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However, beyond the visibility of these actions lies a deeper purpose.

The Universal Apostolic Preferences are four global priorities set by the Jesuits. These priorities guide the work of Jesuit communities, schools, and ministries around the world.

For us at Riverview, our incredible service and program reflect these priorities in action. They include: Showing the way to God, Walking with the Excluded and Journeying with Youth. In 2019, Caring for Our Common Home officially became the fourth UAP. These four priorities act as a compass for Jesuit schools and organisations.

The phrase Caring for Our Common Home itself comes from an important document written by Pope Francis called Laudato Si’ , which was published in 2015. In that letter, Pope Francis reminds us that the Earth is not just a resource to use; it is a shared home that we all depend on, and therefore, we all have a responsibility to care for it.

When our environment is good, we too shall be good. However, when our environment is bad and degraded, it leads to social injustice and human suffering. Therefore, Caring for Our Common Home underpins all the UAPs.

Here at Riverview, we are following a five-year strategic plan that has guided and supported the ecological conversion of our College community. Part of that vision is reflected in the CfOCH logo. In the logo, the sun represents God, the source of all life, shining constantly over the Earth and sustaining the cycles that allow life to flourish.

The raindrop represents creation, and the cycle of life returning to God. It reminds us that everything in our world is connected: people, ecosystems, water, air, land, and that caring for the environment is also about caring for one another.

We are now three years into our strategic plan and feel this is an opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made. There are many layers to the work happening across the College.

From the student perspective, many of you have already been involved in initiatives such as:

A standout initiative in 2025 was the Religious Life for Climate Justice Campaign Policy Brief Petition, which was endorsed by close to 400 students. Both Fr Roberto Jaramillo SJ and Mr Chris Bowen responded and were moved by the leadership of our students, who demonstrated strong conviction in raising global environmental awareness.

Since 2022, the CfOCH Committee has been tracking environmental data across the College. This data has allowed the committee to make informed decisions based on real evidence.

It has guided the committee in developing our own Sustainability Guidelines, which provide overarching direction for everyday practices across the College, including the use of electrical devices. It has also led to several key initiatives, including the rollout of our new bin signage, the inclusion of Cares for Our Common Home within the Respectful Learner Framework, the introduction of an environmental merit, and, more recently, the launch of the Riverview Carbon Offsetting Program. All of these initiatives are important and represent real progress.

So why do we focus on Caring for Our Common Home so much? Firstly, we are doing this because CfOCH is about recognising that the world we live in is a gift from God. Secondly, we must understand that the choices we make every day affect the lives of people in other parts of the world and the lives of future generations who will inherit this planet after us. Finally, it is about recognising that each one of us has a role to play.

It is the small everyday decisions that make the biggest difference. How we treat resources, how we respect our environment, and how we think about our responsibility to others.

As students of a Jesuit school, we are part of a global community that believes education is not just about what you learn in the classroom, but about how you choose to live in the world. So when we talk about Caring for Our Common Home, we are really talking about something much bigger. We are talking about forming a generation of young people who understand that the health of our planet and the well-being of humanity are deeply connected. And that the responsibility to care for both belongs to all of us.

The assembly’s message was reinforced by a returning Old Ignatian, Noah Vaz (OR2013), who reflected on how his understanding of Caring for Our Common Home has evolved since his time as a student. Now working in global investment, he spoke about the growing urgency of environmental and social challenges, from climate change to global instability, and the role responsible decision-making plays in shaping a sustainable future.

He challenged students to recognise that the true privilege of a Jesuit education is not just opportunity, but responsibility: a responsibility to use their talents in the service of others and the planet. Drawing on his own career, he highlighted how even financial decisions can be used to promote ethical, sustainable outcomes.

He left students with three key calls to action: to know themselves and their strengths, to stay informed about the world beyond their immediate context, and to continually question and grow. Ultimately, his message was one of hope — that this generation has both the capacity and responsibility to lead meaningful change.

Thank you to Noah for sharing his insight into his career in sustainability and the profound impact of his decision-making.

A big congratulations to our speakers and Year 11 Green Wolves, Jed Mercer, Jack Stanic, Teddy Morton, Angus Munro, Charlie Pobje, Luis Criola, Indra Shrivastav, and Charles Fuller, for presenting so well.

Riverview Carbon Offsetting Program - Update

In 2023, Sam Hutchinson (OR2025) noted that air travel was contributing significantly to our College's carbon footprint and would only continue to increase as travel bounced back post-Covid. As a result, Sam explored possible solutions and wrote a research paper on why Riverview should offset carbon from Immersion Flights. The paper was supported by the College and was further investigated by the CfOCH Committee.

The committee has selected Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM), Asia Pacific’s largest provider of voluntary carbon offsets and a member of the Carbon Market Institute, to offset the carbon emissions from flights.

For just $8.50, a tonne of carbon dioxide can be offset through TEM’s Extended Impact: NSW Biodiversity Credit + Matavén Rainforest Conservation. This project will allow us to combine a measurable carbon reduction with a local impact on native Australian biodiversity. This product combines a certified carbon credit from TEM’s Matavén Rainforest, where funds from carbon credits support Indigenous communities in protecting and managing the forest long-term, rather than logging it for agricultural expansion.

More locally, this product will support the revegetation of overused farmland in the West Wyalong Region of NSW, which is operating as a dedicated conservation reserve. In 2023, this program was trialled on all Immersion Flights, including four return flights to Cambodia (twice), India, and Nepal. As a result, a total of 260.15 tonnes of carbon were offset, significantly reducing the carbon that contributes to our footprint.

To fund the purchase of these carbon offsetting certificates, a carbon offsetting levy will be incorporated into the cost of all College trips (Immersions and Tours) that involve air travel. The amount of this levy will vary depending on the flight distance. The funds collected from students participating in these trips will be used to purchase carbon offset certificates.

To give you an idea, for the group of 15 travelling to Bathurst Island, it will cost $4.98 per person.

We are excited to share this program with you and look forward to working towards reducing our carbon emissions from air travel. For further information, please see the Riverview Carbon Offsetting Program Procedural Document under the Caring for Our Common Home > Key Documents Tab on InsideView HERE .

World Day for Water 2026 - Doughnut Stall

World Water Day is celebrated on the 22nd March and is a global celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of freshwater and advocating for sustainable water management. The theme for 2026 is Water and Gender, acknowledging that the global water crisis affects everyone differently, with growing inequalities in access amongst women and girls who often bear the greatest burden.

To raise awareness, the Green Wolves hosted a doughnut stall, with all proceeds being donated to the ‘Light of Mercy’ Water Project in Cambodia. This is an incredible opportunity for The Green Wolves to raise funds to support the two Universal Apostolic Preferences: Walking with the Excluded and Caring for Our Common Home.

Thank you to the Year 11 Green Wolves for running the doughnut stall.

Earth Hour Day

Earth Hour Day will be on Saturday 28th March this year. It is a global movement that encourages individuals and communities to turn off non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability. It serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to protect our planet and to avoid using non-renewable energy sources when not necessary.

Electricity is the largest contributor to the carbon footprint here at Riverview. Through repeated messaging to staff and students, as well as the supporting information on the use of electrical devices through our Riverview Sustainability Guidelines, we are hopeful to encourage a shift in behaviour as we truly rely on each person to ‘flick the switch’.

We would like to commend our students for their dedication to Low Light Friday every Friday during P4.