement in multicultural Australian communities has allowed her to share this story firsthand in the hopes of strengthening other women and girls to break free from the boundaries that seek to confine them whether it be the culture they grew up in or the environment they are exposed to. 

Along with Maree Sialepis, Ruby Bron, Emilia Sradonovic and College Principal, Ms Paulina Skerman, all leaders raised the central theme of female empowerment, segwaying into distinct areas of discussion. A perceptive insight into the role of technology was made where panellists discussed how it can grant a voice to individuals but also pose dangers in its AI gender bias. The toxic representations as well as sexualisation of women and girls on social media was also reinforced as well as a critical point on the disproportionate effect that climate change has on women and girls and how this is exacerbated by a lack of access to both technology and education. But in addition to focusing on these significant issues which need to be critically addressed through platforms as such, the panellists also gave way to a discussion on key figures like Malala Yousafzai who embodies female empowerment and bravery in all its entirety. This was something that seamlessly aligned with the Year 7’s Malala Fund bakesale initiative which followed this very special panel discussion at lunchtime on Tuesday. This bake sale raised $1200 for the Malala Foundation. Congratulations to Year 7 for such a wonderful initiative. 

Strathfield Council Breakfast

This International Women’s Day, Sophie Way our Wellbeing Prefect and Lisa Haddad, the Faith and Mission Prefect were privileged to attend the Strathfield Council Breakfast alongside College Principal, Paulina Skerman. At the breakfast, they heard from Jana Pittman, Commonwealth nine times gold medalist and doctor specialising in Women’s reproductive health where she spoke on the importance for young women to continually create opportunities for themselves and other women. She also spoke about her personal life experience with failures and how she believes we should view them as opportunities to learn in disguise. She repeated the phrase ‘If you think you can’t, do it anyway’ which was enlightening, especially for the girls in their Year 12 year, heading into exams. Most importantly, Jana spoke to the idea that failure should be accepted as a motivator to improve. This was an excellent opportunity for our leaders to engage with members of the local community including Jason Yat Sen Li and newly apppointed Mayor, Karen Pensabene. 

Ocean Youth Breakfast

On 2 March, three of our student leaders, Sophie Way, Ruby Bron and Rosanna Cartwright, alongside six other students from Years 9 to 12 attended the Ocean Decade Youth Breakfast where they spoke with industry leaders on how to implement the Sustainable Development Goal set out by the United Nations. It was the first Youth event of the two-day Summit that heard from leaders such as Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek. It was an amazing opportunity to learn, firsthand, about sustainable ocean practices. 

Student Leaders