News
Published on
March 8, 2025
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate and reflect on the progress made globally to advance women’s rights. Our collective actions towards gender equality contribute to breaking barriers and creating a more inclusive world where all women and girls can thrive.
We also reflect on the legacy of Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy, and the countless women who have marched forward and shaped the Mercy community through compassion, justice, respect, hospitality, service and courage.
Catherine McAuley was a visionary and a strong advocate for education. Her legacy can be felt across generations and her work continues today.
In 1827 she opened the first House of Mercy in Dublin to shelter and educate women and children in poverty.
Catherine’s advocacy in education continued after founding the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Known as the ‘walking nuns’ the Sisters followed in Catherine’s footsteps moving beyond convent walls to serve the most vulnerable in their communities. 15 years after their founding, in 1846, the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Perth and opened the first Mercy School in Australia: Mercedes College.
In 2025 we celebrate 179 years of Mercy education in Australia. Guided by our core values and Catherine’s legacy, together in Mercy, we March Forward daily by educating and investing in the women and girls in our communities.
“The 2025 International Women’s Day theme, March Forward, is a timely reminder that while much has been done to advance the rights of women and girls globally, there is still much to be done,” Louisa Rennie, Mercy Education’s CEO says.
“Investing in female staff and young women is crucial to achieving progress and create a truly equitable future for all. I am proud of the investment our organisation is making in leading change.”
At Catherine McAuley College Bendigo 50% of senior leaders and 67% of middle leaders are women. These figures are also reflected in the Student Representative Council where 54% of student leaders are young women. Furthermore, the College has invested in its leadership staff to study a Masters of Leadership in Theology and in 2024 five of the seven staff members who achieved the qualification were women.
In its 165th year, Sacred Heart College Geelong remains committed to empowering women now and into the future. Their Women in Construction Forum in March will feature a panel of female leaders from industries such as project management, engineering, and architecture. This event will recognise and celebrate women’s achievements in traditionally male-dominated fields, with aims to inspire the next generation of leaders to join these industries.
St Aloysius College Principal, Mary Farah, is proud of the college’s rich history in recognising female leaders who have shaped the school’s journey. “As our motto inspires, we strive for higher things, and the most worthy is equity,” she says.
This year the College will continue providing professional development, leadership pathways, and mentoring initiatives that empower every staff member to thrive. “Recognising that investing in staff is integral to student success. As a co-educational Mercy school, we remain dedicated to building a community where all people are supported to lead, inspire, and innovate.”
At Sacred Heart College Kyneton, female leaders are provided opportunities to grow their leadership capabilities thanks to the College’s long-standing relationship with the Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools Deputy Principal Association (VCSSDPA)
“Promoting opportunities for women to flourish at Sacred Heart College Kyneton is core to my philosophy of leadership and foundational to our shared Mercy heritage,” Principal, Dr Darren Egberts, says.
Each year up to five middle and senior female leaders attend the annual VCSSDPA Regional Women in Leadership Conference to discuss women’s leadership and build meaningful connections. The Conference and other opportunities provided by the College not only strengthens the leadership capacity of its female staff but has a tangible impact in the community.
Mercy students are empowered to see themselves as positive agents of change and are supported to develop their capacity to lead. At Academy of Mary Immaculate the Senior Student Leadership Team (SSLT) is given the responsibility to develop the College’s theme for the year and lead initiatives that embody their chosen theme. Their 2025 theme “Pave the Way” aligns closely with the Jubilee Year’s theme of Pilgrims of Hope and is a call to all to set a courageous path for all students through words and actions.
“When we uplift and support one another, we create a community where everyone thrives, leading to better outcomes for the whole school,” Sienna, the College Co-Captain says. “We are incredibly fortunate to be members of a school that shapes who we are, nurtures our talents and paves the way for futures filled with success and endless possibilities.”
With 82% of staff being women, supporting women and girls is embedded in Santa Maria College’s culture.
In line with the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, the College is expanding its leadership programs to equip students with confidence, resilience, and courage. Their Sisterhood program connects students with alumni who inspire them to explore non-traditional careers, breaking gender stereotypes and entering underrepresented fields.
Principal, Jennifer Oaten says, “In 2025, we want our girls to believe anything is possible, to see no limits to what they can achieve, and to know they are supported every step of the way.”
As we mark 194 years of Mercy education in Australia and embrace the IWD’s call to March Forward, the legacy of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy and their courage as women ahead of their time, propels us forward in all we do today.
Through education and leadership, Mercy, continues to break down barriers and build a future where all women and girls can thrive.
