Issue #10
18 Sept 2026

With Term 3 nearing completion, it is time to say goodbye to our VCE-VM and non-scored Year 12 students as they complete their formal classes. Our VCE-VM students will return to the College for exit interviews with staff, providing an opportunity to reflect on their year of schooling, their experiences, and the knowledge and skills they have developed along the way.

Our scored VCE students are entering an important period as they prepare for their VCAA examinations. During the October holidays, students will complete compulsory practice examinations, providing valuable feedback to help them identify areas for further revision and preparation. At the beginning of Term 4, scored Year 12 students will return to school and participate in revision sessions within their timetabled classes until Celebration Day on 20 October. Following this, students will return to the College for four revision sessions each week until their respective VCAA examinations.

While we farewell our Year 12 students, we are also looking ahead to 2027. Subject selection is now complete, and the School Operations team is currently constructing the timetable. While the College aims to accommodate as many student preferences as possible, the complexities of timetable construction mean that we cannot always meet every request.

Nevertheless, this is an exciting time for our students as they increasingly take ownership of their learning pathways. The subjects they have selected represent an important step in shaping their future, allowing them to pursue areas that align with their interests, strengths and career aspirations.

I wish all students a fantastic holiday break and look forward to welcoming them back to school for Term 4. It is an exciting time of the year, with the weather warming up and the opportunity to spend more time outdoors becoming even more appealing. I hope our students take the opportunity to relax, recharge and enjoy the break before returning refreshed and ready for the final term of the school year.

Term 3 and 4 Key Dates

Learning Walks – Student Involvement

Our Learning Walks continue to provide valuable opportunities to reflect on teaching and learning across the College. A particularly positive development has been the involvement of students in the Learning Walk process, ensuring student voice is part of our conversations about effective classroom practice. Having students participate provides a different perspective on what engagement, challenge and effective learning look and feel like from the learner's point of view. This work continues to strengthen our culture of collaboration, reflection and continuous improvement.

Curriculum Day – Refine and Refocus 2.0

Our recent Curriculum Day provided an important opportunity to continue the work of Refine and Refocus 2.0. A significant focus was providing teachers with dedicated time to work collaboratively, reflect on current practice and further develop the initiatives being implemented across the College.

Providing genuine collaboration time is important to ensuring our improvement work moves beyond planning and becomes embedded consistently in classroom practice. Staff were able to work together, share expertise and maintain a clear focus on improving learning experiences and outcomes for our students.

We also celebrated our fantastic NAPLAN results and rewarded the hard work of staff with a morning tea.

Year 12 VM – Journey Through Education Presentations

Our Year 12 Vocational Major students recently completed their Journey Through Education presentations, marking an important milestone for the first group of students to progress through our new VM program.

The stories shared by students were honest, reflective and inspiring. Students spoke about their secondary school experiences, challenges, achievements and the people who have helped shape their journey. It was particularly rewarding to see how proud students were to walk their families and teachers through their experiences.

Two highlights were the students' reflections on their secondary schooling and their letters of invitation to a person who had significantly influenced their educational journey. These presentations demonstrated the relationships and personal growth that sit alongside academic and vocational achievement. We are extremely proud of this first cohort and what they have achieved through the VM program.

Drama Club Performance

The recent Drama Club performance was another wonderful opportunity to see our students succeed in a very different environment. The performance highlighted the importance of providing a broad range of opportunities for students to discover where they belong and where their strengths lie.

Particularly pleasing have been the stories of students who may previously have been disengaged or reluctant to participate at school finding confidence through Drama Club. Seeing students come out of their shell, perform in front of an audience and experience genuine success is a powerful reminder that engagement can take many different forms.

Matinee Performance

The Drama Club performed a special matinee of their show ‘Portal’ to around 200 students from Bell Park North and Holy Family Primary Schools. It was fantastic to have both schools in the audience and to give our students the opportunity to perform in front of a full crowd the day before their main event.

VCE Art Exhibition

The VCE Art Exhibition provided an impressive showcase of the creativity, skill and commitment of our senior students. The quality and diversity of the work displayed gave students an opportunity to celebrate the culmination of significant effort throughout their VCE studies.

It was also an opportunity to recognise the considerable work occurring behind the scenes. We are proud not only of what our students have produced, but also of the expertise, encouragement and commitment of our teachers who support students to develop their ideas and produce work of such a high standard.

Western Chances Scholarships

This year, the College has submitted six new applications for Western Chances scholarships. We have identified students who demonstrate strong academic ability and commitment to their education, excellent attendance and genuine financial hardship.

