The Aquinas College Faith Formation Plan is an invitation that propels us with hope toward a deeper closeness with God and with one anothera future marked by radical inclusion, authentic relationships and wholeness. Our spiritual growth is not simply a program to complete, but a journey of opening ourselves to God’s transformative love.
As St Thomas Aquinas reminds us, ‘The soul is like an uninhabited world that comes to life only when God lays His head against us.’
In this spirit, our Faith Formation seeks to make space for God to dwell within us, awakening our hearts and bringing our community more fully to life.
At the heart of our sacred story is the Mystery of the Divine whom we call God, breathing life into all creation and drawing us toward wholeness. By entering into and immersing ourselves in this story, we encounter that Mystery and become participants in God’s ongoing work of transformation.
Our Faith Formation is animated by three dynamics from the Edmund Rice Education Australia Formation Framework ‘The Good Seed Will Grow’, shaping how we live our mission today:
• Moved by the Spirit Grounded in prayer, contemplation and discernment, inspiring openness to God’s vision.
• Alive in Relationship Building solidarity and dialogue across cultures, fostering inclusive and life-giving relationships.
• Called to Liberation Acting prophetically for justice, ecological sustainability and systemic change. Together, these dynamics guide us in becoming a community fully alive in faith, courage and compassion. As we live this journey together, may it inspire and energise us to enrich contemporary expressions of the Edmund Rice charism.
VISION STATEMENT
Inspired by Gospel values, and in the spirit of Edmund Rice, we seek to be people of Faith, Character and Excellence.
MISSION STATEMENT
Aquinas College, as a Catholic school in the tradition of Edmund Rice, offers a Liberating Education, based upon a Gospel Spirituality, within an Inclusive Community committed to Justice and Solidarity.
We enable our students to be the best they can be in all that they do and inspire them to become men who serve and lead others with courage, compassion and integrity.
One God, One Founder - Three Values
Faith in Action We journey in our faith and express it by living the Gospel values through life and prayer.
Character in Life We enable our students to understand, value and embody virtues such as integrity, respect, kindness, resilience and responsibility for self and others.
Excellence Every Day We strive to challenge our College community by focussing on holistic success and providing opportunities for boys to achieve their best.
In alignment with Edmund Rice Education Australia Formation Framework ‘The Good Seed Will Grow’, Aquinas College affirms the following principles:
1. Formation transforms hearts and minds, fostering deep encounter with God.
2. Formation is a canonical responsibility and a mandated priority for sustaining mission focus.
3. All members of our community will have access to formation opportunities.
4. Formation is ongoing, dynamic, culturally responsive and respectful of diverse spiritual journeys.
5. Formation integrates First Peoples’ wisdom and ecological consciousness, embracing Laudato Si’.
6. Formation balances professional responsibilities, family life and community engagement.
Our College’s Catholic tradition and Edmund Rice heritage is enriched by its connection with First Peoples and the wisdom of St Thomas Aquinas.
All of this comes to life on our unique site on the Mount Henry Peninsula beside Dyarlgarro Beelier (Canning River), a place of cultural and spiritual significance for thousands of years.
“We are not living an era of change, but a change of era.” Pope Francis
Aquinas College has a rich and proud history dating back to the establishment of Christian Brothers College Perth on St George’s Terrace in 1894.
Inspired by the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) Charter, we continue to be a vibrant community of faith where the Gospel is brought to life through learning, performance, sport and service.
Since its introduction, the EREA Charter has evolved as both a touchstone and a living document, guiding our mission as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition. Originally framed to articulate and safeguard the distinctive charism inspired by Blessed Edmund Rice, the Charter has been refined over time to respond to the changing needs of our community and the contemporary context of education.
At the heart of Edmund’s charism is his life experience, his courageous and radical response to the call of Jesus, and the opening of his heart to the mystery and fullness of life at the margins. The four Touchstones –Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Justice and Solidarity – remain central, providing clarity, relevance and practical direction.
In growing the mission of the Church through the lens of Edmund Rice education, we recognise the call to be bold, courageous, ambitious and riskaware – rather than risk-averse.
We honour our story and the example set by leaders such as Blessed Edmund Rice and Brother Ambrose Treacy, who were pragmatic, visionary and unafraid to respond to the needs of their time with conviction and creativity.
“Have courage, the good seed will grow...”
