Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 5
Year 7 & Year 10 Immunisations
The School-Based Immunisations team will be attending Thursday 12 March for Year 10 students (Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination) and Monday 23 March for Year 7 Students (Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccinations).
Parents have received email communication and will need to complete an online consent form for their child prior to the day. The consent form is available here.
Y7-12: Marcellin Guild Swimming Carnival
On Thursday 19 February, the Newman College community descended on the Perth High Performance Centre in Mount Claremont for the annual Marcellin Guild Swimming Carnival — and what a day it was!
The day got off to an unforgettable start with the inaugural Synchronised Swimming event, led by our Year 12 Class of 2026. It was a brilliant and creative way to open the carnival, drawing cheers and laughter from the crowd and immediately setting the mood for a wonderful day ahead.
The competition that followed showcased the very best of Newman College. Our Year 7s threw themselves into their first Secondary Carnival with great enthusiasm, while older students brought intensity and skill to every race. Guild pride was evident across the entire venue all day long. The standout achievement of the day was the remarkable breaking of 10 records — a reflection of the hard work and dedication our students bring to their sport.
Congratulations to Marcellin Guild, who claimed the Champion Shield, and to Chisholm Guild, who took home the Spirit Shield.
A huge thank you to our Guild Coordinators, Guild staff, the Physical Education team, and Ms Sara Kononen for delivering such a fantastic event.
Year 9: The Rite Journey — Calling & Departure Ceremony
On the evenings of Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 February, our Year 9 students gathered with their families at City Beach Oval for a truly special occasion — the Rite Journey Calling & Departure Ceremony.
The Calling Ceremony invited students to pause and reflect on their childhood — the people who loved and cared for them, the experiences that shaped them, and the community that raised them. As the sun set over the ocean behind them, students were called to acknowledge all of this with gratitude before beginning to say goodbye to childhood and stepping forward into young adulthood.
The most powerful moment of the evening came during the Departure. After each student received their personal Declaration, parents and loved ones placed a hand on their child’s shoulder — a gesture of love and support — before giving them a gentle push forward as a blessing for the journey ahead. Students then stepped forward themselves, reading their Declaration aloud and accepting the challenge of becoming young adults.
It was a deeply moving experience for students and families alike, and a reminder of just how significant this stage of life is.
Our Year 9 students are now on their journey — supported by their weekly Rite Journey sessions, regular challenges, and the community around them.
Thank you to every parent/caregiver, student and staff member who attended and made this ceremony so meaningful.
Year 12: The Ball
On Wednesday 25 February, our Class of 2026 gathered at the stunning Fraser’s Restaurant, Kings Park, for the Year 12 Ball — one of the most cherished and momentous occasions in the Newman College calendar.
The students looked amazing, and the evening was filled with celebration, joy, and hope for the year ahead. Our Year 12s are to be congratulated on the way they conducted themselves throughout the night, reflecting the values of our College with pride.
A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Lara Ognenis, Leader of Wellbeing Year 12, and all of the Year 12 PCG teachers for their tremendous work in organising such a fantastic and memorable event.
State Sporting Achievement
Congratulations to the following student for the state recognition in their sport:
- Ruby Hankinson (Year 12). The Gymnastics WA Awards Night was held in February, where Ruby was honoured as the Aerobic Gymnastics National Level Athlete of the Year — This was a fitting way for her to retire from gymnastics after 13 years.
State and National Representation is an honour and an important stepping stone in an athlete’s journey. We commend these students for their dedication and commitment to their sport. If your child has achieved state or national recognition in their sport or extra-curricular activity, we would love to hear about it so we can celebrate their success. Please let us know the details by filling out this form. https://forms.office.com/r/qaCxCYLNX6
Mrs Anna Scanlan
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11
For students thinking of attending University
- TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: https://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/video.tisc
- Here is a parents guide to University: https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1099446/ECU-Parents-Guide.pdf
- And here is the “First in Family” resource, for students who might be the first in their family to attend University: http://firstinfamily.com.au/
- Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you: https://infocus-careers.com.au/2024/02/20/year-11-how-to-approach-university-open-days/ or this one: https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/open-days
New TAFE course for Term 2
North Metro TAFE have offered a TAFE course (1 day per week) commencing in Term 2. This course is Certificate II Sport (Developing Athlete). Eligible students must be currently participating in competitive sport and belong to a club or group in which they are involved in regular interaction with coaches, club staff and volunteers. Please email Mr Farley if interested.