Western Chances works with high-achieving and motivated young people across Melbourne's west and the City of Greater Geelong who face financial barriers to their education. Scholarships can assist with practical educational expenses such as laptops, textbooks, internet access, calculators, specialist equipment and other learning needs.

Importantly, Western Chances is about more than financial assistance. Their support can continue beyond secondary school into TAFE and tertiary education for students who remain eligible, while their broader opportunity programs provide young people with experiences that can develop skills, confidence, leadership and professional networks.

Our relationship with Western Chances therefore provides an opportunity to support talented and motivated NGSC students not just with their immediate educational needs, but potentially throughout the next stages of their educational journey. We look forward to hearing the outcomes of our six new applications later this year.

Senior Sub School News – The Finish Line Is Getting Closer!

Where has the year gone?

It feels like only yesterday we were welcoming our senior students back for 2026, and suddenly we are approaching the end of Term 3. For our Year 12 students, the finish line is very much in sight, while our Year 11 students are beginning to get their first taste of being the leaders of the Senior Sub School in 2027.

There is plenty happening as we head into the final part of the year, so here is what has been going on around the Senior Sub School.

Year 12 VCE – From SACs to Revision

For our Year 12 VCE students, the SACs and coursework are almost done!

 After what has been an incredibly busy Term 3, students will soon make the important shift from completing coursework to preparing for their final VCAA examinations.

Early next term, students will move into a new revision timetable designed to make the most of these final weeks. Classes may start to look a little different, but the expectation remains exactly the same: turn up, use the time well, work with your teachers and keep asking for help.

There is a temptation when the final SAC is handed in to feel like the job is finished. It isn't quite yet!

The hard work completed throughout the year has put students in a position to succeed. The next few weeks are about consolidating that work, identifying gaps and walking into each examination knowing they have given themselves every opportunity to perform at their best.

Practice Exams – Rehearsal Before Opening Night

Our Year 12 VCE practice examinations will take place during the first week of the September school holidays.

While coming to school during the holidays may not sound like everybody's idea of a relaxing break, these exams are an incredibly valuable part of preparation for the real thing.

Students get the opportunity to practise under examination conditions, work on timing and experience what it is like to complete a full VCAA-style examination. More importantly, the feedback that follows gives students and teachers a final opportunity to identify where improvement can still be made.

Treat the practice exams like the real thing. Prepare properly, arrive on time and give them your best effort. It is much better to discover what needs fixing during the rehearsal than on opening night!

Year 12 VM – Finishing Strong

For our Year 12 VM students, the finish line is getting very close as well.

Students are now working towards completing their final outcomes and preparing for their end-of-year interviews. These interviews provide an opportunity to look back on just how far they have come, reflect on their achievements throughout the VCE VM, and talk about the skills and experiences they will take with them beyond school.

For many students, their senior years have included much more than time in the classroom. VET, Structured Workplace Learning and applied learning experiences have helped students develop skills, confidence and connections that will support their next steps into employment, apprenticeships, further training or study.

The message for our VM students is the same as it is for our VCE students: you are nearly there, but nearly there isn't finished! Keep attending, complete those final outcomes and make these last few weeks count.

Year 11 – You're Nearly the Year 12s!

Things are starting to get very real for our Year 11 students too.

Students have recently selected the design for their 2027 Year 12 jumper, which is always one of those little moments where next year suddenly starts to feel much closer.

Before we know it, this group will be walking into school as our new Year 12 cohort and taking on the responsibility of being the senior student leaders of the school.

There is still plenty of Year 11 to go, though, so don't mentally graduate just yet! The habits students establish now around attendance, punctuality, coursework and study will follow them into Year 12.

Finish this year strongly and give yourself the best possible start to 2027.

Year 12 Camp 2027 – It's Getting Closer!

Planning for our 2027 Year 12 Camp is now in its final stages, and things are starting to get exciting.

Students will shortly be asked to nominate up to four people they would like to share a dorm with while we are away. Dormitories can accommodate up to ten students, and while we cannot guarantee that every request will be possible, we will do our best to make sure everyone has someone from their list with them.

Camp is a fantastic way to begin Year 12 together. It gives students an opportunity to spend time with their friends, build connections across the cohort and start what will be a very important year on a positive note.

More information about camp, including final arrangements, consent and payment through Compass, will continue to be provided to students and families.

And yes, choosing your dorm mates is important. Choose wisely. You will have to live with them!