Blessed Edmund Rice
At Aquinas College, these Touchstones shape and inspire our Faith Formation Plan. They guide us to engage critically with our heritage, embrace diversity and inclusion, and respond to issues of justice both locally and globally. In doing so, they help us nurture faith, compassion and action – fostering a genuine relationship with God in each member of our community and encouraging us all to become our best selves in service to others.
Aquinas College is governed by EREA and also has an important system membership agreement with Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA), sharing in its mission to provide Christ-centred, child-focussed education. As part of this network, we uphold CEWA’s vision and values to strengthen our own commitment to faith, excellence and service in the Edmund Rice tradition.
Inspired by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, Aquinas deepens its commitment to ecological spirituality by recognising the sacredness of our unique environment on the banks of the Dyarlgarro Beelier.
Surrounded by natural bushland that we are privileged to steward, we are reminded daily of our interconnectedness with all creation. This landscape, rich in life, history, and beauty, invites us to listen more attentively to God’s presence in the natural world.
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” Pope Francis
Aquinas College proudly acknowledges and honours its deep-rooted Indigenous connections, recognising that it stands on ancient Whadjuk Boodjar, paying respect to Noongar Elders and committing to learning from their rich cultural, spiritual and historical legacy and memory.
Artistic and educational initiatives further express this relationship: the Indigenous sculpture featuring four shields and spears at the front of the College symbolises the significance of Dyarlgarro as a traditional gathering and teaching place for boys and men, while the Mural On Country in the Angelicvm, created by Indigenous students, features the Waugal and integrates boomerangs with the College crest, visually merging Christian faith and Aboriginal spirituality.
“There are deep springs within each of us.
Within this deep spring, which is the very Spirit of God, is a sound. The sound of Deep calling to Deep. The sound is the word of God - Jesus.”
Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann
Truth featured prominently in the teachings of St Thomas Aquinas, our namesake. His commitment to seeking truth through faith, reason and scholarship inspires our College community to do likewise. At Aquinas College, we honour his legacy by striving to discover, live and share God’s truth in all aspects of our lives.
Guided by faith and reason, we seek, live and share the truth.
The Aquinas College crest is an adaption of the Christian Brothers’ congregational crest. The star and the Celtic cross are the central features of the Aquinas crest: the star is the symbol of the light of knowledge and the cross is symbolic of the Christian way of life and our Irish heritage.
At our College’s heart is the Latin motto ‘Veritas Vincit’, which means ‘Truth Conquers.’ This phrase reflects our commitment to the pursuit of spiritual, moral and intellectual truth. It reminds us that in all things, truth prevails, and that our lives should be anchored in honesty, justice and the teachings of Christ.
Empowered by liberating teaching and learning experiences, we open our hearts and minds, so that we are hope-filled and free to build a better world for all.
We open hearts and minds to the fullness of life, encouraging each person to discover their unique gifts, given by God, and use them in service of others.’
At Aquinas, we seek to form young people who think critically, act compassionately and contribute meaningfully to society.
This commitment is evident in authentic and personalised learning pathways through myFUTURE, which offers school-based, TAFE, university, workplace and online learning experiences.
Justice, Peace and Advocacy programs challenge students to engage with real-world ethical issues, while project-based learning, leadership opportunities, the Academic Scholars Program and Character Education cultivate independent thinking and moral responsibility.
Our Inclusive Education Team partners with Telethon Speech and Hearing and CEWA to ensure that every learner can flourish, while sponsorship of initiatives such as the Anawim Foundation embeds service and justice at the heart of educational excellence.
Jesus’ invitation to love, justice, compassion, peace and faith calls us to life-giving relationships within our communities and the wider world.
We seek to nurture a deep and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, grounded in prayer, reflection and the living Word. Gospel Spirituality calls us to live with hope, humility and love, inspired by the life and teachings of Christ and the example of Blessed Edmund Rice.
Our spirituality is expressed in daily prayer and moments of quiet in classrooms, student-led liturgies and retreats that foster reflective growth, and Masses supported by the voices and music of our Schola Cantorum. College families are embraced as partners in formation, with parents invited to participate in liturgies and programs such as Parents as Partners in Formation, which explore themes like masculinity, compassion and justice in a Gospel context.
Our commitment to the living Word is strengthened through collaboration with agencies including Caritas and the Perth Catholic Archdiocese, and through ongoing staff faith formation and accreditation.
