The Seeds of Justice Conference brought together Mercy schools and affiliated colleges from across Victoria to explore social justice issues surrounding refugees and immigrants. Inspired by this Jubilee Year’s theme, Pilgrims of Hope, we reflected on how Mercy schools can help make Australia feel like a more welcoming and inclusive place for refugees, and how we can build stronger connections with our communities.

The schools that attended the conference included Sacred Heart College Geelong, St Aloysius North Melbourne, St Joseph's College Mildura, Mercy College Mount Lilydale, Emmanuel College Warrnambool, Our Lady of Mercy College Heidelberg, Padua College Mornington Peninsula and Academy of Mary Immaculate Fitzroy.

This experience allowed us to listen to often unheard voices and let them speak up about how they feel and the stories that impact them to this day. The journeys of these people enabled us to further understand the misrepresentation of refugees, particularly through the media and in education, and how they believe that we, as a whole community, can assist them in feeling welcomed and accepted.

An enlightening address on refugee law was given by the well-regarded Dean of Melbourne Law School, Michelle Foster, a refugee and international lawyer. Michelle Foster provided clarity on certain definitions of what a refugee is and how the law sets out to help them. Her presentation brought useful and unforgettable insights into what our next steps as a Mercy School could be. Furthermore, we became further educated through the five speakers within the Mercy community who shared their experiences with refugees. During this panel session, we were able to empathise and connect more deeply with those who have faced many challenges, all concerning the topic of refugees.

A highlight of the conference was gathering together outside before dinner, with many of the students from a range of the schools that attended, and playing the guitar while singing all together. We all felt very connected, as we all came together, without judgment and enjoyed each other’s company. It felt like we all belonged, and even though we came from different places, we were all connected by the same purpose - wanting to make a difference.

During a time for reflection, we were encouraged to share what each of the schools’ initiatives are and how we can work collaboratively to make a difference within our communities and educational settings. The conference has inspired us to speak out about the stories of refugees, even within our own communities, and to share the experiences that have shaped their journeys.

Evelyn Downie and Mathilda Garrido Lucay, Year 11