Service/Community Engagement

At Essendon Keilor College we educate heads and hearts because we’re about helping form responsible, principled citizens who advocate for and act on behalf of others. It’s why Service is one of our five values and is embedded in our Student Code of Conduct. Our service orientation enables students to give expression to:

  • translating compassion into purposeful action
  • championing social justice – upholding and promoting the rights of all people
  • acting ethically
  • recognising our privileged place in the world and giving back
  • living sustainably.

Students on all three campuses participate in community service and initiate fundraising activities across all four terms in support of various charities. These can be run by Year 9 and VCAL/VET students in association with their studies (ADVANCE – Red Cross), by the Student Leadership Group or the Student Representative Council. Each activity typically raises between $200-500.

Community service activities typically include:

  • Clean Up Australia Day – cleaning up a 5km stretch of the Maribyrnong River
  • Fareshare – preparing, cooking and packaging food to be distributed to food vans and cafes for the disadvantaged
  • White Ribbon Day – supporting the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by running events to raise awareness and raise funds for the community campaign.
  • Probus and Rotary sponsored activities including visits to Aged Care facilities and community groups

Fundraisers typically include:

Jeans for Genes Day – Students and staff wear jeans for a gold coin donation which goes to research into childhood genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome and Tay-Sachs Disease.

Bakers Delight Pink Bun Campaign – Students run a pink themed day and sell Bakers Delight pink buns to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA).

 Red Cross Tin Rattle – Year 11 VCAL students and the Student Leadership Group rattle at stations on the Craigieburn line, at Highpoint Shopping Centre, Watergardens Shopping Centre and Mooney Ponds Central.

R U OK Day – raising funds to address teenage depression.

World’s Greatest Shave – Essendon students had their hair shaved or colored to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea – students run an annual Bake Sale with proceeds going to research and support of the Cancer Council of Victoria.

Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer – helping raise a further $5million for vital brain cancer research.

Civil Responsibility/Social Learning

We partner with a range or organisations and facilitate experiences through them to give students direct learning opportunities that grow their sense of civil and social responsibility, and understanding of the social challenges of our time.

These can include input from or activities in association with:

  • The Red Cross
  • Scope Australia
  • The Salvation Army
  • REACH
  • R U OK
  • Beyond Blue