Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending the Mercy Ministry Companions (MMC) Conference. MMC is the Ministerial Public Juridic Person who has an overarching governance role for many Mercy ministries, including education. The conference was entitled ‘Extending Horizons as People of Hope and Hospitality’. The conference focused on the role we can all play in bringing hope through hospitality to all we meet, but particularly for those for whom it seems hard to find. Catherine McAuley very much believed in the value of hospitality, and it remains a cornerstone of the work of Mercy today.

Yesterday we celebrated Mercy Day, one of the most significant days in the OLMC calendar. Not only do we celebrate the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley, but we also raise funds to support Mercy Works. At OLMC, we are empowered together to be Mercy people, and this privilege means that we are called to act with compassion. Pope Francis has said, ‘Compassion is not a simple feeling of pity: this is the superficial’ and ‘compassion is like the lens of the heart: it makes us truly understand the magnitude [of another’s suffering]’ (Daily meditations, September 17, 2019).

Students at OLMC show us time and again that they know and understand this message when they give so generously to organisations like Mercy Works. This year, they have particularly focused on raising funds to support the provision of water tanks for communities in Timor-Leste.

Mercy Day was a wonderful celebration of all that it means to be part of the OLMC Community. Mass was a beautiful celebration, and the Choir led us so expertly. The stalls, disco, games and food were all fantastic, as was the participation of the students.

Mercy Day is one of the most special days in our school calendar, and again this year, I was filled with immense pride in our community as students looked out for each other, celebrated the talents of others and worked together to sell all sorts of baked goods, lollies, fairy floss or books. It was enriching to see our students engaged wholeheartedly in the day, taking every opportunity to have fun and celebrate our community.

On Tuesday evening, we celebrated the skills and talents of our GSV sporting teams at the 2025 Sports Evening. Lauren Szigeti, an alumnus of OLMC from the class of 2018, was our guest speaker. Lauren was the Sports Captain at OLMC in 2018. In her speech, along with some highlights of her Year 12 year, she shared with us her journey to become a member and Co-Captain of the Sydney Swans AFLW team. She was inspirational, generously sharing with us moments of joy and those of challenge. Lauren particularly emphasised the importance of all that she had learnt. Her emphasis on positive self-talk and working within environments that allow you to thrive were important messages and reminders for all of us.

Our students have participated in GSV, other organised external sporting competitions and House based sporting activities in very strong numbers. It was a privilege to be part of the evening recognising the grit, determination, commitment and skill of all who have represented themselves and our school so admirably. Congratulations to all who received an award.

This is our last newsletter for the term. For our senior students, this is the beginning of the most challenging part of their year. As we go into the break, our Year 12 students are beginning their exam preparations and we wish them all the very best. Trial exams will take place during the break for all students undertaking a Unit 3 and 4 study.

We wish all at OLMC a wonderful break and a chance to enjoy some time with family and friends.

On September 24, the global Mercy community celebrates Mercy Day, the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy. It was on this date in 1827 that Catherine McAuley opened the first House of Mercy in Dublin, offering shelter, education, and care for those most in need. Each year, Mercy Day invites us to honour her vision and to recognise God’s presence in our world through acts of compassion, justice, and service.

At OLMC, we celebrated Mercy Day a little earlier, on Thursday 18 September, as the actual feast falls during the school holidays. Our celebration was not only a time of prayer and thanksgiving but also a day of action, as we supported Mercy Works in their efforts to bring safe drinking water to primary schools in Timor-Leste. In this way, we continue Catherine’s legacy of responding to suffering with hope and generosity.

Prayer for Mercy Day

Loving God,
On this Mercy Day, the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy,
we give thanks for the vision of Catherine McAuley
and the many ways her spirit lives on in our world today.
Bless our students, staff, families, and wider community,
that we may be people of welcome, compassion, and courage.
Open our eyes to the needs around us
and strengthen our hands to bring Mercy to life each day.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Year 10 students studying Health in Our Community have been exploring the complex issue of Closing the Gap. Through our Indigenous Health unit, we have come to understand that First Nations people experience poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous Australians.

As part of this study, we examined the Closing the Gap initiative, which our class defined as ‘a national agreement between the Government and First Nations organisations that focuses on minimising life outcome inequalities between First Nations people and non-Indigenous people.’

