& Charity Advocacy

at John XXIII

As the Heads of Charity at John XXIII College, we are proud to look back at the incredible work that our Advocacy team has already accomplished this year and look forward to the many exciting opportunities to come. We have had the honour of leading an outstanding team of devoted individuals who have spearheaded a series of impactful charity events and have effectively raised awareness of crucial social issues within our community. Our fabulous Advocacy Committee members are Flossie Corsham as Women’s Officer, Ned Heasley as Men’s Officer, Tania Yam as Multicultural Officer, Henry Dudesin as Access and Inclusions Officer, and Keely Rock as Rainbow Rep. With the unwavering support of the entire John’s community, we have been able to make a positive impact in our community and beyond.

We kicked off the year with Vinnie’s bus drive during O-Week. Not only was it an excellent opportunity to raise money for St Vincent de Paul, but it was also a fantastic way to promote sustainable fashion in our community. Our initiative entailed accompanying over a hundred first-year students to three different Vinnie’s locations across Canberra and encouraging them to purchase clothes for our Pelican Day Event– the wackier, the better! The Vinnie’s bus trip was also a great way for first-year students to get to know each other while exploring Canberra. It was encouraging to see the engagement and enthusiasm of all the John’s ressies who were excited to participate in such an impactful event. The Vinnie’s bus trip was a great success, and we are dedicated to continuing our support for the work of St Vincent de Paul throughout the year.

Following this, we organised a series of charity BBQs to raise funds for Batyr, an Australian mental health charity established in 2011 by Sebastian Robertson, an ex-ressie of John’s. Sebastian’s personal experiences with mental ill-health while at university inspired the creation of Batyr, which aims to reduce the stigma around mental health issues, particularly among young people. Using peer-to-peer education, Batyr promotes mental health awareness and creates a community where young people feel empowered to talk about their mental health and seek help whenever they need it. As partners of Batyr, we take pride in supporting this mission through our fundraising efforts, which have included various charity BBQs and a charity bike auction. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our ressies, we have raised over $800 for Batyr, and are excited to continue to support the incredibly important work of this organisation through upcoming events and initiatives.

Another of our major focuses this semester has been the ANU Lifeblood Blood Drive, a semester-long event that is run jointly by all the residential colleges on campus. The goal of the event is to motivate as many people as possible to donate blood throughout the semester and, in the process, save lives. We are incredibly proud to say that our residents have collectively donated whole blood five times and plasma 31 times, which is a remarkable effort that has the potential to save up to 108 lives.

It is heartening to witness the John XXIII community rallying behind such a critical cause. Our position as the leading college in the ANU Lifeblood Blood Challenge is a testament to the generosity and kindness of our community. We believe that events like this are incredibly important, as they provide a valuable opportunity for members of the community to come together and make a positive impact on the world.

Guided by our passionate Advocacy Committee, we’ve also had the privilege of participating in a variety of cultural events that showcased and celebrated the diversity of our community. One of the highlights of our year was Harmony Day, organised by our Multicultural Officer Tanya, who arranged a wishing tree and a range of engaging activities that promoted inclusion and diversity. It was a beautiful day that brought us together and celebrated the unique qualities of our community. Furthermore, our Advocacy team has been hard at work advocating for accessibility and inclusion within our college. We organised drop-in sessions for EAPs (Education Access Plans), helping to provide an opportunity for members of our community to receive support and resources from the university for those who need additional academic support.

In addition to our efforts to promote inclusivity, our Advocacy Committee has also been a crucial force in raising awareness for important social issues. We celebrated Trans Day of Visibility and Mardi Gras, which allowed us to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues and promote acceptance and understanding within our community. Led by our Women’s and Men’s Officers we were also proud to support International Women’s Day, celebrating the accomplishments of women throughout history while raising awareness of ongoing issues impacting women today. In partnership with our neighbours at Ursula Hall, we were able to raise funds for MacKillop House, a local shelter for women and children who have experienced domestic violence and homelessness.

Overall, we are incredibly proud of the work that our Advocacy team has accomplished so far this year to promote acceptance, understanding, and inclusion within our community. Our team’s dedication and passion, coupled with the unwavering support and engagement of the entire community, has enabled us to make a significant positive impact and support the inspiring work of several Australian and Canberra-based charities.

The John XXIII community has done some fantastic work for charity so far this year, so much so that we can’t include everything here, and we cannot wait to carry this momentum forward into the second semester.

Tom Perissinotto and Claudia Petrie 2023 Heads of Charity

From mid-November 2022 to late January 2023, we successfully accommodated and hosted 273 guests who brought energy and colour to the College during our traditional student break. It was both an exciting and challenging time as we re-learned the ropes of what to do after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

The guests who stayed with us in November and December attended specific conferences that were either ANU hosted and/or supported by ANU. It was lovely to welcome back students from ANU College of Asia and the Pacific who made Johns their home for two weeks, and by all accounts, they had an amazing time and felt welcomed by all Johns staff and students.

January saw the arrival of approximately 90 students who attended the National Mathematics Summer School sponsored by ANU and hosted by a very capable team from Monash University. A key highlight was their final dinner and concert. The musical and theatrical talents of these students were incredible.

Mid-January we happily welcomed back Sydney Grammar and St Joseph’s College rowing summer camp. Between the two schools, we had approximately 150 students and staff staying with us. We know that they loved their time here, and they certainly appreciated the delicious food prepared for them after a long and hard day rowing on Lake Burley Griffin. A key highlight was the popcorn and movie night that was sponsored by Johns on the Friday night prior to the Rowing Regatta.