On Friday 9 August, Year 9 Community Project students were selected to participate in the social justice initiative, MacKillop Family Services Social Justice Workshop for Young Leaders. They joined with Year 9 students from St Ignatius College, St Joseph's College, Iona College and Clonard College to participate in a day-long event that focused on the meaning of social justice and the challenges faced by marginalised children and families in our Victorian communities and across Australia. Below is a student's reflection of the day:

On Friday 9 August, students from Years 9 to 11 from Catholic schools across Geelong, congregated in Celies Dining Room for the MacKillop Family Services Social Justice Leadership Workshop. The workshop aimed to inform students about the role MacKillop Family Services play in our community. 

The day was full of many different activities, icebreakers and lectures; ranging from training their adorable dog Billy from their Paw Pals Program, to learning about the orphanages that were situated here in Geelong 100 years ago. By listening to real-life experiences and participating in engaging and relevant activities, we gained an insight as to why they offer Out of Home Care, Foster Care, specialist schools and therapy. At MacKillop, they believe every child deserves the best, and the best place for children is in a safe and supportive family, where they are nurtured to develop to their full potential.

The day was a huge success, with all students motivated to go out and help the community. We thank Mackillop Family Services and can’t wait to put our learnings into action.
Ava Howie, Year 9