Check out what we got up to in Term 3 & 4! Join YCS - aycs.org.au Facebook - facebook.com/australianycs Instagram - @ausycs

1. TOWNSVILLE
Since the start of Term 3, Townsville YCS has been in full throttle!
Beginning the second half of the year, YCS students assisted the running of the Catholic diocese’s
family fun day which involved face painting, soccer, arts, crafts and other activities.
Continuing the Cafe Conversations tradition established in co-operation with the Townsville Catholic
Education Office, YCS students participated in Review of Life’s with the broader community about
homelessness, which was eye opening for all those involved.
We also had the opportunity to attend the “Fire – Music Ministry Masterclass & Youth Rally”, where we
were able to deepen our Catholic faith and learn awesome new music skills.
In exciting news, we welcomed a new YCS group in Term 3 - Saints Catholic College! For their first
review, they choose the topic of sustainability, with their actions being “clean up JCU day”, and selling
environmentally friendly socks to raise money for charity. They also participated in the Refugees
March, Lids4kids, and donated 16 full boxes of goods to the St Vincent de Paul Society. The group
were also excited to establish a new relationship with Orange Sky.
TERM 3 & 4

2. TERM 3 & 4
TOWNSVILLE CONTD.
Our annual camp was a success, with students participating in useful formation sessions, a Review of
Life and countless activities and games. The 3-day camp allowed students to engage deeper in their
Catholic faith with captivating prayer and gospel reflection sessions, and activities that shared the
story of our founder, Joseph Cardijn. We were thrilled to involve four new students from schools that
don’t currently have YCS groups.
The Review of Life topic the students picked was Domestic Violence. The level of maturity and
insights the students displayed was impressive. The action they chose to undertake is a community
Domestic Violence Awareness Day, which will educate attendees about ways they can seek help when
they’re struggling, as well as providing a sense of community and belonging. The planning for this
group is currently taking place. We have seen the fruits of the camp in the students leading it (some
only in Year 8 or 9) who have increased confidence and passion to take the reins in their local groups.
We couldn’t have achieved such a successful camp without the constant support of the diocese. We
are grateful all the support shown to us by priests, diocesan staff, and the broader YCS team.
The Community Group has been going strong, with students from schools across the diocese meeting
regularly. A topic they chose this year was social media misuse, where the students raised awareness
regarding the ‘permanency’ of what‘s posted online. They also encouraged people to disconnect from
technology, and reconnect with each other offline.
Ryan Catholic College completed a Review of Life on mental health, with the outcome being a ‘Stress
free day’ for students at the school.
St Margaret Mary’s first issue of closing the gap (a Review that originally began at National Leadership
in Action Training), ran an interactive session that was based on preventing racism. The students also
held a successful book swap for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. The students sold the leftover
books at one of the Rotary Markets on the holidays in an effort to raise further money for the cause.
We ended the year with a Rock Climbing celebration, where we recognised the hard work of the
students and completed a final reflective Review of Life.

3. TERM 3 & 4
PARRAMATTA
The last half of 2019 has been extremely busy for YCS in Parramatta, check out these photos of our
local group actions and meetings!
St Columba’s Catholic College
LGBTQI+ support mural in their
school, as a result of their
homophobia Review of Life.
St Andrew’s College
Students deep in thought in their
Review of Life on drug use.
St Andrew’s College
YCS Trivia Night fundraiser, a
direct response to the bushfires
and droughts.
The students in our YCS group at St Agnes Catholic High School identified that climate injustice is a
hot issue that we’re passionate about and completed a Review of Life regarding our impact on the
environment. Our See section was filled with factual evidence and personal stories, comprising of
newspaper articles, online information and video clips. We witnessed a great deal of harm to flora and
fauna, and as a group we discussed the causes and impacts, mapping out the information in a mind
map. The Judge section allowed us to delve into our views and feelings about the environment’s
current state. Supported heavily by scripture passages, we analysed climate injustice according to our
faith. We understand that God has entrusted us as stewards of his creation, however we recognise
that we have taken advantage of our beautiful earth and are increasingly contributing to the declining
health of our environment. Focusing on the issue of single-use plastics in our Act section, our group
decided to tackle the issue head on, in an effort to reduce plastic shopping bag use. We are currently
holding a school-wide competition for tote bag designs which focus on raising awareness of our
environmental impacts. With the submissions now in, we are hoping to finalise the project in early
2020 and have narrowed the design to two contenders. Once we begin selling the bags, we plan on
donating the proceeds to an organisation (to be decided) that focuses on protecting our environment.
- Marc Cuasay

