I chose to become a leader because I am passionate about making a positive difference within the Catherine McAuley College Bendigo community. Throughout my time at the College, I have felt supported, encouraged, and inspired to grow, and I want to give back by helping others feel the same sense of belonging. Leadership allows me to live out the Mercy values through service, compassion, and courage, and to follow in the footsteps of Catherine McAuley by putting faith into action. I believe leadership is not just about guiding others but about listening, supporting, and creating opportunities for everyone to feel valued and heard.

As a leader at CMCB, I am passionate about strengthening our sense of community and helping students grow in faith, confidence, and compassion. I am especially enthusiastic about social justice, service, and encouraging students to live out the Mercy values in meaningful ways. I believe that when students feel connected and inspired, they are more likely to get involved and make a difference. I am committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, where every student feels supported, respected, and proud to be part of our Mercy community.

Throughout this year, I hope to inspire students to see faith as something active and relevant in everyday life. I aim to strengthen participation in faith-based initiatives, social justice activities, and College events, ensuring that all students feel invited and encouraged to be involved. I hope to help create opportunities for reflection, service, and connection that allow students to grow spiritually and personally. Most importantly, I want to contribute to a positive, supportive school culture where students feel confident to lead, serve, and make a meaningful difference.

I will engage and represent students by being approachable, respectful, and an active listener. I want students to feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns, and suggestions, knowing they will be heard and valued. I will communicate regularly with students across all year levels, encourage participation in College activities, and ensure that student voices are represented fairly in leadership discussions. By collaborating with staff and fellow leaders, I will strive to create a strong connection between students and leadership, helping to build a united and supportive school community.

In my role as Faith Captain, I would love to introduce initiatives that strengthen our Mercy identity and bring our community together. Ideas include ‘Mercy Moments’ at assemblies or on social media to highlight students living out the Mercy values, and a Faith Formation Day for passionate students at CMCB. I would also like to continue building connections with local organisations and parishes, creating more opportunities for students to engage in outreach and community service. These initiatives aim to encourage students to live out their faith through action and feel proud of the Mercy tradition we share.

One of the highlights of my leadership journey has been the opportunity to work with others who share a passion for service and community. Being involved in faith-based initiatives, social justice activities, and College events has allowed me to grow in confidence and develop meaningful connections. A challenge has been balancing commitments while ensuring I give my best to each responsibility, but this has helped me build resilience, organisational skills, and a deeper understanding of teamwork. Each experience has strengthened my commitment to leading with compassion and purpose.

It is a privilege to be part of such a supportive and faith-filled community. I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have been given at CMCB and am honoured to continue serving the College as a Faith Captain. I am committed to leading with kindness, courage, and integrity, and to ensuring every student feels included, valued, and inspired to make a difference. I hope to leave a positive and lasting impact by living out the Mercy values each day and encouraging others to do the same.

Rose McSweeney, Faith Captain

Being on the leadership team throughout my whole high school experience really motivated me to become a Faith Captain this year and is one of the best decisions I've made. I chose this role Captain because I have always been passionate about social justice and am constantly looking for ways to grow my own faith and support others around me. I believe everyone deserves equal opportunities to a faithful life which we can provide here at our College through living our Mercy Values of respect, compassion, courage, justice, service, and hospitality.

My main goal at CMCB for 2026 is to help our school become ‘active members in the community’. This includes both inside the College and beyond, in the wider public. We can do this if our staff and students work as a team and support each other to plan and participate in fun and charitable events. A recent highlight was the 2026 Caritas launch in which students from Years 10 to 12 represented the College at Hargreaves Mall for Shrove Tuesday. I would love to see this continue, especially for our 150 years events which will be happening throughout the year and will encourage everybody to join in this journey as a part of my leadership role. The Year 12 leadership team will also be working closely to connect the junior Coolock Campus and St Marys senior campus, to enlighten and role model for the younger years, in which my goal will be to spark faith in like-minded students.

A highlight of my role so far is the amazing team I am so privileged to work alongside with this year, both the leadership staff and students. I work most closely with Faith, Mission and Community Assistant Principal, Mrs Cara Pawsey, and Faith Captain Rose McSweeney. Rose and I have been on this journey together for the past five years and have travelled as far as Sydney to spark faith through the 2025 Ignite Conference. We will continue to work side by side for the years to come.

Overall, I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to represent our College’s faith this year and challenge everyone to embody our mercy values alongside me. I hope I can become a great role model, as so many have done before, and inspire others to be fulfilled with the faith that is all around us.

Chloe Vincent, Year 12 Faith Captain