Attendance, Punctuality and Signing In

As we get closer to the end of the year, it can be easy to start relaxing some of the routines that have served students well throughout the year. Please don't. Students should continue arriving at school and classes on time, and following the correct processes when signing in or out of the Senior Sub School . For Year 12 students in particular, there may only be a small number of regular classes remaining, but every lesson and every revision opportunity now matters.

The finish line being visible isn't an invitation to start walking.

Uniform – Yes, We're Still Talking About It

We know Melbourne weather likes to keep everybody guessing, but our uniform expectations haven't changed with the forecast.

Senior students are expected to attend school in full school uniform and continue to set the standard for younger students.

Year 11s, particularly as you begin moving towards Year 12, this is part of becoming the senior cohort of the school. Leadership isn't just the Year 12 jumper. It is how you conduct yourself while wearing it.

Finish Strong

For our Year 12 students, there are now only weeks remaining in a journey that began many years ago.

Enjoy these final weeks with your friends. Thank the teachers and families who have supported you. Take some photos, have a laugh and enjoy being a Year 12 student while you still can.

But don't stop working yet.

For our Year 11 students, your turn is coming much faster than you probably realise.

There is still plenty ahead for both cohorts, and we look forward to sharing these final weeks of 2026 with you.

Have a safe and enjoyable Term 3 break, and we will see everyone ready to go for the final term!

Celebrating Leadership and Future Pathways

It has been another busy and positive month in the Middle Subschool, with a number of exciting opportunities and achievements for our Year 9 and Year 10 students. This month, I would particularly like to acknowledge our students who have demonstrated leadership, explored future career pathways and embraced opportunities to challenge themselves outside the classroom.

2027 - Year 9 Leadership Scholarships

It was wonderful to recently announce the recipients of the Year 9 Leadership Scholarships for 2027. These scholarships recognise students who have demonstrated excellent leadership and communication skills, initiative, and a genuine passion for motivating, guiding, supporting and leading their fellow students.

The Leadership Scholarship provides significant support for the successful students throughout their Year 9 journey, covering a range of school-related expenses and opportunities. This includes eligible extra-curricular activities, booklist items, the NGSC Core Subjects Digital Bundle, the school yearbook, an upgrade of their current Chromebook, year-level camps, excursions, and a full set of summer, winter and sports uniforms. The scholarship also includes a blazer and tie, with the tie being optional.

Congratulations to our four successful Year 9 Leadership Scholars for 2027:

• Ngoc (Nhu-Y) Pham

• Jack Francis

• Prisha Prisha

• Heldana John

This is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful recognition of the leadership qualities these students have already demonstrated. I would like to congratulate all four students and wish them every success as they take on this exciting opportunity in 2027 and beyond.

Year 9 – Geelong Tertiary Futures Program

Our Year 9 students will also soon be participating in the Geelong Tertiary Futures Program (GTFP) through The Gordon. This is a valuable program designed to give students greater insight into tertiary education, vocational pathways and the wide range of careers available to them in the future.

Across a multi-day program, students will participate in an induction before undertaking a range of Career Previews. These sessions provide students with the opportunity to experience different areas of study and work, helping them to make more informed decisions about their future subjects and pathways.

As students will be participating in practical Career Previews, it is important that they come prepared with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Depending on the Career Preview, students may require enclosed shoes, long pants, long sleeves or steel-cap safety boots. The Gordon will provide safety glasses and some steel-cap boots where required, although students are encouraged to bring their own steel-cap boots if they have them.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our Year 9 students to step outside the traditional classroom environment and begin connecting their interests and strengths with potential future pathways.

Year 10 – Rubicon Camp

Fourteen of our Year 10 students, alongside two NGSC teachers, recently participate in the Rubicon Camp.

The Rubicon program provided our students with an opportunity to challenge themselves, develop independence and resilience, work collaboratively and engage in experiences that are very different from their everyday school environment. Experiences such as this are an important part of supporting students to develop the confidence, skills and self-awareness they need as they move towards their senior years of schooling and beyond.

Hearing about the students' experiences and the challenges they embrace during their time at Rubicon was an absolute highlight of the year.

Looking Ahead

It is pleasing to see our Year 9 and Year 10 students continuing to take advantage of the many opportunities available to them at NGSC. Whether through leadership, career exploration or challenging themselves through new experiences, these opportunities play an important role in helping our students develop as confident, capable and independent young people.

Rubicon Camp

Junior Sub School

As Term 3 comes to a close, we would like to wish all our Junior School families a safe,happy and restful school holiday break. We hope that students and families enjoy some well-deserved time to relax.

