Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstones

Liberating Education

As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition, we challenge all to prophetic leadership within the school community and beyond

Celebrating Teaching Excellence

I am honoured to announce to our community that Mrs Juliana Dignam, the College Leader of Learning in Careers/VET Education, has been nominated as a finalist for the NSW/ACT Careers Adviser of the Year award. This nomination is the highest honour afforded to a small selection of Careers Advisers each year by the Careers Adviser Association of NSW and ACT who represent over 800 Careers Advisers from Government, Catholic and Independent High Schools in NSW and ACT.

The nomination recognises elite Careers Advisers who are excelling in the implementation and delivery of Career Development Education in their school as well as those who have dedicated their time to supporting their Career Adviser colleagues to deliver excellence in their own role.

Juliana Dignam

Juliana has worked tirelessly since being appointed to her role at St Edward’s in the organisation and implementation of a Careers Education and Vocational Training program which is of the highest quality. She is committed to ensuring that St Edward’s leads the way in this educational domain, constantly seeking opportunities to benefit our boys in their preparation of post school pathways. Her recent achievements include in 2023, the Inaugural St Edward’s Careers Expo which was held at the College earlier this year where exhibitors from University, TAFE, employment agencies, local companies in a range of trades and professions, the Defence Force and Police Services were exhibitors for Catholic School students on the Central Coast to attend. In 2022 Juliana introduced the Year 10 End of Year Pathways Program, mock interviews for Year 10 students with members of the local community volunteering to assist students in preparation for part time and full-time work and the introduction of a timetabled Careers Education program in Year 10.

Juliana has developed great connections and partnerships with many local industries and assisted many students in the attainment of apprenticeships. She coordinates our School Based Traineeships and the external study of courses though TAFE for students as part of their HSC pattern of study.

The ultimate winner of this award will be announced at a ceremony in October this year and we wish Juliana every success in this process.

Youth Community Service Award

It is with great pleasure that I inform our community that Joshua Judd of Year 12 has been selected to receive a Youth Community Service Award by the NSW Branch of the Order of Australia Association. The Award recognises NSW senior High School students who have shown commendable service to their local communities.

Joshua Judd

Throughout his time at St Edward’s College, Joshua has consistently gone above and beyond in his efforts to serve others. One notable example of his service is his extensive involvement with Coast Shelter from 2018 – 2023. Joshua has volunteered in the kitchen, dedicating his time to cooking and serving meals to the homeless and those sleeping rough. His compassionate approach and unwavering commitment have provided nourishment and hope to some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

In addition to his work at Coast Shelter, Joshua also volunteered as a surf life saver at Macmasters Beach Surf Life Saving Club from 2018 – 2023, actively contributing to the safety and well-being of beachgoers in our community. His selfless dedication to this vital role demonstrates his willingness to put the needs of others before his own. By committing his time and skills, Joshua has undoubtedly saved lives and contributed to creating a safer coastal environment for all.

Recognising the importance of caring for the elderly, Joshua has volunteered his time for nursing home residence visits in 2018 and 2019. By engaging in these visits, he demonstrated compassion and empathy towards the aged members of our community, brightening their days with companionship and genuine care. His involvement in such activities showcases his understanding of the value of intergenerational connections and the positive impact it has on both the residents and the wider community.

Furthermore, I would like to highlight Joshua’s remarkable achievement of completing over 100 hours of community service every year from 2018 to 2023 while studying at St Edward’s College.

Joshua will be presented this award by Her Excellency, The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of NSW at a ceremony at Government House in September.

On behalf of the whole St Edward’s community, I congratulate Joshua on this achievement.

East African Student Educational Sponsorship

On Friday August 18, the College has organised a 70^th Anniversary Founders Celebration to mark this important milestone. Students have been planning with their homeroom teachers a range of projects which will be on display on the day that foster a sense of community as part of this celebration. Students are asked to contribute a gold coin on the day, which will be donated to support a young East African boy named Frederick Were that the College has been sponsoring for the last five years. The money raised creates the opportunity for Frederick to attend a boarding school, providing him with a wonderful opportunity to break the poverty cycle that he has been born into. Below is a link to a video recorded by Frederick and his teachers acknowledging and thanking St Edward’s for the generous support that is offered.