To deepen our learning, students expressed their reflections in creative forms. One moving example was a poem written by a Year 10 student, Grace R (10C4) which captured both the pain of ongoing inequalities and the hope for a more just and healthy future for all Australians. Their words reminded us that the Closing the Gap commitment is not only about statistics and policies, but about people, voices, and lived experience.

By Grace R (10C4)

This term has been a busy one, where our students have not only been engaged in learning but also participated in the College community in so many ways. I wish everyone in our community a safe and relaxing holiday break. I look forward to an exciting Term 4.

It is timely to discuss with your child the Social Media Ban implemented from December this year.

From December 2025, Australia will introduce a new minimum age of 16 for using most social media platforms. Its goal is to reduce online harm to young people by holding social media platforms more accountable for who uses their services.

What we know about the social media ban so far:

What is the social media ban?

The Government has legislated that people under the age of 16 will not be able to sign up for social media accounts. To do so will be against the law.

Who will it affect?

The Government has set a minimum age of 16 for accessing social media platforms. All young people under the age of 16 in Australia, regardless of whether they have current access, will be affected.

When will it happen?

Parliament passed the legislation in 2024, and the ban will come into effect on 10 December 2025.

What platforms are being banned and which ones aren’t?

The Government are still finalising the full list of social media platforms that will be included in the ban. However, they have said it will include most of the major platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook and X. The Government has stated that they will allow exemptions for messaging apps and services with the primary purpose of supporting health and education (like headspace, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom).

While YouTube was initially expected to be exempt, the Government has since confirmed it will be included in the ban. However, the restrictions will still allow the YouTube Kids platform to operate. YouTube Kids is a child-friendly version of YouTube with age-appropriate videos and parental controls. The full list of exempt platforms is yet to be confirmed.

If young people already have an account, will they be kicked off?

Under the legislation, yes. Even if young people already have accounts, after the ban comes into effect, anyone under 16 will not be allowed on certain social media platforms.

What if I give my parental/guardian consent?

This won't make a difference. Parents (or other guardians) won't be able to give their consent for their young people to access social media before they are 16 years of age.

How will they enforce this?

The Government has said that they want the responsibility to be placed upon the platforms and their companies to enforce the age restriction, rather than upon young people and their families. While the Government hasn’t dictated exactly how platforms have to comply, at a minimum they will be required to implement some form of age assurance. The eSafety Commissioner is currently testing different tools to figure out the best way to do this. That might include things like ID checks or technology that estimates a young person’s age, but no single method has been locked in yet.

Supporting young people through change

We know that uncertainty around change can be unsettling, so now is a great time to chat to young people in your life about their use of social media, and their thoughts about the ban.

This ban will not automatically shift young people to the offline world - they will continue to have online and offline spaces. The ban offers a unique opportunity for families to open up a conversation and learn more about your young person’s experiences in both spaces.

Some ideas for opening up the conversation…

1. Talk early about what’s changing

Ask your child, “Have you heard about the new age limit for social media?” Give them time to share how they feel and what they’re worried about.

2. Review current accounts together

Sit down and look through their existing apps or profiles. Talk about what might need to change and how they’d like to handle it.

3. Make a plan for staying connected

Help your child choose safe, age-appropriate ways to stay in touch with friends, like messaging apps or family-approved chat options.

4. Discuss the risks of getting around the rules

Explain why using someone else’s ID or downloading VPNs might seem like an easy fix, but can lead to bigger problems. Keep the tone supportive.

5. Keep teaching safety skills

Even if your child is stepping away from certain platforms, continue to build their skills for privacy, kindness, and help-seeking in all online spaces.

headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation Ltd 2025

With version 2.0 of the Victorian Curriculum requiring full implementation next year, it has required Learning Areas to review and make changes to their respective subjects. This is to ensure that the sequence of learning activities addresses the knowledge and skills outlined in a subject’s curriculum for 2026.

While reviews of the learning activities and sequence is undertaken annually, the introduction of a new state curriculum will often involve some substantive changes. This can include the introduction of new knowledge to be taught, and sometimes the refinement of language used. For example, in the curriculum for Civics and Citizenship, part of the Humanities Learning Area, there has been a comparative component added when looking at the justice system. Previously the curriculum for Levels 9 and 10 required that students be able to discuss the key principles of Australia’s justice system, including equality before the law, independent judiciary, and right of appeal. From next year, students will need to consider the extent to which Australia’s legal systems provide justice compared with at least one other legal system in the Asia-Pacific region.

