The College community recently commemorated National Reconciliation Week across all three Campuses. This year’s theme was: Bridging Now to Next.

The College is grateful to Fr Mike Delaney who led us in prayer on National Sorry Day at our Senior Campus. College Principal Paul Reidy also addressed students and speeches were delivered by Palawa students Jesse and Lucas Frost as well as Emily Scanlon. Fr Mike also participated in a collective ‘sea of hands’ installation at our Senior Campus with Deputy Principal Nickie Birchall and visiting Palawa sharers of knowledge Trish Hodge and Mathius Everett from Nita Education.

A dedicated Reconciliation Assembly was held at our Middle Campus. We were welcomed to Country by proud Palawa student, Zoe Frost and led in prayer by our Director of Faith and Mission, Polly Marriott. Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal community members, Adam Thompson and Cody Gangell were guest speakers and our Aboriginal Student Success Teacher, Anne-Marie McWatters addressed students and guided them in creating a ‘sea of hands’ installation outside. 

Mrs McWatters also facilitated a mini reconciliation ‘Bugs and Bees’ assembly at the Junior Campus with First Nation students, Starssi McLean and Isla Turner acting as hosts. Hermione Badcock led us in prayer and proud young Palawa student, Abel Mundy helped Hermione hold the Aboriginal flag high, while students sang Andrew Chin’s ‘These Hands’ together. 

On the first day of National Reconciliation Week (the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum) our Kinder students gathered with our College Principal, Paul Reidy. A few days later, all staff and students at the Junior Campus participated in creating a group installation featuring hands in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Students are to be commended for their enthusiastic involvement, strongly demonstrating our College community’s commitment to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples.

In 2025, NAIDOC Week marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, cultures and resilience. The 2025 theme, 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy' is a great one for all young Australians to explore as it is the next generation who will carry NAIDOC and their communities into the future. 

NAIDOC Week begins this Sunday which the Catholic Church commemorates as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. Australia’s National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Catholic Church (NATSICC) https://www.natsicc.org.au/ have published a booklet that includes prayers, liturgies and youth activities, centred on this year’s theme: ‘Sent Forth in Strength and Hope’. The booklet can be accessed here: https://www.natsicc.org.au/2025-atsi-sunday.html

Students at St Aloysius Catholic College have been learning about NAIDOC Week and participating in art and craft activities throughout the final week of term. NAIDOC Prayer Spaces were set up in our Chapels at both the Middle and Senior Campuses. Some photos are shared here.