In all these ways, we continue the legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice.
We welcome and celebrate diversity in our local, national and global communities, responsive to each person’s aspirations and needs, and committed to the common good.
We seek to build a community where every person is welcomed, valued and respected. Inspired by the Gospel call to love one another, we celebrate diversity and foster a sense of belonging, ensuring that all members of our College feel safe, supported and included.
Our commitment to inclusion is embodied in programs and celebrations such as NAIDOC Week, Harmony Day and peer-support networks that nurture student wellbeing. The Indigenous Education team leads cultural engagement and student support, ensuring First Peoples’ knowledge and identity are honoured. Scholarships through MADALAH, staff training in safeguarding and the development of inclusive learning practices reflect a shared mission of dignity for all. Our partnership with local artists, including Noongar artist Bayley Wallam, whose designs feature in Indigenous-inspired College attire, symbolises our ongoing journey to weave reconciliation, cultural pride and respect into the heart of our identity.
We are committed to local and global justice and peace, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection, inspiring us to listen to, walk with, and learn from all creation, especially those who experience powerlessness.
We seek to stand in solidarity with the poor and marginalised, advocating for justice and peace in our world. We educate for justice by raising awareness, taking action and forming young men who are committed to making a difference. We are the instruments by which Christ’s love and compassion are manifested in the world.
At Aquinas, we live this mission through advocacy, service and formation that invites students to see the world through the lens of the Gospel. Programs such as the Year 8 Advocacy Night, Service Learning, Relay for Life and the She’s Someone Campaign challenge students to amplify empathy through action.
“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.” St Teresa of Avila
Local and global partnerships with organisations including the Edmund Rice Centre (Mirrabooka), ERA, Wheelchairs for Kids WA and ERA for Change foster solidarity with communities worldwide. Immersion experiences in the Philippines and the Kimberley expand worldview, while sustainability initiatives and environmental programs build commitment to ecological justice. In all of this, our students learn to be instruments of Christ’s compassion – people who work not only for others, but with them.
2026 - 2028
GOAL
Liberating Education: Each staff member to create one personal goal aligned to the Liberating Education touchstone.
Gospel Spirituality: Nurture and encourage the spiritual development of staff and students.
ACTIONS
Staff provided Liberating Education touchstone expressions and template to create a personal goal as part of their ongoing performance review.
TIMELINE
RESPONSIBILITY
SUCCESS INDICATORS
End of 2026
Director of Formation, Justice & Advocacy (FJA)
Staff demonstrate familiarity with the Liberating Education touchstone.
Build staff understanding of and confidence in prayer, and how to foster reflective and compassionate thinking in staff and students through prayer intentions.
End of 2026
Director of Spirituality
Universal format for prayer routine demonstrated at Monday briefing.
Gospel Spirituality: Continue to explore and increase meaningful opportunities for staff faith formation. Develop and implement program of formation opportunities aligned with liturgical calendar, eg. Lent & Advent reflection programs.
End of 2026
Director of Spirituality Program developed, published and begun.
“My fundamental priority is to do all I can to encourage our schools to remain Catholic in the deepest sense of that word by ensuring that the God of Jesus Christ is not an afterthought, or an inconvenient distraction, or an embarrassment, but is, in fact, the heart and soul of all that the Catholic school seeks to do and to be, in the local context in which it finds itself.”
Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB DD Archbishop of Perth
GOAL Gospel Spirituality: Students will engage in authentic service experiences that nurture a deep and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
ACTIONS Through reflection, prayer and action, students will express their faith by responding to the needs of others with compassion, humility and justice.
Justice & Solidarity: Students will develop moral integrity, empathy, and resilience through active participation in service that promotes justice and solidarity.
By engaging with diverse communities and reflecting critically on social and ethical issues, students will learn to act with courage, respect and a sense of responsibility for the common good.
TIMELINE 2026 onward 2026 onward
RESPONSIBILITY Director of Christian Service Learning (CSL)
SUCCESS INDICATORS To form men of faith who live the Gospel values in their daily lives.
Director of Christian Service Learning (CSL)
Creating men of character who serve and lead with compassion and integrity.
“Our lives can become a song of love for God, for humanity, with and for creation, and find their fullness in holiness.” Pope Francis
Justice & Solidarity: Students will demonstrate excellence in service by applying their knowledge, skills and Godgiven talents to create meaningful change in their local and global communities.