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 12
Key dates for TAFE and University applications for 2027
For those students applying for TAFE for 2027, applications will open in September of this year and close in November of this year. You will be advised of this at the time.
For those students applying for University for 2027, early applications (early offers) will open in June and you will have until mid-December to lodge your application. Closer to the time you will be provided with instructions and further information about applying.
Year 12s are welcome to come and collect (and keep) any of the University handbooks that are on the table near my office. These can be very helpful in making your choice.
Alternatives to University
Did you know that University is not the only place you can obtain a degree? There are several alternatives here in Perth:
- SAE: Offers degrees in things like Animation, Audio, Game Development, Creative Industries. https://sae.edu.au/
- ACAP: Offers degrees in things like Psychology, Criminology, Social Work. https://www.acap.edu.au/
- EIT: Offers degrees in Engineering, IT, and Renewable Energy. https://www.eit.edu.au/
Applying for Medicine or Dentistry for 2027
All students who wish to enrol in Medicine or Dentistry in 2027 (including Assured Pathway at UWA and Notre Dame) will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year.
Please see below for some important dates:
- 3 March 2026: UCAT bookings open
- 15 May 2026: Deadline to book your UCAT for 2026
- 12 June 2026: Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT booking
- 1 July 2026: UCAT testing begins
- 5 August 2026: Last test date
- September 2026: Results available
You can check https://www.ucat.edu.au/ for further information, practice tests, and tips to succeed. It is recommended to book a UCAT as early as possible as demand for testing places is high.
UWA
The official handbook for entry to Medicine at UWA can be found at this link and Dentistry at this link. Please note that Medicine and Dentistry at UWA are postgraduate courses and require completion of a relevant Bachelor degree prior to entry.
Curtin
Curtin University offers the only direct entry medical program in Western Australia. In 2025, the cutoff ATAR for this course was 93.
In addition to the UCAT, students considering applying for Medicine at Curtin University are also required to sit the CASPER Test. Further information about CASPER can be found here: https://acuityinsights.app/ and here: https://www.nie.edu.au/products-listing/category/56-casper-test-preparation
The official handbook for entry to Medicine at Curtin can be found at this link.
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame offers a small number of places in postgraduate Medicine via an assured pathway for school leavers. Information about this option can be found here:
https://www.notredame.edu.au/programs/school-of-medicine/postgraduate/doctor-of-medicine-wa
University information
- TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: https://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/video.tisc
- Are you the first person in your family to attend University? This might assist: http://www.firstinfamily.com.au/
- Here are some useful tools to prepare students for the transition to University: https://unireadytoolkit.com.au/
- Here is a parents guide to University: https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1099446/ECU-Parents-Guide.pdf
- This resource is a place where you can ask current University students questions about their University courses:
https://course-consultants.com/
University scholarships
| Curtin University | Search scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia |
| Edith Cowan University (ECU) | ECU | Overview : Scholarships |
| Murdoch University | Scholarship finder (murdoch.edu.au) |
| Notre Dame University | Find a Scholarship | Notre Dame |
| University of Western Australia (UWA) | The University of Western Australia : Scholarships (uwa.edu.au) |
| Christian Leaders Scholarship | https://ichthys.org.au/christian-leaders-scholarship/ |
Gap year information
Students interested in taking a gap year in 2027 might find the following interesting:
- Defence Force Gap Year: https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/careers/gap-year?page=2&perPage=21&query=
- And: https://infocus-careers.com.au/2022/07/13/leaving-year-12-these-gap-year-ideas-may-interest-you/
- Also this Marist volunteering opportunity: https://maristyouthministry.com/bridge-builders
UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS
If you are thinking of attending a University Open Day, this link might help you get the most out of it: https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/open-days