Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 7
Neurodiversity & Harmony Week: 16–22 March 2026
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
This week, Newman College joined schools and communities around the world in celebrating Neurodiversity Celebration Week — a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences, and helps us all understand, value, and celebrate the talents of neurodiverse minds.
This year’s theme, “Working together to create a world that understands it takes all kinds of different minds,” reflects our commitment as a Marist community to welcoming every person and the unique gifts each one brings.
During the week, our secondary students had the opportunity to explore what neurodiversity means through a range of engaging activities in Founders Court. Students took part in Walk in My Shoes, stepping into the experience of others and sharing their reflections on our dedicated reflection wall. They also tackled Unlock the Puzzle — a dyslexia-style letter scramble challenge designed to give students a firsthand sense of how text can appear differently to neurodiverse readers. Our Memory Madness games rounded out the week with fun, thought-provoking activities exploring how different minds process and retain information.
Harmony Week
Every year, the third week of March invites Australians to pause and reflect on what makes this country truly special. Harmony Week is about more than just celebration. It is a reminder that inclusiveness, respect, and a genuine sense of belonging are values we must actively live out — not just acknowledge. Every culture represented in our community adds something irreplaceable to who we are as a people.
This week, our students engaged with these ideas in meaningful and age-appropriate ways through our Equip, Guide, and Thrive lessons. Students were invited to explore important topics including racism, microaggression, and diversity within our own community — not as uncomfortable subjects to shy away from, but as conversations that empower young people to become more aware and courageous members of society. We are proud of the thoughtfulness and maturity our students brought to these discussions.
Harmony Day falls on 21 March, which also coincides with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is a powerful reminder that celebrating diversity must go hand in hand with a firm and ongoing commitment to standing against racism in all its forms — in our classrooms, our corridors, and our wider community.
We encourage our families to continue these conversations at home, celebrating the cultures and stories that make your family unique, and affirming in your children that difference is always something to be embraced.
Year 11 EGT Programs: RAC bstreetsmart
On Wednesday 1 April, Year 11 students will be attending the RAC bstreetsmart event at RAC Arena. This event aims to demonstrate the consequences of distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and informs students on how to reduce risk taking behaviours. Further information has been communicated with families via Consent2Go.
Student Early Departures:
If your child needs to be collected prior to the end of the school day for a scheduled appointment or another approved reason, please ensure that you have contacted the College beforehand. As students do not have their mobile phones on them during the school day to receive reminder messages, it is imperative that they know what time they are to meet you at Student Reception in order to minimise disruptions to classes. Thank you for your support.
Absentees can be contacted via email absenteesecondary@newman.wa.edu.au or on 9204 9445.
Mrs Anna Scanlan
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 10
Year 11 prerequisites for 2027
Year 10 students and families have now received the prerequisites for Year 11 subjects at Newman College for 2027. This is to allow for goal-setting in time for the Semester 1 Year 10 report. Prerequisites for Year 11 2027 can found HERE.
A summary of the different pathway options for Year 11 and 12 can be found HERE.
In Term 2, all Year 10 students will commence their subject selection research, in preparation for Year 11 2027.
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11
Selecting Year 12 subjects
Please see below a summary of the rules for selecting subjects in Year 12, 2027:
- Students who select a Year 12 ATAR subject must have achieved at least 50% in that ATAR subject in Year 11.
- Students who select a new Year 12 ATAR subject in Year 12 (not having studied that subject in Year 11) will be required to seek permission.
- Students with a predicted ATAR of less than 70 will not be permitted to continue the ATAR Pathway in Year 12.
- Students who have an ‘E’ grade in a Year 11 General subject will not be permitted to re-select that General subject in Year 12.
- For students wishing to enter the UniReady or UniPath Programs in Year 12:
- If coming from the ATAR Pathway in Year 11, students must have passed at least 4 Year 11 subjects.
- If coming from the General Pathway in Year 11, students must have a ‘B’ grade or better in at least 4 Year 11 subjects, including English.
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/
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
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 or Veterinary Science 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
Veterinary Science
Students wishing to enter Veterinary Science at Murdoch will need to undertake the Casper testing during 2026, by June at the latest. Further information can be found here: https://www.murdoch.edu.au/schools/veterinary-medicine/study/admissions/casper-situational-judgement-assessment
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