Ignatian Service Program
It is these people living on the margins of our society that Ignatius chose to be with, and it is these same people that we are challenged to stand with and for today in the community.
Our Jesuit tradition calls us to enter into solidarity with the poor, the marginalised, and the voiceless, to enable their participation in the processes that shape the society in which we all live. They, in turn, teach us about our own poverty as no document can.
In keeping with this essential component of the Jesuit tradition, we ask our students to participate in an Ignatian Service program that requires them to complete 15 hours of service in Years 7–10 and 20 hours in Year 11.
Learning to serve, serving to learn
By asking our students to engage in service, we strive to break down barriers of fear and prejudice, reduce stereotyping and bring a human face to those in our community who might not normally be seen. We aim to develop in our students a greater awareness of justice in the world and a desire to actively transform it.
The Service Program embodies the Ignatian process of Experience, Reflection and Action and asks each student to:
- Select a suitable form of Ignatian Service in their local community that they can participate in for 15 hours or more;
- Complete a journal which asks them to reflect on the deeper meaning of the experience; and
- Consider how the experience may affect their choices and actions in the future.
In addition, students engage more directly with underprivileged and marginalised communities in the senior school. Through these placements, students develop resilience, humility, and a genuine commitment to the Ignatian ideal of being “men for others".
YEAR 10 SERVICE PROGRAM
In Year 10, students are required to spend a week in service—from remote communities interstate to local missions works—in experiences that broaden their understanding of inequality and human dignity. This dedicated week invites students to step outside their usual routines, encounter people whose lives differ from their own, and contribute in practical, compassionate ways.
YEAR 11 IMMERSION PROGRAM
To assist with fulfilling the characteristics of Jesuit Education, the College's voluntary Immersion program is offered to Year 11 students to provide them with an opportunity to broaden their worldview. Immersion teams often serve in countries such as India, Nepal, and Cambodia, engaging with the works of Jesuit Ministries or other NGOs in serving local communities.
