Parents of Year 11 Student Drivers

Last Wednesday, I travelled to Canberra to attend the Term 3 Child Safe Advocate meeting held on the ACU Campus in Watson. Each term, the Child Protection Team at CECG offers an informative meeting agenda that addresses relevant issues facing schools.

1. Child Safety Standards

In NSW, the Child Safe Standards provide a framework to enhance the safety of children in organisations, ensuring they are protected from harm and abuse.

The Child Safe Standards were established following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. They consist of ten principles designed to create safer environments for children and young people in various organisations, including schools, childcare centres, and community groups. These standards aim to protect children from harm, abuse and neglect while promoting their rights and wellbeing. 

These standards are on display in our Front Office.

Each year, CECG asks schools to conduct an audit. In the coming weeks, we will complete this audit tool to assist us in compliance to ensure best practice.

2. Policing - ACT police and the Security Intelligence Unit presented interesting yet disturbing information about the vulnerability of young people, even as young as 10 years, being influenced, manipulated and even radicalised by information they are receiving, especially online. This is a timely reminder for all the adults in the lives of our young people to be vigilant and support any young person you are concerned about. Following this, we focused on Manopshere.
3. Manosphere is a relatively new term that refers to websites and blogs where men express opinions about issues concerning contemporary masculinity and male relationships with women, especially those associated with views that are hostile to feminism and women's rights.

Again, our young people, especially aged 10 -17 years, can be innocently looking at information related to fitness, body building, beauty, fashion or dating advice and gradually be exposed to more extreme ideas that express either hateful ideas or submissive ideas for females.

To increase our awareness and understanding in this space, staff will have the opportunity to participate in the Supporting Schools Project offered by Monash University.

Batemans Bay Youth Foundation Grant 2025

Each year, the Batemans Bay Youth Foundation offers student grants to Year 12 students who reside in the Eurobodalla bounded by Durras North, Nelligen and the Moruya River. The $3500 grants are available for students that intend to further their education at University or TAFE. This generous grant can be used to assist students with living expenses and the cost of training and education associated with their chosen career.

In 2024, Emma Penberthy, Grace Johnston, Shelby Henderson and Tahlia Stjepanovic from Year 12 were successful with their application for this grant.

Applications are open in September and close on 30 November 2025.

For further information and the application form, please go to www.bbyf.org.au

Thank you to the Batemans Bay Youth Foundation for this invaluable support of our local students.

Student Leadership Team update and Academic Care Lessons

This week in the Academic Care period Year 11 students who have nominated for the position of College Captain/Vice had the opportunity to speak to their peers. Their focus was on leadership and their vision for 2026. The quality of the speeches was outstanding and all the students were able to convey with passion and individual flair their love of Carroll College and vision for the future. The selection process continues.

Years 7 to Year 9 students spent time reflecting on their Semester One academic report to identify and celebrate areas of success and to set goals to address areas where they can improve. These students were also invited to complete a Student Perceptions of AI – 2025 Survey.  The results of both these activities will assist teachers in getting to better know and understand their students and their views.

Year 10 had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a virtual tour of Auschwitz. Thank you to Mrs Dwyer and the Year 10 History team.

National No Bullying Week theme “ Be bold, Be Kind, Speak up” has been launched with activities in Homeroom each day to ensure that there is plenty of discussion around this topic and important information is shared. Bullying can happen online or face to face, at school, in sporting teams, at work and even between siblings. Thank you to Mr Bissell, Ms Boller and the SRC for leading this event.

Speaking up and letting others know if young people are feeling bullied or harassed is vital for wellbeing and safety. Students should be able to identify 5 trusted people in their close network they can talk to (name them on one hand).

Parents are reminded that if they are concerned about their child, they should reach out to their child's Pastoral Coordinator to work together to resolve any issues.

New eSafety resources for First Nations families

First Nations children and young people are using the internet in powerful, positive and creative ways.

However, our research shows they’re also more likely to encounter online harms, like hate speech and cyberbullying. These negative online experiences can have deep impacts that lead to impaired mental health, perceived reputational damage and lower grades at school.

New resources from eSafety are designed to support parents and carers yarn with their kids and young people about online safety, tackling things like:

• cyberbullying
• protecting personal information
• safe gaming
• digital wellbeing.

Check out the guides and fact sheets, yarning cards and videos, and help spread the word among your community by downloading our social media tiles, posters and postcards.

Explore our new resources

We value the relationship with have with our families. Please reach out to the Pastoral Care team if you have any concerns or questions about your child. We are only a phone call or email away.

Kind regards

Mrs Louise Ibbett
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care