The changes made are not just subject specific, but also involve changes to the four capabilities. The four capabilities in the Victorian Curriculum are Ethical, Personal and Social, Intercultural, and Critical and Creative Thinking. These capabilities are taught across subjects.

Within each capability there are a number of strands for students to engage with and develop their knowledge and understanding. For Critical and Creative Thinking the strands are:

• Questions and Possibilities – where students explore the nature of questioning, and a range of strategies to develop new ideas and possibilities
• Reasoning – where students explore how to structure, analyse, evaluate and communicate reasoning and how to think analytically
• Metacognition – where students explore learning strategies, the use of thinking process to manage thinking for different purposes, and the of criteria to identify and evaluate proposed solutions to a problem.

In the strand of Questions and Possibilities at Levels 7 and 8, there has been a refinement for 2026 of the sub-strand where students will now learn about strategies for generating new ideas and possibilities including identifying a pattern across multiple information sources. We have in our learning plans opportunities for students to develop and apply these strategies in a number of subjects. For example, this sub-strand will be explicitly incorporated in the Year 8 Health & PE Inquiry Unit, in Year 7 Religious Education the Caring for Creation Unit, as well as in Mathematics when looking at Algebra and distributive law, to name just three subjects where this sub-strand is addressed.

As we plan for Version 2.0 of the Victorian Curriculum, it is an opportunity for our teachers and their teams to not only review and update the key knowledge that will be required, but also to ensure that we address changes to the capabilities. In the case of Critical and Creative Thinking, ensuring that our subjects incorporate the important thinking skills of reasoning, generating ideas and of metacognition.

We have received multiple certificates from the Australian Maths Trust and were delighted to distribute them to the students that participated in this year’s Australian Mathematics Competition. Congratulations to Charlotte M (10A6) who participated in the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition and achieved the ‘Best in School’ Award. We also celebrate the outstanding efforts of Nevaeh B (9D), Olivia B (9G), Lily D (9B), Emily H (9E), Philippa M (9A), and Caitlin S (9E), who each earned a High Distinction in the Maths Challenge, placing them in the top 10% nationally. Well done to all students for their dedication and achievements in mathematics!

Shirley Wu
Mathematics Learning Leader

Our Year 11 and 12 French students recently participated in the Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette French oral and written competitions. Both competitions are based on the structure of the external Year 12 VCAA oral and written examinations. It was a fantastic experience for our students as they head towards these exams at the end of Year 12.

Well done to all of the students who participated. This year we are pleased to announce that Phoebe T (12C1) made it through to the written section final and Veronica H (11M6) to the finals of the oral competition. We wish them all the best at the final step! Please read below student reflections from Phoebe and Veronica.

Recently we had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette competition. For the Year 11s, this consisted of a nine-minute oral exam as well as a written exam. We were able to dive into the topic of technology and the media for young people, discussing this multifaceted topic with an examiner, all in French! It was a fantastic experience to work on in class and outside of class, giving us something to strive towards and an opportunity to see our French flourish. The written exam was an immersive challenge which we also elected to participate in. The format mirrored that of the VCAA end of year exam, so it was an incredible opportunity to build our French skills and exam techniques.

Veronica H (11M6)

This year, I was honoured to be a finalist in the Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette Competition. At our school, all French students take part in this annual competition, which tests language skills through both oral and written exams. As a Year 12 student, I competed with over 600 other French students in Victoria before becoming a finalist for the writing section. Reaching the finals was a rewarding experience, and I was able to participate in the second round last Sunday, which involved me writing a letter in French based on the chosen topic, ‘le Pont des Arts’ (Bridge of Arts). The competition gave me the opportunity to challenge myself and my French skills whilst preparing me for the end of year exam.

Phoebe T (12C1)

James Stavretis
Languages Learning Leader

The Year 12 VCE VM Personal Development Skills (VM PDS) cohort has just concluded an inspiring intergenerational project, ‘Stories From My Life’ (SFML). Run in partnership with the Banyule Nillumbik Local Learning and Employment Network, the program connects students with older members of the community, including residents of aged care facilities, to capture their life and career stories.