Year 7 Zoo Excursion

Our Year 7 students had a fantastic day at the zoo! Students enjoyed exploring the zoo, learning about a range of animals, and developing their understanding through real-world experiences. It has been wonderful to see students link their experiences from the excursion to their follow-up learning in science classes, demonstrating how learning can extend beyond the classroom.

Celebrating Achievement

Our Term 3, Week 6 Progress Reports highlighted outstanding achievement, with over 90 students attaining an average score above 3.5. Congratulations to the following students who achieved a perfect score:

• Maddison McKenzie

• Jay Garlick

• Madelena Bienfait

• Ana Buncic

R U OK Day

Our Year 7 students came together for a special R U OK Day Connect Session, providing an opportunity to talk about mental health, wellbeing and the importance of looking out for one another.

A very special congratulations to Amina Abdulkadir Maalim, who showed incredible courage by standing in front of approximately 200 of her peers to deliver a speech she had written herself about the importance of mental health. Amina should be extremely proud of herself for using her voice to raise awareness and encourage others to have important conversations.

Uniform Reminder

Finally, a reminder that all students are expected to attend school in full and correct school uniform each day. We appreciate the continued support of families in ensuring students arrive at school dressed appropriately and ready to learn.

Academic Uniform:

• Blazers must be worn to and from school, on excursions and when representing the College (unless reports of extreme heat)
• White collared shirt (short or long sleeve) or plain white polo shirt (short or long sleeve)
• College dress (no shorter than 8cm above the knee)
• College skirt (no shorter than 8cm above the knee) – optional black tights/stockings underneath
• Grey trousers/tailored slacks (not denim, cargo, corduroy or flares – must be unbranded)
• Grey shorts (not denim, cargo, corduroy or flares – must be unbranded)
• College jumper – black with red trim
• NOTE: PE jacket cannot be worn as part of the academic uniform

PE Uniform:

• Track pants or shorts – black with red trim
• NOTE: College PE pants/shorts with the logo can still be worn
• NGSC College polo
• College soft-shell sport jacket

R U OK Day - 9th September 2026

It was great to celebrate R U OK Day last week. At NGSC, we highlighted the importance of checking in with each other during a Connect Lesson where a video from the SRC showed how NGSC students can seek help for their mental health and who can support them when at school you can find a copy of the video below.

As part of this Connect lesson, our Year 12 students shared some donuts over a conversation about how they are feeling as they come to the pointy end of their studies. Thanks to Ms Martin for organising this opportunity for our Year 12’s to reflect on how they are travelling at a busy time.

We also hosted some lunchtime activities for students to build their skills to check in with each other and take an opportunity to show gratitude for the people in their lives who look out for them.  

Remember, a conversation could change a life - here are the steps of how to ask R U OK?

Thanks to our Year 12 Captains

This week in our Whole School Assembly, we thanked our Year 12 Captains for their contributions to the College this year - they have been great leaders amongst our SRC Area Groups and excellent role models to the broader school community.

On behalf of the SRC, I would like to thank Louis, Tanishka, Maria, Julia, Ezra and Lila for all of their hard work and wish them all the best for what is to come!

Connect News:

We have had a large focus this term on gratitude in our Connect Lessons and around the school. To build on this idea of gratitude at home, you could attempt this take-home activity from The Resilience Project.

Celebrating Term Three and Looking Ahead to a Grand Final Term!

Term Three has come to an end, and spring is now well and truly in the air! With beautiful spring blooms, sunny days, and plenty of outdoor activities on offer, the upcoming holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to relax, recharge and enjoy some well-deserved time together.

As we prepare for the final term of the year, excitement is building for what promises to be a grand and eventful Term Four.

Multicultural Festival – Friday, 23 October 2026

On Monday, 7 September 2026, we held our final Multicultural Committee meeting for the term. Our focus was firmly on the detailed planning of NGSC’s grand annual Multicultural Festival, taking place on:

Friday, 23 October 2026 -Theme: “Many Cultures – One Community”

This year’s Festival is especially significant as we celebrate NGSC’s 60th Anniversary. It will be a wonderful opportunity to bring our school and the wider Greater Geelong community together to celebrate the rich multicultural tapestry that makes our community so vibrant, diverse, and unique.

Each year, we aim to raise the bar — and 2026 will be no exception!

So, please spread the word among your community, neighbours, family, and friends. Mark Friday, 23 October on your calendar — this is a Festival not to be missed!

Let us all come together to celebrate “Many Cultures – One Community” and enjoy the spectacular range of activities, entertainment, cultural experiences, and community connections on offer.

Our Famous Homemade Cake Stall Is Back!

