At Aquinas College, Character Education isn’t confined to a single classroom or lesson – it’s woven throughout the fabric of school life. Two recent events highlighted this commitment, as our Year 9 and Year 10 students engaged in experiences designed to strengthen empathy, challenge stereotypes, and empower them to be positive forces for good in their communities.

Year 9 students explore important topics

As part of their Odyssey journey, Year 9 students took part in a thought-provoking seminar delivered by White Ribbon Australia titled You Can Ask That. This important initiative provided a safe space for boys to explore the foundations of respectful relationships, gender equality, and healthy masculinity.

Through open dialogue and practical strategies, the boys examined:

• The drivers behind violence and abuse towards women.
• How to speak up when witnessing disrespectful behaviour.
• How to model respect and support equality in everyday life.

A cornerstone of the Odyssey program, the interactive presentation helps students reflect on their personal values and the type of young men they are becoming. In peer groups and open discussions, they considered the real-world impact of their choices and were encouraged to take action for justice, empathy and respect.

Year 10 Father and Sons share empathy in action

Building on this journey, our Year 10 students and their fathers or father-figures gathered for “Empathy in Action: Empowering Young Men,” a powerful evening also facilitated by White Ribbon’s Dean Cooper.

The session invited families into a deeper conversation around character, respect and responsibility. Through shared storytelling, reflection, and honest dialogue, the boys and their mentors explored what it means to be a good man—at home, among friends, and in the wider community.

Dean challenged harmful cultural norms and reframed violence prevention as a shared responsibility. He encouraged participants to see empathy not just as a feeling, but as a deliberate choice that can shape relationships and drive change.

Educating Good People

Whether with their peers or alongside their families, these opportunities help Aquinas students to understand that true strength lies in compassion, integrity, and the courage to stand for what is right.

We are grateful to the families who took part in these experiences and to White Ribbon Australia for continuing to walk with us in this vital formation of our young men. As part of our mission to educate boys who are prepared to shape a better world, these moments of reflection and growth are developing future leaders who will meet the world with character, conviction and compassion.