Through a series of interviews with six residents of the Ivanhoe Grand Care Community, our students have uncovered rich histories, personal achievements and insights into the changes and challenges experienced over a lifetime.

The project addresses a key Unit 4 PDS outcome: participation in an extended community initiative focused on cultural, social, economic or environmental issues. Our chosen focus is social connection and community awareness, exploring how storytelling can bridge generational divides and strengthen community bonds.

Our VCE VM students developed interview questions, conducted conversations and collated stories into a hardcover book, which was gifted to the residents at a celebration this week. Along the way, they have built vital skills in research, communication, empathy and collaboration while learning to value the lived experiences of our elders.

It has been a joy seeing moments of laughter and recognition shared between generations and a reminder of how much we can learn from one another.

As the project concluded, we enjoyed celebrating with the residents, honouring their stories and recognising the powerful bridges built between generations.

Ms Suzie Bradmore
VCE VM Teacher

After a busy three terms of research, equipment and material trials, planning, producing, seeking feedback, refining, reflecting…. and refining again…. our Year 12 Art, Visual Communication Design (VCD), and Media students have submitted their School Assessed Tasks!

Congratulations to all on a mammoth effort!

It has been such a pleasure to watch ideas germinate into elaborate and skilful productions. Students have worked across a range of media in the three subjects, showcasing their individual talents and interests.

In Visual Communication Design (VCD), students explored the four design fields: Environmental, Product, Communication, and Interactive design. Their final presentations include interactive experiences of app and website design, garment design and production, logos and branding as well as several architectural concepts.

Students in Art Creative Practice have worked with various mediums, including textiles, light sculpture, painting, photography, printmaking, and quilting.

Media students have produced music videos, short films, catalogues, print zines, and photography projects.

The resilience, creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking skills demonstrated by all our students have been an immense source of pride for our DAT staff.

We’re excited to showcase the work of our students in the early part of Term 4. The World Premiere of our Media films will take place on Thursday 9 October at 4:30 pm in the MHT Theatre. Our Annual Art Show will be held on Thursday 16 October, also starting at 4:30 pm. More details will follow in the next newsletter.

All welcome!

Mark Jenkinson
Design, Art & Technology Learning Leader

GSV Weekly Sport
This term, we saw students participate in both Soccer and, for the first time, Badminton as part of GSV weekly sport. It was fantastic to see such strong involvement across all year levels, with Junior A & B and Senior teams representing us in Soccer, and teams competing in Junior, Intermediate, and Senior levels in Badminton.

Our Junior B Soccer team had a remarkable run, taking home the Zone Winners title and progressing to the finals, where they unfortunately fell short in the semi-final. The Senior Soccer team also impressed, finishing 3rd on the ladder and advancing through a dominant semi-final win. In a thrilling Grand Final that went to a penalty shootout, OLMC proudly finished as runners-up. A huge congratulations to all students who participated in weekly sport this term. We now look forward to Term 4, which will bring the excitement of Basketball and Cricket

Athletics Championship Carnival / Finals Evening
On Tuesday 26 August, our Athletics squad competed in the Division Three Championship on a notably windy day. Despite the challenging conditions, our athletes delivered outstanding performances, earning numerous placings and securing 7th place overall for OLMC.

Congratulations to all those who qualified for Finals Night. Special recognition goes to Natalie and Emily M (8A and 10C3 respectively), who accounted for OLMC’s entire medal count at Finals Night. Natalie clinched 1st place in discus, and 3rd in both shot put and javelin, while Emily dominated by taking 1st place in shot put, discus, and javelin.

CGSAV Aerobics
The CGSAV Aerobics competition was hosted at OLMC on Friday 22 August, featuring five schools: Mater Christi, Killester, Clonard, OLSH, and SHGC. OLMC put in a strong performance, proudly winning the Division B Year 7-9 Championship.

AFL Herald Sun Shield
Our Intermediate AFL team continued their impressive form in the Herald Sun Shield, securing a 19-10 victory over MLC in their first game, followed by a dominant 17-1 win against Salesian College. These wins earned them a place in the semi-finals, where they finished as runners-up after a tough match against MLC. Special mention to Milla G (9B) for kicking three goals throughout the day.

