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St Mark's Year 12 Prefects Challenge
What does compassionate leadership look like? It looks exactly like this amazing bunch of Year 12 Prefects from St Mark's Anglican Community School. I was privileged to work with them at their Prefects' Camp late last year, where I challenged them to 'lean into suffering' and do something to alleviate it. It was an almost instant response from this lot who got hold of some donated ball dresses, held a show and sold off the dresses, all with the aim of meeting a direct need in the community right now. And the need they decided to support was women escaping violence and experiencing homelessness. With the bitter cold in Perth at the moment, the group are supporting the purchase of a bulk supply of extra-warm waterproof puffer jackets from Vinnies Australia to give to women in need presenting at emergency. Thank you Brittany Berghan and Roseanne Madden for this awesome collaboration and to the Prefects for a remarkable act of compassion. I wish them all well in their post-high school adventures.
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Seton Social Justice Group 2023
Seton Catholic College's Social Justice group invited me to work alongside them to bring their social justice goals to life and it has been so inspiring to work with this dynamic bunch who are determined to make a difference in this world. We looked at their mission as well as the meaning/benefits of compassion - particularly the fierce compassion that defines each of them - their commitment to standing up for people who might be suffering and determination to do something about it. They then drew on their favourite UN Declaration of Human Rights Principles and designed and delivered the Year 10 Retreat on the theme of Human Rights. Congratulations to Kate Raphael and these amazing changemaker students.
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Iona Year 11 IWD Challenge 2023
This year The Kindness Challenge worked with the Year 11 students on International Women’s Day on the theme of Fierce Compassion - discussing their core values and what issues that they were passionate about as young women. Each group worked on their personal protest signs and created a IWD film for the College whole school assembly the next day.
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Good Sammy R U OK Day 2023
Catherine spoke to Good Sammy' workers on R U OK?Day and the importance of being compassionate to our own mental health needs and the needs of those around us. The Good Sammy team spoke about how important it was to talk about our mental health not just today but every day of the year; how pervasive loneliness is, and that each of us need to find meaningful ways to connect with each other. They told me about why they sometimes struggle and they talked about things that have helped them get through the darker days. They are a wise bunch.
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Anglican Schools Commission (International) Staff PD 2023
I spent a wonderful morning with Kate Simeon and the team at Anglican Schools Commission International - a group of humans who were more than willing to be vulnerable as they welcomed new members into the team, made deep connections, explored ideas for being self-compassionate every day and articulated their team's core values. They discussed practical ways to take compassion into their work with international students. And most importantly they committed to keep ‘leaning in' and looking out for each other.
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Iona RE Department Wellbeing Day
How I could resist an invitation to could come and 'fill the cup' with the Iona RE team to start their new school term? We had a really impactful morning, talking about bringing compassion to light in the RE curriculum; finding ways to integrate wellbeing without it being an 'add-on'; and simple ways that they can create moments of compassion for their students and themselves. They went further, thinking about how they can create physical spaces to help every student to connect and thrive. And they planted their own team compassion forest - sewing the seeds for self-care for the term ahead.
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Mercedes Year 8 Kindness Challenge
It was a very impactful first Kindness Challenge for Mercedes’ Class of 2027. They are a magnificent year group who were excited to engage from the first moment, courageous enough to discuss some difficult teen issues, inquisitive and vulnerable, and excited about making new connections and friends. The values they look up to and the commitments they made are going to grow an inspirational 'forest' indeed.
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Iona Empower Me Inspire Her 2023
Catherine presented at Iona Past Pupil’s Assocation Empower Me Inspire Her event taking the audience on a journey into the heart of compassion.
This beautiful village of women wanted to learn about compassion, embrace the principles and understand how compassion could support their young families today and into the future. It is inspiring to see these women of Iona at the forefront of building a world that is based on compassion - both gentle and fierce. -
Mozzies Dad Joke Book 2023
In Term One I hung out with the Men of Santa talking about compassion and put out the challenge to pull together their dad jokes - that humour is such an important of every day. And in Term Two - challenge accepted - Margo Bastow invited me to the launch of the Men's very own joke book. Such a fun event with an incredible bunch. Well done Margo and the 'Mozzies'!
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Iona Staff Development Day 2023
What is the key to building a compassionate workplace where every member can thrive? It is quite simply - having compassionate leaders. If leaders provide safe spaces to lean in and connect with our common humanity, they will create real change in the culture and wellbeing of their community.
And so it is at Iona Presentation College who are already a kind bunch, but have made a whole-of-school decision to lean into compassion this year. This morning was the Staff Service Day and I was blessed to spend the morning with the staff looking at gentle and fierce compassion and most importantly taking that pause to connect with another person's suffering.
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Sacred Heart Year 11 Kindness Challenge 2023
The Sacred Heart Year 11 students were energetic and hilarious, but they also ‘bought into’ the serious lessons. Watching even the chattiest students close their eyes for moments of mindfulness, quietly engage in gratitude exercises and practise authentic listening was transformative. They chose to be kind to staff who they felt were ‘unseen’, celebrated people on the margins in the community and leant in when real stories of struggle were shared. The Class of 2024 are remarkable and it was a privilege to spend the day with them.
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Neuroscience of Connection with Dr Mark Williams 2023
In Term Three I invited world-renowned neuroscientist Dr Mark Williams on his first-ever 'grand tour' of Perth. The two of us visited some of our Kindness Challenge partner schools and Mark has been speaking to students, staff and parents about human connection and why it is so important for a healthy brain and a happy life. The response was so profound that we plan to do it all again in 2024.
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Iona Staff Compassion Breakfasts
How do we find a place where we can be fiercely compassionate - courageous enough to step outside our comfort zones to take action to alleviate the suffering of others? It all starts with knowing what our core values are - what principles drive the way we go about business every day. This was one of the themes we explored at the Iona staff compassion breakfast, held once a term. Thanks Gemma Thomson and all the Iona staff for such nourishing conversations every time.
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Iona Year 10 Reflection Day 2023
This year’s Year 10s are a passionate bunch who put themselves out of their comfort zones to work out what values they admire in another humans and how they can embody compassion in their own lives. The compassion skills they learned will be a great foundation for their Year 11/12 journey.
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Prendiville Year 11 Challenge 2023
Spent a special afternoon with the Year 11s at Prendiville. They are a spectacular cohort and I look forward to watching them make the world a better place. This is a bunch who have the creativity, authenticity and compassion to make a huge difference in the world. Thanks for having me Linda Lombardi.