A much-loved Festival tradition is returning once again — our Renowned Homemade Cake Stall!

Always popular and in high demand, the Cake Stall is one of the highlights of our Multicultural Festival.

We are once again looking forward to Dragana’s generous assistance. Dragana, a dedicated former student, and parent, helped establish this wonderful Cake Stall tradition more than three decades ago. Her ongoing generosity and enthusiasm continue to delight us with an amazing selection of delicious homemade cakes and treats.

To help make this year’s Festival another glorious success, we are once again seeking your generous support for our Traditional Homemade Cake Stall. Your generosity is always greatly appreciated!

If you have a love or talent for baking — or are simply happy to prepare and contribute a homemade treat — we would be delighted to receive your generous donation.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to all the staff, students and community visitors who support the Cake Stall by purchasing these much-loved treats. Without your support, this wonderful tradition would not be possible.

The dedicated Cake Stall team has already made a great start with preparations, and we look forward to sharing a delicious selection of homemade culinary delights inspired by the many cultures represented within our school community.

Together, let’s continue the tradition of making our Cake Stall “the best homemade cakes in Greater Geelong and beyond!”

Next Multicultural Committee Meeting

Monday, 12 October 2026
Time: 12:40 PM – 1:30 PM

Agenda Focus: Final touches to Multicultural Festival planning

The Multicultural Committee warmly welcomes ideas and contributions from students, staff, parents, and community members. Your ideas, support and involvement are highly valued and help make our Festival such a wonderful community celebration.

Stay tuned for further updates — or better still, join us at our next meeting and be part of the planning!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Vera Dudas
Multicultural Community Liaison Officer

International Student Program

What a busy Term this has been for our International Students. From our Annual Excursion to Melbourne to our Term Cooking event, all of these have been eventful but above all enjoyable and FUN, to say the least!

For the Term 3 cooking event what was on the menu? Parmi’s of course.

By the international students participating in these excursions together as a class, it provides them with opportunities to build friendships, develop intercultural understanding, and create shared experiences. Furthermore, by being a part of these activities together, the international students can strengthen their sense of belonging, improve communication and teamwork, and above all, confidently develop supportive social networks.

Two points that highlighted these events were:

1.  Building confidence and learning from one another - by experiencing new places and activities together.

2.  Creating shared memories that strengthen relationships beyond the excursion for wonderful friendships.

Meet the School Chickens

At NGSC we have a ‘Chook Club’ where students learn about poultry care, animal welfare, feeding and egg collection, coop maintenance, biology and sustainable agricultural practices. 

Below is a profile on each of the chickens in our coop at North Geelong:

Breed: Hy-line Brown

Acacia - A bossy leader in the flock who commands authority and likes to be respected. She can jump very high and is fiercely competitive when food or grass is around.

Janet - A snarky and dominant bird who loves food and acts selfishly. She insists on controlling the pecking order and jumping high for treats.

Madamme Clucksalot - A strong-willed chook who demands authority over the other chickens. Greedy for food, she will stop at nothing to get her hands on fresh grass.

Nessie - An assertive bird who takes charge as one of the bosses in the pecking order. She can jump very high, is snarky, and is eager to claim all the food for herself.

Eggers - A selfish and bossy chicken who commands respect from the group. Constantly searching for grass and food while keeping others in check.

Breed: Australian Pit Game Bantam (Blue)

Dawn - A very small, active, and remarkably fast bantam. Refuses to be pushed around by larger birds and always stands up for herself.

Sunny (aka Speedy) - A fast, muscular, and highly observant bird who can get very hyper. Extremely friendly toward the Pekins and stays alert to her surroundings.

Breed: Pekin (Brown Red)

Willow - A very shy bantam who is smaller in size than Birch. Gentle, timid, and reserved around the rest of the flock.

Birch - The older of the Pekins, known for being very quiet, friendly, and calm when held. Spends the majority of her time in the yard hanging out with the rooster.

'The Rooster’ - King of the flock. Favourite hobby is staring at walls, is very friendly and looks after his ladies.

Help for Displaced Baby Magpie

After some strong winds on the morning of Thursday 3^rd of September, staff and students stumbled across a displaced magpie chick in the school grounds. Baby was reported to Bannockburn Wildlife Rescue, rescued, assessed and contained while a Tree Climber from Wildlife Victoria was called to put baby back into its 5-metre-high nest. Mother magpie was glad to be reunited with her chick and promptly began feeding it some much-missed food. 

We are pleased to report mother, father and baby are all doing well.

