Learning beyond the Classroom

Year 12 students from St Joseph's Regional College, Port Macquarie, and St Paul's College, Kempsey, engaged in an enriching Interfaith Studies of Religion Enrichment Day featuring expert speakers and collaborative learning to deepen their understanding ahead of HSC exams.

Over 100 Year 12 students from St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie, and St Paul’s College, Kempsey, came together in an enriching experience during the last week of Term 2 for the Studies of Religion Enrichment Day, a collaborative initiative with Charles Sturt University.

The day began with expert presentations that brought key syllabus topics to life, preparing students for the upcoming trial and HSC exams. Professor Dominic O’Sullivan from the School of Social Work and Arts delivered a thought-provoking session on indigenous land rights and spirituality. Deacon Anthony Gooley explored Baptism and the influential role of St Paul in Christianity, while Lutheran pastor Rev Mark Worthing and Uniting Church Minister Rev Tau’alofa Anga’aelangi offered insights on baptism from their respective denominational perspectives to broaden student understanding.

Speakers from the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA), Ahmet Ozturk and Uzair Hussain, enriched the day further by sharing deep knowledge about the Islamic practice of Hajj and the significance of Aisha bint Abi Bakr, bringing the lived experiences of Islamic faith adherents vividly to the students.

‘Days like this provide students with the rare opportunity to engage directly with religious scholars and practitioners in a mature learning environment. We hope that these expert insights unlock new potential in our students at this critical point in their studies, ‘event organiser, Deacon Shane Hyland.

The day culminated in a dynamic plenary session, where students posed questions to the panel of presenters, deepening their engagement and understanding of these important topics and their place within Australian culture.

This successful event stood as a shining example of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue in action, strengthening connections across the Port Macquarie community and beyond.