College News

Over the last few months, the national conversation around social media and young people has grown louder and more urgent. Families, schools, researchers and policymakers all seem to be asking the same question: How do we protect our children in an online world that’s evolving faster than any of us can keep up with? With the new regulations that came into effect on 10 December, under-16s now face tighter restrictions on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. For many families, this shift will…

At St Augustine’s College, we believe that the ability to write thoughtfully and purposefully is one of the greatest gifts we can give our students. Writing allows boys to express ideas clearly, think critically, and connect deeply with the world around them - both now and in the future. Building Strong Foundations in Writing In the Primary School, we’ve adopted a structured and evidence-based approach to writing known as the Writing Rope (Sedita, 2019). This model breaks down the writing…

Choosing the right school for your son is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. In Australia, parents are fortunate to have many options - Catholic, Independent, Government, coeducational, and single-sex schools. Each brings its own strengths, and every family ultimately chooses what feels right for their child. At St Augustine’s College, families often ask what makes a boys’ school different. Why a school for boys? And why now, when education is changing so rapidly? The answer isn’t…

Talking to your son about the tricky things like emotions, friendships, relationships, sex, drugs, or mental health can feel uncomfortable for any parent or carer. Most of us already know these conversations matter, but knowing how to start (or when to start) is another thing entirely. And honestly, that’s normal. At St Augustine’s College, we try to see these moments a little differently. They’re not just awkward hurdles to tiptoe around - they’re meaningful opportunities. When boys learn to…

Recently, our Year 7 and 8 students explored two of life’s most powerful skills: humility and the art of a genuine apology. In their AWE lessons, they discovered that these aren't just abstract ideas, but practical tools for building stronger, more respectful relationships - in the classroom, on the sports field, and at home. Here’s what they discovered: Humility isn't about being small; it's about being grounded. The boys learned that it takes real strength to admit a mistake, to truly listen…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than a buzzword, it’s part of the world our boys are growing up in. Much like the arrival of the internet or smartphones, AI is reshaping how we learn, work, and interact. At St Augustine’s College, we’re not shying away from this change. Instead, we’re choosing to meet AI and other digital learning tools head on with care, curiosity, and a clear focus on what’s best for our boys. A Thoughtful Approach to AI in Learning For our senior students, especially…

In August, our Snow Sports team headed to Perisher in the Snowy Mountains to compete in the Interschools Snow Sports State Championships. It was a proud moment for the College, with our largest team to date taking part. The Championships have been running since the 1980s and continue to offer students across Australia a chance to experience the excitement and challenge of snow sports. This year, around 1,800 students from nearly 240 schools across NSW, ACT and Queensland came together at…

In early August, St Augustine’s College hosted Music Festival Week 2025, a celebration of musical excellence, creativity and community spirit. This year’s festival once again brought students and staff together through a full program of performances, workshops and collaboration for all of our year levels. The vibrant program of events was designed to highlight the diverse talents of our students, which demonstrated teamwork, vertical integration, and a shared sense of purpose. All these…

Parenting young children, tweens, and teenagers inevitably means navigating strong emotions - theirs and often our own. When a young person reacts with frustration, anger, stress, or overwhelm, it can be difficult to know how best to respond. Dr Dan Siegel*, a highly renowned clinical professor of psychiatry, has developed a simple way to explain the science of what’s happening in the brain during those intense moments. This is now widely recognised as ‘the hand model of the…