Alumni News

Last week, Evelyn Wiese (Class of 2006) returned to deliver a session to the Year 12 VCE Vocational Major Work Related Skills classes on the topic of transferable and interview skills. The Year 12s have just finished presenting their 'Education Journey' to parents, staff and friends. They will take part in their exit interview during the first week of next term. Many will be seeking holiday employment so the interview tips imparted by Evelyn should come in handy! Evelyn has held a couple of positions in Human Resources and so is well placed to talk about skills employers are looking for. She is currently the Human Resources Manager for Parks Victoria. After spending eight years in a private company she is enjoying the challenge of the extended rigour in government departments. Evelyn spoke about investigating prospective employment opportunities to ensure they were the 'right fit' for each individual. She mentioned that, even with the use of AI to assist in the generation of possible responses, it was important to plan and practise answering questions - sometimes even in front of a mirror or friends!

Her advice - "Whatever decision you make, you will work to make it the right decision"

Thanks, Evelyn, for returning to NGSC to give the Year 12 cohort some tips for their final weeks. 

If you would like to be a part of the alumni community, please get in touch (alumni@ngsc.com.au) or 

BodyKind August

Our school proudly took part in BodyKind August, promoting positive body image, confidence and kindness towards ourselves and others. Students explored these themes through activities in Connect classes and during weekly lunchtime activities.

Each week focused on a different theme: Speak, Nourish, Move and Nurture. During Speak Week, students and staff wore odd socks to celebrate our differences. Students also enjoyed the BodyKind Question Wheel and wrote positive letters to their bodies.

Nourish Week featured a shared soup lunch, while Move Week included a fun and friendly student-versus-staff futsal match, encouraging students to see movement as enjoyable and social.

During Nurture Week, students took part in mindfulness and creative activities, including Mindful Colouring, Positive Affirmation Bookmarks and Key Chain Making.

BodyKind August was a wonderful opportunity for our school community to celebrate uniqueness, practise self-kindness and learn how we can support positive body image and wellbeing.

Gardening Group

This term, our Gardening Group got underway, and we have already made great progress! Students began by clearing one of our original garden beds and problem-solving how we could have our garden in the same space as the chickens. After some planning and discussion, we decided to create a new gardening space. Students have been busy weeding, clearing, planting and researching what we need to grow a successful garden. We have planted a range of seeds and seedlings, including carrots, cucumbers, radishes, zucchini, beans, sugar snap peas, snow peas and beetroot.

We also learnt about companion planting and which plants grow well together. Students used scale drawings to carefully plan our new garden beds, considering the space each plant needs to grow.

Our gardening group has now built four new garden beds, which have been filled with fresh soil and are nearly ready for planting. Students are excited to see their seeds and seedlings continue to grow and look forward to planting them in our new garden.

A big thank you to everyone who has helped with planning, building and caring for our garden so far. Our seedlings are growing quickly.

We are looking forward to watching our garden grow and seeing what we can harvest!

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now Open!

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open! Get in quick as applications will close at 10am on 13 October or earlier if the budget allocation is fully exhausted.

If your family or child has a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, you may be eligible for up to $200 to put towards the cost of your child’s participation in sport and active recreation activities.

Important Dates:

Round 11 open to apply for a voucher or reimbursement: 10am on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 and will close 10am on 13 October or earlier if the budget allocation is fully exhausted.

Reimbursement expenditure dates: from 1 May 2026 to submission of application​

Vouchers expiry date: Tuesday, 27 April 2027.

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and active recreation activities by providing financial support for the cost of membership and registration fees. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.

Special consideration also applies for children residing in care services, as well as temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants, or international students.

To find out if you are eligible, how to apply, what costs are covered and more, visit www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers

School holiday fun at the Library

The Geelong Regional Libraries have you covered these school holidays with a variety of sessions from creative technologies to art, craft & sewing.

• Craft a fabric badge
• Getting your first part-time or casual job
• Colour photography challenge
• Metaquest VR session
• Moment of mindfulness for youth
• Youth Mix

For more information: Events - Geelong Regional Libraries

🌸 Geelong Youth September Holiday Programs

Geelong Youth have a variety of FREE programs for young people aged 12-25, all held in supportive and safe spaces across Geelong. There will be an Excursions, Drop Ins, Training and Development, Events and more!

Young people are welcome to attend programs across all locations and programs are free with meals or snacks provided!

Head down to get in on the action!

📍 The Nest Youth Hub, 17 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, 3220

📍The fOrT Youth Centre, Corner of St Georges and Melbourne Road, Corio, 3214

Want more information? Contact the team!

