A Mercy Response to International Women’s Day

This week, the St Aloysius College community gathered in the Jordan Courtyard for a reflective International Women’s Day initiative inspired by the 2026 UN Women Australia theme, ‘Balance the Scales’. Through an interactive installation titled “Balance the Scales. Restore Her Story”, students were invited to confront the realities faced by women experiencing homelessness and consider how they, as members of a Mercy community, might respond with compassion and action.

At the centre of the installation stood Catherine, a symbol deeply connected to the College’s commitment to justice and dignity for women. Catherine House, Adelaide’s only dedicated service supporting women experiencing homelessness, was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and the College has maintained strong ties to this incredible local initiative, supporting women in need. Catherine has been generously gifted to our College to utilise this year, as a symbol of hope and reflection. She will stand in the Jordan Courtyard throughout Week 7, where students and families can read student reflections and learn more about the work of Catherine House.

 At the display on Friday, students moved through three interactive stations, each designed to invite awareness, empathy and response.

The first station, The Reality Wall – “The Scales Are Not Balanced,” presented statistics that highlight the gendered nature of homelessness in Australia. These statistics, while not necessarily positive, serve as a stark reminder that homelessness is often not the result of individual failure, but of structural inequality. Above the display, a central question invited reflection: “What causes the scales to tip?”

From there, students were invited to participate in The Reflection Tags – “How Can I Help Balance the Scales?” Using purple tags, students wrote personal reflections responding to prompts such as “Every woman deserves…”, “Safety means…”, and “A home should feel…”. These reflections were then attached to the Catherine House structure itself. Over the course of the week, the installation slowly transformed as the structure became covered in messages of hope, empathy and commitment from students, staff and parents.

The final station invited the community to turn awareness into action. A QR code linked directly to Catherine House, encouraging donations and support for the organisation’s work.

Leading into the installation, a pathway of printed quotes titled “Her Story” guided participants through the voices of women who have received support from Catherine House. These stories remind students that homelessness can happen to anyone, and that behind every statistic is a human story.

This year’s International Women’s Day reflection takes on particular significance for the St Aloysius College community as we also mourn the death of Sr Patricia Pak Poy RSM, an Old Scholar, former Principal and extraordinary global advocate for justice and peace.

In many ways, this International Women’s Day initiative reflects the same Mercy spirit personified by Sr Patricia. It reminds us that a Mercy education is not simply about knowledge, but about forming young people who notice injustice, listen to the stories of others, and respond with compassion and courage.

As students reflected on the installation this week, many shared thoughtful insights about what it means to stand in solidarity with women in vulnerable situations, and to commit to balancing the scales. Year 12 Social Justice Leader, Teah S, says:

“In a country like Australia we often view ourselves as progressive when it comes to gender equality, and while we have made progress, it can also cause us to overlook the realities many women still face. Gender inequality is everywhere. It is in the lives of vulnerable families overseas. It is on the news. It might be right down the street from you, or in your classroom or office. Many women suffer in silence, and initiatives like this remind us that behind every statistic is a real person in our community who deserves safety, dignity and support. Balancing the scales is about ensuring that those who keep silent are lifted towards equality.”

The Catherine House installation will remain in the courtyard throughout Week 7, continuing to invite reflection from the College community.

International Women’s Day calls us to imagine a more just world. At St Aloysius College, we hope that through small acts of awareness, empathy and action, our students begin to understand that balancing the scales of justice is not someone else’s responsibility — it is ours.

Families who would like to experience the Mercy spirit of St Aloysius College in action are warmly invited to attend our upcoming Open Night on Thursday 26 March from 4:30pm–7:00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the College, meet staff and students, and learn more about how a Mercy education encourages young people to respond to the world with compassion, courage and a commitment to justice.

Ms Maddie Kelly
Justice and Mercy Coordinator

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