2024 | ISSUE 1 | SJC Newsletter

Identity News

Multicultural Youth Leadership Conference

A group of St Joseph’s students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds attended the annual Multicultural Youth Leadership Conference at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Students were empowered to Connect, Empower and Lead at Australia's largest Multicultural Youth leadership conference.

The MYLC conference aims to bring together CALD secondary students from all across Victoria to build the leadership capacity of Victoria’s vibrant multicultural student population, through interactive sessions being delivered by world class young multicultural professionals.

The theme for this year's conference was "Connect, Empower, and Lead." It was designed for secondary school aged multicultural students to focus on building essential skills that are vital for leadership development and becoming dynamic leaders of tomorrow. Through a series of engaging sessions and activities, including a session from guest keynote speaker Peter Bol it aimed to provide students with practical tools, knowledge, and inspiration to enhance their leadership capabilities.

The work of Endeavour Youth Australia is grounded by a solid evidence-based youth participation framework which works alongside young people to work through the many barriers to participation, with a specialist focus re-engaging disengaged and disenfranchised CALD communities in education. Through their service delivery EYA have demonstrated the capacity to identify, mobilise and empower young people to lead the responses on issues which matter to them. Sessions included: Advocacy in action with Ahmed Hassan and Mohamed Semra, Harnessing the language of leaders with Kano Ravalji, and Strengthening resilience for success with Mohamed Ahmed. 

The MYLC Multicultural Youth Leadership Conference was an extraordinary day, where culturally and linguistically diverse students were able to learn about how being a leader in their community and culture can be achieved. My favourite part of the day would have to be when Olympic runner Peter Bol came on stage to chat. He shared major parts of his story and successes. Also, thank you so much for the day Mrs Malone and Ms Ivey it was an incredible experience.
Alessio Senna, Year 11

The best part of the day was when Peter Bol told us how he got free hair cuts at the Olympics and when I asked him who inspired him in his family and he spoke about his parents and his big supportive family. His message was to ‘Be yourself, put in the work and be aware of managing your pressure bubble. To always have a mentor, have authenticity and to have strong values (in his case including family, health and spirit).'
Yathushanth Suranther and Pavithran Vijayaraj, Year 8

I had a wonderful time at the multicultural conference and learnt a lot about the importance of communication, identifying strengths by having a positive mind set to overcoming challenges and what it means to become a good leader and how to become one.
Zubayr Akhtar and Fedel Haddad

St Joseph’s College Commencement Masses

‘Let your light shine through service to others’ (Matthew 5:16)

Last Friday we warmly welcomed Fr Jude Johnson from St Mary’s Parish to celebrate our Westcourt College Commencement Mass. Tomorrow, we will welcome Fr Hang Ho fromSt Bernard’s Parish Belmont to celebrate Mass at our Edmund Rice Campus.

We launched our theme for 2024, ‘Let your light shine through service to others.’ (Matt 5:16). We formulated this theme by reflecting on the 2024 Liturgical Calendar and the Melbourne Archdiocese theme for this year’s Education Week, ‘In the Light of Christ’. In listening to student voice at our student Touchstone Leadership Formation Day, the theme ‘Lighting the way’ was shared. There are many inspiring and thoughtful Bible references to light and service. Our theme is based on Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Further inspiration came from John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ 2 Corinthians 4:6 emphasises: For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Our students are gifted with many opportunities. St Joseph’s College exists not only to educate our students, but to develop a person with deep values and a strong character. Our college stands on the hill of Newtown, our chapel serving as a beacon of light that shines over our community like a lighthouse. This light shines on those who are lucky in life but shines brighter on those living in hardship. This idea is the foundation of our theme for2024, ‘Let your light shine through service to others.’ The light already in us illuminates our path forward and shows us the way to connect to others meaningfully and spiritually. God wants us to be a beacon in the dark pointing others to Him. This year, let us all find our light and shine brightly, so that everyone can be brought closer to each other, closer to unity and closer to God. We encourage all in our community to embrace our theme, be the light today for yourself and others. In doing so, our school community strengthens and is truly seen. As we lit our College candle, we prayed, let us be open to the Spirit moving in our hearts and in our lives. Please encourage your son to take up the various Service Learning opportunities offered on SIMON notices to shine a light on serving those most in need.

Let the light of Christ shine in us and through us as we travel this school year together in service to others as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition.

Mary Malone – Director of Identity
Belinda Milverton – Faith Development Coordinator