4. TERM 3 & 4
PARRAMATTA CONTD.
We also farewelled our YCS group at Loyola Senior High School, as the school transitioned into
CathWest Innovation College. It was an emotional time for the students as they reflected on their
memories throughout the past few years. In Term 3 & 4 the group took action homelessness and
global warming.
(Above right) Some YCS students also got to experience the exciting Lifted Live event in Parramatta,
alongside their worker, Obey Chingorivo.
(Left) We welcomed new YCS leaders at St Andrew’s College Michelle Fu and Hashwitaa Maynoor.
(Middle) We said farewell to YCS members Marc Cuasay and Alecksandra Favor, who were key
students in bringing about change in their local groups.
(Right) Students Zofia Hammond, Joshua Harris and Charlotte Harris joined the DRT from St
Columba’s College.

5. PERTH
We are excited to announce, not one, but two new workers in Perth! Meet the husband and wife duo,
Tom & Emily:
G’day, I’m Tom! My wife (Emily Meagher)
and I will be tag-teaming YCS in Perth. I’m
a recent Catholic convert, a coffee snob, a
philosophy/theology nerd and a politics
nut. I’m passionate about the social
justice vision which is firmly grounded
within the Christian tradition and I am
always keen to burn myself out to see it
realised in our beautiful country. Emily and
I are expecting a daughter in March and I
can’t wait to play cricket with her, make
some really dumb jokes and read her Alice
in Wonderland before bed. I’m excited to
meet wonderful people through YCS and
be a part of seeing young people unlock
their potential as they work to create what
Dorothy Day called “little cells of joy and
peace in a harried world”.
Hi, I’m Emily! I’m a recent Catholic convert
and I love people, culture, history, art and
politics. I am currently studying a double
degree in International Relations and
International business and am soon to be
mother of a beautiful baby girl with my
husband (Tom). I am passionate about
helping the vulnerable, the marginalised
and seeing the disadvantaged reach their
full potential. I can’t wait to be a part of
YCS and be a part of this global
movement. I love what Pope Benedict XVI
said about peace, that it is “not merely a
gift to be received: it is also a task to be
undertaken. In order to be true
peacemakers, we must educate ourselves
in compassion, solidarity, working
together, fraternity, in being active within
the community”.
TERM 3 & 4
MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
In exciting news, Maitland-Newcastle is now accepting applications for a YCS worker! If you are
interested in applying, or you know someone who is suited to the role, please encourage them to apply
through the following link:
https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/about/careers/positions-vacant/young-christian-student-worker/

6. WANT TO SEE YCS IN YOUR
SCHOOL OR PARISH?
We are always excited to welcome new members, and would love for you to get involved!
YCS is open to all high school students.
If there is a YCS worker in your diocese, contact them via email:
townsville@aycs.org.au
parramatta@aycs.org.au
perth@aycs.org.au
adelaide@aycs.org.au
If there isn’t a YCS worker in your diocese, you can contact the national YCS office:
office@aycs.org.au
or you can message us on Facebook!
Just search for “Australian YCS”
Student run, Australia-wide
YCS is an international movement, present in over 80 countries, that empowers secondary school
students to take action based on what they believe, in their student reality.
YCS gives students the chance to be agents of change themselves. When we as students take
ownership and responsibility for our movement it allows us to develop the skills needed to lead an
organisation as well as those needed to play an active leadership role in our community.
Townsville, QLD
Adelaide, SA
Perth, WA
Parramatta, NSW
Melbourne, VIC
Abergowrie, QLD
Newcastle, NSW
TERM 3 & 4