Wellbeing Matters

St John Paul College students ‘ACTIVATE’ their futures

Students from St John Paul College recently participated in an engaging opportunity named ‘Activate’, which was focused on self-reflection and career discovery for some of our Indigenous students. The afternoon was a fantastic opportunity of discovery for the girls to connect their personal interests and talents with real-world job prospects and financial planning.

The session began with the students completing a self-reflection survey designed to identify their unique strengths and passions. Armed with this newfound self-awareness, they then moved on to a creative exercise: designing their own ideal lifestyle. This involved thinking about their future homes, hobbies, and, of course, what type of car they wanted to own. The next crucial step was to calculate the annual income needed to support this dream life. 

To bring it all together, the results from their initial survey were used to match each student with potential occupations that aligned with their personality and talents, demonstrating how their passions could translate into a fulfilling and financially viable career.

It was a fun and insightful afternoon that equipped the students with valuable skills in self-awareness, financial literacy, and career planning, giving them a clearer vision for their future.

A big thank you to Aunty Vicki and Tahlia for their organisation and assistance with the day.

Building Skills Beyond the Classroom

In my position, I'm extremely fortunate to have exposure to the many wonderful opportunities our young people have outside of the classroom walls. Experiences that go beyond the textbooks and can shape the students in ways that cannot be achieved otherwise.

Choosing our school means joining a vibrant community that extends beyond the classroom. Our school camps, retreats, and events are integral to this experience. These aren't just fun trips; they are intentionally designed opportunities for students to develop crucial life skills like resilience, teamwork, and leadership in a supportive environment.

We respectfully encourage families to support these valuable programs. Your partnership is vital for the success of these events and for fostering well-rounded, capable young individuals prepared for the future. 

As you can imagine, the planning and organisation that takes place to offer opportunities to literally hundreds of individuals is extensive, and when families accept an invitation to attend and then don’t turn up on the day, it has a lasting effect on the event.

Your encouragement at home and ensuring your child's participation makes a world of difference. When our students fully engage, they not only grow as individuals but also contribute to a stronger, more connected school spirit for everyone. Together, we can provide enriching experiences that help every student thrive.

Bullying – important conversations to have with your child

Across Australia, many schools participated in the Bullying No Way: National Week of Action 11 - 15 August 2025. 

By working collaboratively within our community(staff, students and families), we can collectively help reduce bullying. Our SJPC families play an important role in helping our young people to understand bullying and know how to respond to it.

If your child tells you about things at school, or you observe something in public that involves conflict or bullying, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is. You can learn more about what defines bullying at bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Questions you could ask:

• What do you think bullying is?
• Have you seen it? How did you feel?
• Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?
• As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
• Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
• Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?

Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.

Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.

By promoting open communication, we empower our students to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong at SJPC.

For more information you can visit bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Mark Coster
Leader of Student Engagement