Service learning will encourage students to think critically, act creatively, and commit to lifelong service in the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice.
Justice & Solidarity: Students will develop ecological awareness through reflective experiences outdoors, sustainable practices, and learning that honours creation.
Service learning will affirm that caring for our environment is responding to God’s call to protect our common home.
2026 onward
Director of Christian Service Learning (CSL)
To empower students to become hopefilled, faith-inspired leaders who contribute to a more just and compassionate world.
2026 onward
Director of Christian Service Learning (CSL)
Students will show ecological awareness and promote sustainability.
GOAL
Inclusive community: Increase EREA partnerships through staff engagement with other EREA schools.
Inclusive Community: Establishment of working relationships with Western Australian Indigenous communities.
ACTIONS
Staff provided with more opportunities to collaborate with other global EREA schools within the Religious Education curriculum and other learning areas.
Introduce an immersion program for staff and/or students to a remote Aboriginal community of Western Australia.
TIMELINE Throughout 2026 and beyond 2027
RESPONSIBILITY
SUCCESS INDICATORS
Director of Faith, Justice & Advocacy (FJA)
Staff planning demonstrates collaboration with a global partner within EREA (Australia or abroad).
Director of Christian Service Learning (CSL)
Successful immersion.
Liberating Education:
Affirm the College’s identity as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition through our teaching and learning.
Gospel Spirituality:
Model and instill values and behaviour that reflects the touchstone of Gospel Spirituality.
Gospel Spirituality:
Enhance student understanding of the Mystery of God in all of creation.
Empower students to connect their faith with service within the community.
Students are provided opportunities to explore God in creation through dialogue walks and outdoor-based activities embedded in formation days.
Embed Christian Service Learning component within each retreat. Provide scope for student reflection on possible service contributions in their community within the retreat experience.
2026 onward
Head of Religious Education Head of Religious Education
Director of Spirituality (Retreats)
Planning demonstrates components where God is explored through creation/ nature. Staff feedback on retreats.
Increase in service learning following retreats.
GOAL
Gospel Spirituality: Embed Gospel values of empathy, compassion, inclusion, respect and service across the Veritas curriculum.
ACTIONS Review and map current Veritas lessons to identify where Gospel values are explicitly taught.
TIMELINE
Term 1 2026
RESPONSIBILITY
Director of Character Education & Leadership
SUCCESS INDICATORS Veritas lessons explicitly reference and integrate Gospel values.
• Staff feedback indicates that students engage thoughtfully and make meaningful connections to Gospel values in class discussions.
• Student reflections demonstrate understanding and personal application of Gospel-based values.
Gospel Spirituality: Strengthen student leadership through promotion of a Gospel-centered approach to servant leadership.
Embed servant leadership principles into student leadership training and activities. Develop reflection tools for student leaders linking Gospel messages to leadership actions.
Ongoing through 2026
Director of Character Education & Leadership
Student leadership workbook explicitly references servant leadership principles.
• Student leadership workshops articulate how servant leadership should shape their approach to teamwork and service.
• Staff feedback indicates that student leaders model servant leadership behaviours.
• Increased student participation in serviceoriented projects and mentoring roles.
GOAL
Gospel Spirituality: Raise awareness and increase student and staff engagement in our prayer life at the College.
ACTIONS Raise awareness of Wednesday Morning Rosary through communication channels (staff bulletin etc).
Increase knowledge and participation in Mass.
TIMELINE Term 4
RESPONSIBILITY Director of Spirituality/Liturgy Coordinator
Ensure all Mass and Eucharist presentations provide appropriate scaffolding to allow greater participation and reduce anxiety regarding what is required. Templates provided for Masses to ensure protocols are included.
2026 ongoing
SUCCESS INDICATORS Increased staff and student numbers at Wednesday morning Rosary.
All protocol included in template. Formal/informal feedback from non-Catholic member of our community.
Our formation practices at Aquinas College are dynamic and continually evolving.
To ensure they remain meaningful, authentic and aligned with our mission, all initiatives within the Faith Formation Plan will be reviewed annually using our evaluation processes. This cycle of review will include gathering feedback from participants, assessing alignment with College objectives and the Edmund Rice charism, and identifying opportunities for refinement.
Outcomes and continuous improvement strategies will be recorded within College reports to guide future planning, ensuring that formation remains responsive, relevant and life-giving for students, staff and families.
