Together with Santa Maria College, Catholic Earthcare and Caritas Australia, Aquinas College created a rare opportunity for students to gather for education and formation to prepare themselves for action and advocacy towards a sustainable future for life on Earth. On Friday 3rd September, Aquinas College hosted student delegates from a range of schools from Broome to Australind.

The most natural way to gather and begin our time together was to acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. This Mt Henry Peninsula is an ancient Country, it is not a static backdrop to our endeavours, it is an active participant. The lands and waters on which the Aquinas College community studies, works and lives have been cared for and brought to life for thousands of generations. We acknowledged this ongoing sacred connection and the elders - past, present and emerging - that embody this sacred relationship.

While there was a range of guest speakers and input from professionals in the sector, the day was specifically designed to be about young people coming together. It was a Youth Summit – allowing young people to work together to find their voice in the quest for a more sustainable way of living. It was the youth that were the stars of the day – their ideas, passions, hopes and commitments to future action and advocacy. It was three young facilitators that organised the sessions and discussions. It is never easy to bring together over fifty delegates from eleven different schools and create an atmosphere where everybody feels comfortable to share ideas freely. Yet, Tobias, Sascha and Gabi, students from Aquinas College and Santa Maria College, kick-started a series of sessions to get the delegates talking and sharing ideas. Once underway, the room was abuzz with youthful energy and ideas.

All of the participating schools have students (and staff) that are committed to moving beyond the acknowledgement of the unsustainability of current practices and moving into being part of the required changes. This is not simply a logical reaction to facts; this is also a reflection of our faith and the kind of life we are called to lead. The opening prayer was led by Bishop Don Sproxton and the students ensured that Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ was also part of the landscape within which all the day’s deliberations were conducted.

It is one thing to want change, to know what you think about caring for the earth but the 2021 WA Youth EcoSummit was a rare time to consider what might it actually mean for Catholic Schools to be examples of change in their own practices and also to be agents of change for others. As the day entered its final phase, student representatives gathered in their own school groups to discuss the ideas they have heard throughout the day and begin to dream and scheme their own ‘where to from here?’ plans and commitments. We are confident that the event has stirred good ideas, deep discernment and a sense of solidarity between over fifty Perth students to be part of the required change. We have heard the ‘cry of the earth’ and are willing to respond.