Social Justice initiatives are a lived expression of our College vision, mission and graduate outcomes. Students and staff meet regularly to plan activities informed by Catholic Social Teaching principles.
Our college actively supports Caritas, the St Vincent De Paul Society and local Kyabram charity The Gift. Students with an interest in social justice are provided with opportunities to develop their leadership skills and understanding through participation in diocesan programs such as the Justice Matters Camp and Caritas ‘Just Leadership’ workshops.
Caritas - Project Compassion
Our College comes together during the Church’s season of Lent to support Project Compassion, Caritas Australia's annual fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. This is an extraordinary, ongoing demonstration of the faith, love and generosity of our community. We are each called to continue to support the work of Caritas Australia to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
Mini Vinnies
St Augustines has an active Mini Vinnies group comprised of students from year 5-8. This group works to assist people in the local area who are in need. They work closely with the members of the St Vincent DePaul Conference in Kyabram. Our Mini Vinnies are informed about Catholic Social Teaching - this is the foundation on which they base their decisions and activities. In 2019 the very first project undertaken was to collect presents for children in need for Christmas and this drive was a great success.
It is hoped that once Mini Vinnies reach year 9 that they continue doing other social justice activities within the wider school community and may even go on to become young adult members of the St Vincent De Paul Society of Victoria which is part of a worldwide network!
FIRE Carrier Program
Our student and staff FIRE Carriers lead and share information regarding our responsibility to engage in action to work towards reconciliation.
The FIRE (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) Carrier Project is a joint initiative of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria and the Opening the Doors Foundation with the Sandhurst Catholic Education Office to promote Reconciliation through education in Sandhurst schools. The FIRE Carrier Project seeks to keep the Reconciliation flame alight in schools, educating the wider community about Reconciliation, our shared history and cultures. The FIRE carriers work to promote reconciliation through:
- Spirituality
- Cultural Recognition and Awareness
- Practical Reconciliation and Justice
Our students and staff engage in formation experiences using connections that have been established and nourished by our community with the local indigenous population.
We celebrate events such as Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week with whole school focuses and liturgy. Students learn about the rituals and traditions of the original custodians of our land through planned experiences and also visits at appropriate times in the year from local elders.