📞 5272 5272

📧 youthadmin@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Activities may be changed due to reasons beyond our control. Other activities may become available or be postponed to a later date. Please check our socials before attending in case of cancellations.

Youth Festa-Fair! 🎉

A fun, free and local event these school holidays, with young creators, live entertainment, hands-on activities and more.

📍 Geelong West Town Hall

📅 Tuesday, 29 September 2026

⏱️ 11.00am–3.00pm

💰 Free entry

👥 Ages 12–25+

🍔 Light refreshments available

🎟️ Two raffle prizes worth $150 each

Hosted by the City of Greater Geelong Youth Council, Youth Festa-Fair is proudly supported by the Victorian Government through the Youth Fest Grant Program.

Preparing for Schoolies

Many students are looking forward to celebrating the end of secondary school with their friends at schoolies celebrations.

In Victoria, schoolies will run from Saturday 28 November to Saturday 12 December. Schoolies celebrations can go beyond these dates across Australia and overseas.

We encourage parents and carers to speak early and openly with their child about their plans for schoolies. This includes any travel plans.

This can help them to think ahead, make safer choices and know what to do if something goes wrong. It may help to talk about alcohol and other drug use, sex and consent, personal safety, and what to do in an emergency.

You may talk with your child about other risks and staying safe while travelling overseas. The deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, 2 Victorian teenagers who died from methanol poisoning while travelling in Laos in 2024, are a tragic reminder of why this is important.

Useful resources for families and young people

We encourage you to talk about and share these resources with your child:

• Raising Children Network, for advice on how to help students plan for and stay safe during schoolies
• Better Health Channel, for advice on partying safely at schoolies
• Alcohol and Drug Foundation, for advice on staying safe at schoolies and information on potential alcohol and drug harms when travelling
• Victoria Police, for advice on staying safe at school leaver celebrations. The page includes videos about sexual assault, illegal drugs and road safety
• Red Frogs Australia, a volunteer group that helps young people stay safe and seek help at events like schoolies, with tips and advice for students and families including a 24/7 hotline during schoolies
• Smartraveller, for advice on overseas travel for school leavers and partying safely
• Doctors without Borders, for information on methanol poisoning for travellers
• MethaKnow methanol awareness Instagram page, to help raise awareness about methanol poisoning. 

The festival offers Vietnamese-Australian students an opportunity to reconnect with their language, identity and heritage. It also allows students from all backgrounds to experience Vietnamese traditions, develop intercultural understanding and celebrate Geelong’s diversity.

We also welcome expressions of interest from students who would like to:

• Volunteer with event preparation or activities
• Participate in a musical, dance or cultural performance
• Assist with welcoming guests and supporting children’s activities
• Represent a school cultural or multicultural student group
• Contribute ideas to future VPG youth programs

Students interested in volunteering or performing must contact VPG in advance so that appropriate roles, consent and supervision arrangements can be confirmed.

We would be grateful if your school could share this invitation and event poster through its newsletter, Compass, student bulletin, social-media channels and relevant student groups. We would be especially pleased for the invitation to reach student leaders, multicultural groups, international students and students studying Vietnamese or interested in Asian cultures.

Please register to attend via Humantix- https://events.humanitix.com/2026-mid-autumn-festival. Expressions of interest in volunteering or performing can be sent to vietnamese.people.of.geelong@gmail.com by Sunday 20th September 2026.

Thank you for helping us connect young people with culture, community and one another. We would be delighted to welcome your school community to the festival.

myLearners Free driving lesson

Saver plus can support families with education cost.

With spring now here, many students look forward to participating in sports, extracurricular activities, and school holiday programs.

We understand how quickly budgets can be stretched, with the cost of sports uniforms, equipment, club fees, music lessons, camps, or after-school programs.

These are important activities that help children feel connected and part of their school and community.

Saver Plus can support families with education cost.

Saver Plus, a free financial education program, that can help ease the financial pressure, which many families face with the rising cost of living.

Eligible families can receive up to $500 in matched savings, they also gain practical money skills through free online money minded workshops, helping them feel more in control of their finances.

Eligibility includes:

Having a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card.

Having a child in school or starting school next year or studying by themselves.

Having a regular income (from work, partner, or eligible Centrelink payments).

These opportunities can make a real difference in helping students feel connected, included, and able to participate in school and community life.

We would be very grateful if you could share Saver Plus with families through your school newsletter, parent bulletin, or other digital communication channels.

We are also happy to provide flyers or ready-to-share information for your school community.

Thank you for supporting us reach families, who may benefit from the program.

