Community Project is a subject exclusive to Year 12 VCAL students where we take an issue that we are passionate about and try to make a difference with a project we create independently.

Myself and Lucy Wood have decided to create a project centred around mental health awareness but specialising in early prevention. Seeing and experiencing the impact all the suicides last year had on our community and also seeing next to nothing being done about what was happening at the time Lucy and I decided to try and make a difference with our Community Project.

Our project is going to be a fundraising night consisting of a 2-course meal, guest speakers, a silent auction and a raffle we will be selling tickets for before the night with all the funds raised going to Headspace. Posting about our fundraising night asking for support and donations on Facebook led a reporter from the Surf Coast Times to look into our project and ask to write an article about us and our project which was recently posted in the Surf Coast and Bellarine Times.

There are also lots of other projects going on including a partnership with Geelong Mums, elderly pen pals, disability support, youth homelessness and many more. This is such an exciting subject to be a part of because you get to make a real difference in our community and learn some amazing skills that you’ll have for life.

Alicia Hawkins, 12PAAAH