Social Justice

“Last year, I got the chance of a life time to travel to South Africa. The objective of the visit was: Practical Service, Awareness of Issues, Cultural Exploration and Exchange of Ideas and Practice.  In reality, it was so much more!  Volunteering at Hospitals and Orphanages was a major highlight. It was amazing to see how simple activities such as reading, playing games and, simply, just loving them helped to make these children feel so special…something that I will never forget”.   Libby – Year 12 2009

Camberwell has developed a social justice program for years 7-12.  Its focus is not primarily on helping those less fortunate, but also on raising consciousness of injustices in the world and empowering students to take action to redress injustices.  The key goal is education…to educate and encourage a lifelong empathy and action, with the aim that each student will continue to have a social conscience beyond her days at Camberwell.
Every year, each year level chooses an organisation or project with a particular focus.  Students collectively decide on how to best respond to the needs of their organisation.  Each year level hosts their own assembly to bring their project to the attention of the entire School and to increase awareness.  They then organise an event for the benefit of their project.
All students are encouraged to become involved in their year level project and also get the opportunity to work on whole School projects.  There are Social Justice Committees for each year level, as well as three Social Justice Captains who assist the Year Level Committees in coordinating their projects.  The Social Justice Captains are also responsible for organising Social Justice Week – an entire week dedicated to social justice initiatives.
Our social justice priorities reflect our school motto with its emphasis on service (ministerium), our mission statement of ‘educating tomorrow’s woman’, and the school’s core values of integrity, commitment and respect. Our aim is that students will become more aware of issues of social justice, and become advocates and leaders, throughout their lives, in action for a more equitable world.