Okinawa Japan Festival is coming to Melbourne!

Experience the culture of Okinawa in Melbourne!

How much do you know about Okinawa?

Located in the far southwest of Japan, Okinawa was once an independent nation known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. This history has given the islands a distinctive culture, with traditions that differ in many ways from mainland Japan.

Beyond its famous beaches, Okinawa is known for its traditional arts, music and dance, as well as a unique food culture often associated with the region’s reputation for longevity.

This October, you can discover some of that culture right here in Melbourne at Library at the Dock.

Ground Floor – FREE Cultural Kids Activities | 11:00am–3:00pm
Drop in and discover more about Okinawan culture. This part of the event is free to attend.

Level 2 – Okinawan Music & Dance | 2:30–4:30pm
Enjoy a special program of traditional Okinawan music and dance performances.

Only 100 seats are available for the performance!
The Level 2 performance is ticketed and limited to just 100 seats. Door sales may not be available, so if you'd like to attend, we strongly recommend purchasing your ticket in advance as soon as you can rather than waiting until the day.

Whether you’re from Okinawa, already love the islands, are planning a trip to Japan, or simply want to discover another side of Japanese culture, this is a lovely opportunity to experience Okinawa in Melbourne.

Saturday 3 October 2026

Library at the Dock, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands VIC 3008

Free cultural activities: 11:00am–3:00pm – Ground Floor

Music & dance performance: 2:30–4:30pm – Level 2

Performance ticket required – only 100 seats available

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1560303

メルボルンで沖縄の文化を体験！
沖縄について、どのくらい知っていますか？
日本最南西端に位置する沖縄県は、かつて**琉球王国（Ryukyu Kingdom）**という独立した王国で、現在も日本本土とは異なる独自の歴史や文化、伝統を持っています。

美しい海だけでなく、伝統芸能、音楽、踊り、そして長寿とも深く結びついた食文化など、沖縄には魅力がたくさんあります。

10月にDocklandsの Library at the Dock で開催されるこのイベントでは、そんな沖縄の文化をメルボルンで体験できます！

Ground Floor – 無料文化体験 | 11:00am–3:00pm
沖縄文化を紹介するエリアです。こちらは無料で参加できます。

Level 2 – 沖縄音楽＆舞踊 | 2:30–4:30pm
沖縄の伝統的な音楽や踊りのパフォーマンスを楽しめます。

パフォーマンスは100席限定！
Level 2のパフォーマンスはチケット制で、座席数はわずか100席です。当日券（Door Sales）が販売されない可能性もありますので、参加したい方は当日まで待たず、できるだけ早めの事前購入がおすすめです！

沖縄出身の方はもちろん、沖縄が好きな方、これから日本や沖縄への旅行を考えている方、日本の地域文化をもっと知りたい方にもおすすめです。

2026年10月3日（土）

Library at the Dock, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands VIC 3008

無料文化体験：11:00am–3:00pm – Ground Floor

沖縄音楽・舞踊：2:30–4:30pm – Level 2

パフォーマンスはチケット制・100席限定

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1560303

North Geelong Centre

Located at North Geelong Secondary College

Just a quick update on the situation with VSL / LOTE learning. Many of our students attend school on a Saturday morning to learn a language. The VSL is running all classes through on-line learning, as are day-schools; the lessons are running at the usual time on a Saturday. The VSL teachers contacted each class member prior to the commencement of this term in regard to the electronic platform being used and instructions to access those. If any of our students or their parents/guardians have questions about this, please contact the class teacher first (if possible) and then make all enquiries through the VSL head-office.

The Victorian School of Languages is a specialist government school offering complementary language instruction outside of regular school hours. It enrols students in Years 1 to 12, who are unable to study their language of choice in their mainstream school. Students from all educational sectors (Government, Independent and Catholic) are eligible to enrol.

The Victorian School of Languages offers quality courses aligned with Government curriculum standards, based on communication skills, that include speaking, reading, writing and listening. Its VCE Program is fully accredited and can advantage students in the calculation of their university entrance score.

The school`s Language Program is delivered through online teaching in over 40 Language Centres situated in government Secondary Schools across the state, and through Distance Education mode.

In North Geelong, classes are held on Saturday mornings between 9:00 am and 12:15 pm online.

Languages offered:

Croatian, Karen, Vietnamese, Dari, Persian, Polish, Macedonian, Bosnian, Turkish and Russian

*New languages may be offered subject to demand*

For enquiries Telephone: 5277 9833

Further details and enrolment are available online at our website: www.vsl.vic.edu.au

Discover the World of Languages!