On Monday the 6th of October, students across our school were lucky to take part in a special Hockey Victoria clinic right here on our school grounds!

Throughout the day, trained coaches from Hockey Victoria worked with each class to teach the fundamentals of hockey in a fun, safe, and engaging way. Students learned how to correctly hold a hockey stick, control and pass the ball, and even had the chance to play some exciting mini-games to practise their new skills.

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces, enthusiastic participation, and teamwork on display. For many students, it was their first time trying hockey – and they absolutely loved it!

We would like to say a huge thank you to Hockey Victoria for providing this amazing opportunity. The clinic not only helped students build their confidence and coordination, but also introduced them to a fantastic new sport that they may not have tried otherwise.

Singing, Spirit, and Sunshine: Andrew Chinn Ignites Columba!

What an absolutely magnificent day we shared at Columba on Monday, October 13th, as we were blessed with a visit from the incredible Andrew Chinn! The energy, the joy, and the spirit he brought to our school were truly infectious, creating an unforgettable experience for our students and community alike.

For those unfamiliar with his work, Andrew Chinn is a celebrated Catholic singer-songwriter whose vibrant and engaging music has touched the hearts of countless children and families across Australia and beyond. Known for his catchy tunes, meaningful lyrics, and dynamic performances, Andrew has a unique gift for making faith come alive. His songs are deeply rooted in scripture and Catholic teaching, yet presented in a way that is incredibly accessible and enjoyable for young people. He truly helps us bridge the gap, showing our students that Church and faith can be an active, joyful, and musical part of their lives, deeply connected to the teachings they learn in the classroom.

Our students had an absolute blast working with Andrew throughout the day. Students from all year levels embraced the opportunity to learn new songs, participate in actions, and share in the joy of music-making. Andrew’s ability to connect with each child, encouraging their voices and spirits, was a true testament to his passion for sharing the Good News through song.

And then came the afternoon! The community turnout on the basketball courts was simply amazing. It was heartwarming to see so many parents, grandparents, and parishioners gather to share in the celebration. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as everyone joined in the singing and dancing. It truly felt like our Columba family had come together in perfect harmony.

We must also give a special mention to the weather – it was absolutely perfect! Glorious sunshine, a gentle breeze, and clear blue skies made for an ideal setting for our outdoor concert. It truly felt as though God was with us, blessing our gathering with such a beautiful day. The entire day could not have gone better, a testament to the wonderful spirit of our community and the profound impact of Andrew's visit.

A massive thank you to everyone who came along and made the afternoon concert such a resounding success. Your presence added so much to the joy and spirit of the occasion. We are so grateful for artists like Andrew Chinn who help us make our faith journey an engaging, musical, and deeply connected experience for our students.

Footy Day 2025 

The new social media age restrictions hub is where to find information about the upcoming social media delay.

Visit the hub to find:

 info about the social media delay

support for families to manage the change

 insights from consultations with industry experts, researchers, and the public

 frequently asked questions

info on downloading your content before Dec 10.

The age restrictions are likely to mean a big change for many under-16s, so they may feel a range of emotions – including being upset, worried, frustrated, confused, sad or angry.  

Some may binge on social media use now, before the restrictions start, and find it harder than usual to switch off. Others may become more secretive about their social media use and less likely to ask for help from a trusted adult if things go wrong.

As a parent or carer, you can support your child by talking calmly and openly about the age restrictions. This includes asking how they use social media now, helping them understand how the law might affect them, and guiding them to prepare for the change.  

eSafety has developed sample conversation starters for parents and carers, as well as a Get-ready guide for helping under-16s prepare for the change. The guide has tips for helping under-16s find other ways to connect with friends, keep up with their interests, express themselves, learn about things and be entertained.

We understand families and households have their own agreements and approaches to being online and using devices, and that every child is different.  

You know your child best. Keep in mind their age, developmental stage, emotional readiness and individual needs when talking about the age restrictions.  

Also, if you’re caring for children of various ages you may need to handle the issue in different ways. Discussing it with everyone together and setting shared expectations can be helpful, or you may find it’s better to have separate conversations.  

What matters most is creating a safe space for under-16s to feel heard, supported and empowered to make ‘switching off’ age-restricted social media accounts as stress-free as possible.  

Here are some tips:

• Lead with empathy, letting them know you understand their feelings.
• Ask them how they currently use social media.
• Talk about the new law and what it means.
• Explain that the restrictions are to protect them, not punish them.
• Talk about the sorts of risks the law aims to help them avoid. These include spending too much time on screens and being over-exposed to negative and harmful content – which can impact their sleep, stress levels, attention and wellbeing.
• Focus on what they can still do online and offline.
• Reassure them they can always come to you or another trusted adult to talk about their concerns.
• It’s OK to try again later if the talk has not gone very well. Lots of little chats are often more effective than one big conversation.

Remember, the aim of delaying account access until 16 is to give young people more time to develop important digital, social and emotional skills before facing the risks of age-restricted social media accounts.  

You can use the extra time to teach them about healthy online habits and the importance of responsible online behaviour – and model them yourself (see our tips in the conversation starters). That way they will be better prepared for social media account access when they turn 16.  

You can also explore our content for parents and carers on a range of topics, including using parental controls and managing screen time.

Other helpful advice about discussing the social media age restrictions is provided by headspace (Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation) at Information for family about the social media banExternal link. 

You're not alone. Many parents and carers are worried about how under-16s will react to no longer having access to social media accounts.  

It’s common for tensions to rise when people are coping with change – especially if they don’t want it to happen. Boredom can cause stress and irritability, too.

Also, it’s likely that many under-16s will have siblings, friends or classmates who are older and still using social media accounts – or know other under-16s who are trying to get around the law. This may cause resentment and conflict within social groups and families.

It can be even more complicated if there are different approaches and rules in different homes or settings where your child is cared for, or in their friends’ homes.  

It’s important to keep the focus on your child’s wellbeing, remembering that conflict can be stressful for them too.

You don’t have to work this out on your own.

You can try the suggestions in these FAQs: ‘What can I do now to help my family prepare?’ and ‘I don’t think my child will cope with losing important connections and support. What should I do?’

You can also check in with other parents, your own friends, the communities you belong to and your child’s school. It may even be possible to come up with ideas together that ease the pressure for everyone.

For example:  

• talk with other parents or carers about the age restrictions, including their expectations, how they feel about the change and how they’re approaching it with their own children  
• share the information you’ve learnt from eSafety, to help others understand what’s happening, why, and what they can do
• set clear agreements – for example for sleepovers or shared device use
• organise joint activities or events to help relieve the boredom for under-16s withdrawing from social media accounts
• check in with each other regularly to stay aligned and discuss what to do about problems.

If things become too difficult to manage, there’s help available – for your child, your family, and for you.

If you or your child are at risk of harm right now call Triple Zero (000).

These are some other options:

• Counselling and support services  
• Kids HelplineExternal link
• ParentlineExternal link
• Raising Children NetworkExternal link
• Family Relationships Advice LineExternal link
• A family mediation serviceExternal link
• Your child’s school counsellor  
• Your local doctor or community nurse

It may be useful to seek professional help as a parent – ReachOutExternal link has advice (including talking with someone you trust, a counsellor or online support service, or a community forum). It also has coaching for parents and carers of teensExternal link and advice on dealing with family conflictExternal link and helping young people cope with change

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT

https://www.esafety.gov.au/