How Year 10 Students are Growing Through the AMSSA Student Conference
What does it look like when young people are invited to lead with compassion, courage and purpose?
Six Year 10 students have just begun their journey in the 2026 Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA) Student Conference, a national Mercy gathering already inspiring deep reflection on service, leadership and what it means to live Mercy each day.
Lianne, Gia, Skye, Elisa, Charlotte and Talitha joined students from Mercy schools across Australia and New Zealand for the first session of the conference. Delivered online via Zoom, the program also included teacher-led workshops, giving students the opportunity to engage more deeply, share ideas and connect in person.
Guided by this year’s theme, Shining Lamps: Be the Light of Mercy, the conference invites students to explore how compassion, justice, courage and service can be lived out in their own communities.
When Mercy Becomes Action
The opening session, Mercy in Motion: Turning Compassion into Action, challenged students to see Mercy not just as an idea, but as something lived through action. They engaged with a national keynote online, connected with peers in small breakout Zoom group discussions, exploring how Mercy is already present within their own community.
This first session laid a strong foundation for the journey ahead. It helped students develop a shared understanding of Mercy identity while building connections with others across the wider Mercy network. For these Year 10 students, it marked the beginning of leading with purpose, listening to diverse perspectives and recognising how their actions can make a difference.
What Happens Next
Over the coming months, participants will continue their journey through three additional sessions on 27 May, 24 June and 26 August. Each session will deepen their understanding, from exploring how young people live Mercy in everyday life to engaging with social justice issues. They will also be encouraged to step into leadership as lights of Mercy in the world.
As the program unfolds, there will be opportunities to turn ideas into action, bringing the Mercy story to life within the College and beyond. For these young women, this is just the beginning of a meaningful journey in leadership and service.
- AMSSA Student conference, Catholic Girls School, Featured, Mercy Education, Mercy Values, Santa Maria College, Service Learning, social justice, Student Leadership, Student Voice, Year 10 Leadership
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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