An energetic group of 80 students and teachers from ten Sandhurst Catholic secondary colleges gathered in Beechworth last week for the 22nd annual Justice Matters Camp, a fast-paced, 24-hour experience designed to awaken, equip and empower young leaders for justice.
Coordinated by Catholic Education Sandhurst (CESL) in partnership with Caritas Australia and schools, the camp invited students to explore complex social justice issues through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
Now more than ever, students, teachers and schools are becoming increasingly engaged, global citizens through robust global education curriculum in schools. The camp aims to empower students to make a difference in their communities and the world.
Kylie Smith, CESL’s Source of Life Curriculum Learning Leader and camp organiser, said the goal was for students to see that justice begins at home. “We want students to know they can be socially conscious people and justice leaders in their own lives, in their own communities,” she said.
After some spirited icebreakers, students dived into a series of elective workshops on topics ranging from First Nations’ justice, refugee support, human trafficking and modern-day slavery, environmental stewardship, and sustainable eating. Kylie’s own workshop on ecological spirituality ended with a tactile meditation using gum nuts and banksia pods. “For many, it was the first time they’d ever touched a banksia pod,” she said. “We invited students to take home the seeds that fell from the banskia pods and plant them in their gardens or in pots as a small but powerful act of hope.”
In a standout experience, students took part in Caritas’ Global Reality Meal, where food was unevenly distributed to simulate global inequality: 20% received a feast, others had a basic meal, and the rest received plain rice. “It wasn’t fair – and that was exactly the point,” said one student. The experience brought home the reality of global food injustice and lit a fire for action.
The day concluded with a quiet and deeply moving Compline Prayer and Meditation and Ignatian Examen led by Kylie. “It’s a time to pause, reflect, and ask: How did I grow today? When did God feel closest?” she said. “It was a beautiful moment of calm after such a full day.”
Day two turned reflection into action. Students explored how to move from charity to justice – beyond awareness to meaningful change – and each school developed a plan to bring the Caritas Turn Debt into Hope campaign to life back home.
The final liturgy sent everyone out with a mission: to be the spark that ignites the flame of justice in their communities.
As Sandhurst Social Justice and Caritas Coordinator, Kerry Stone put it, “It was a joy to work with so many passionate young people. They left fired up, ready to make a difference.”