ISG Gymnastics Competition
The OLMC gymnastics team competed at the Gymstar competition in Knox on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 August. Day one saw our Gymstar and B-grade girls shine, with Sabah T (7G) placing 2nd on beam and floor, Erin L (7E) securing 2nd on bars and earning the Judges’ Choice award for parallel bars, and Poppy B (11A1) taking 1st in vault and 2nd overall. On day two, our Neutrons team impressed by winning the Judges’ Choice award for rings and finishing 2nd overall. Meanwhile, our Novas team claimed the championship title, with Romaine V (12L6) winning the Judges’ Choice award for vault and Maddie G (12C2) earning the Judges’ Choice awards for beam and floor.

Senior Victorian Netball Championships
On September 10th, the OLMC Premier Netball team competed at the Senior Victorian Netball Championships at The State Netball Centre. Out of six fixtures, they secured five wins, earning a spot in the Grand Final. In a fiercely contested match, OLMC narrowly missed the title with a 12-13 finish, earning a well-deserved silver medal, an incredible achievement!

Celebration of Sport Evening
OLMC proudly celebrated sporting achievements from Term 4 2024 through to Term 3 2025. The event was a huge success, highlighting many outstanding individual and team accomplishments.

2025 Sportswomen of the Year:

• Year 7: Zoe G (7F)
• Year 8: Natalie M (8A)
• Year 9: Phoebe K (9F)
• Year 10: Liv N (10A5)
• Year 11: Ava A (11A6)
• Year 12: Alice C (12C5)
• Overall: Alice C (12C5)

National Aero Schools Championships (QLD):
This week, thirty-six OLMC students travelled to Queensland to compete in the National Aero Schools Championships. Well done to all of our participants!

Term 3 has been action-packed with weekly sport, championship events, and finals. Congratulations to all staff and students for their dedication and outstanding achievements!

Lara Del Conte
Sport Administration Assistant

Parents and Carers of Year 11 Students - Save the Date

A reminder for all parents and carers of our current Year 11 students that on the evening of Tuesday 2 December, we will be having an event hosted by Time and Space. Students of the Class of 2027 and at least one parent or guardian will be required to attend. This night signifies the beginning of this cohort’s final year at OLMC. More details will follow but please save this date.

We are aware that some of our students may have viewed distressing material that was circulated online showing the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University last week. Young people who encounter content like this online may be struggling with what they have seen and read. If a child sees violent or distressing material, it is important to check in with them and talk to them about the content they have seen. Your support and willingness to give your child a space where they feel heard and listened to is an important step in allowing them to process this experience.

In this situation, The eSafety Commissioner also recommends the following steps:

• Report it to the platform
• Report it to eSafety at www.esafety.gov.au
• Do not share the video. Reposting graphic material increases the risk of trauma and can amplify harm

For more information about how to support young people who view distressing content online please refer to the fact sheet below:

Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist and speaker who heads up Digital Nutrition, is offering a free online information session for parents who may be grappling with the proposed social media ban planned for December this year. Digital Nutrition provides a range of courses for schools and families that are designed to focus on the use of devices in an intentional way that promotes wellbeing. Please see the link below for details about this online session:

Navigating Australia's Teen Social Media Ban

For further information about Digital Nutrition and the various courses on offer, please visit their website:

Digital Nutrition

OLMC has a partnership over the next three years with Real Schools, an organisation that supports over 300 schools across Australia in their work to utilise restorative practices to develop strong relationships for learning and to increase student engagement. As part of this partnership, our consultant with Real Schools, Jemma Rust, will host an online information session for parents and guardians that will be held on Tuesday 7 October from 7.00 to 8.00 pm. Please see the flyer below for further details.

The Diamond Valley Athletic Club offers a season of competition with Athletics Victoria that includes a club-based program, the AV Shield League, that runs from October to March as well as a range of Specialist and Championship events that are offered to all age groups. Training and competition are open to women and men from Under 14’s through to open age and Masters.

DVAC’s home venue, Willinda Park, Greensborough, is the base for training sessions that are held throughout the week. Athletes will find qualified coaches on hand to assist with their preparation.

A Trials & Registration Day will be held on Saturday 4^th October 2025 at Willinda Park, Greensborough, starting at 1:30pm.

For further information, check out the club website www.valleyaths.org or contact DVAC Registrar Lyn Davis on 0409 005 406.

Follow the official Our Lady of Mercy College accounts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We’ll be sharing regular news, student achievements and stories from around the College.