Mrs Dunwoody discusses CGGS's partnership with The Cyber Safety Project to educate and support students, parents, and staff regarding digital safety and wellbeing.
Saturday, 8 March is the official date of International Women’s Day and this year’s Australian UN Women’s theme of “March Forward” offers a call to action to boldly drive change for all women and girls. At Camberwell Girls, we know that to do this takes a village and we are honoured to be supported by our community of staff, families and partners in bringing this vision and opportunity to life for our students.
On Wednesday 12 March, Year 11 students will join peers from over 20 schools at Queen’s Hall, Parliament House hosted by the international Coalition of Girls Schools for breakfast. Offering a chance to celebrate, connect, share and learn, it will no doubt be an inspiring event.
At our own International Women’s Day Breakfast on Thursday 13 March, we will welcome back alumni Lisa Chiba (2001), who is the Managing Director of Momentum Energy and Non-Executive Director of Waverly Social Enterprises to share her thoughts on this year’s theme of March Forward – it’s time to turn promises into progress.
On the same day, Days for Girls International, a global nonprofit organisation will spend the day working with our Year 10 students to continue their work in providing feminine hygiene products and removing the stigma and shame of menstruation that can exist. Their work so far has impacted over 3 million young women around the world and Camberwell Girls is honoured to be an ongoing contributor to this important cause.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we are and could be bolder in our advocacy of girls and women and as a community we are looking forward to a week of celebrations in pursuit of this.
Kate Manners
Director of Strategic Initiatives
As part of the Upskill: Preparing for Tertiary Program, we hosted an alumni student panel featuring Natasha Mak and Anastasia Konstantinou, both from the Class of 2022. Natasha is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne, while Anastasia is studying for a Bachelor of Communication Design at RMIT University. The purpose of the panel was to provide current Year 12 students with insights into life after graduation and the diverse paths that alumni can take. Natasha and Anastasia shared their experiences, discussing how their time at Camberwell Girls prepared them for university and the challenges they faced along the way.
The panel was highly beneficial for the students, as it offered them a chance to hear firsthand accounts of university life and career planning. Natasha and Anastasia provided valuable advice on managing academic workloads, balancing extracurricular activities, and making the most of university opportunities. This interaction not only inspired the students but also helped them gain a clearer understanding of the skills and experiences that are important for future success. The event fostered a sense of community and continuity, showing current students the tangible outcomes of their hard work and dedication.
Ashley Nguyen
Head of Careers Education
Upskilling to thrive in the future is more than just learning in the classroom, and at Camberwell Girls, we are driven in our pursuit to make this a reality. Our partnership with HEX, led by founder and CEO Jeanette Cheah, begins at Year 9 and extends through to Year 12.
A new addition to our suite of in-house and online learning experiences is our co-designed Work Immersion Program, where our students undertake a bespoke experiential learning experience that immerses them into the vibrant world of corporate life.
In the first of what we hope will be a series of immersive experiences, VCE students Charlotte, Ruby, Amelie, Ruby, Sahana, and Ency had the opportunity to gain practical insights into the workings of corporate life in business, law, and finance through visits to respected finance and legal institutions.
Connecting with industry professionals from The Commons QV, State Library Victoria Start Space, Ernst & Young, and ANZ, these students had the opportunity to venture into real-world learning spaces, gaining tips and strategies about modern career pathways and opportunities. From learning about the most sought-after skills in today’s workplaces to finding out where and how to start the journey as a young woman, the day was full of great insights and connections.
Without the generous sharing of time and career insights from these women and workplaces, empowering the next generation of leaders can’t happen. Bridging the space between education and industry takes a village, and we’re thrilled to be supported by such excellent people in bringing this vision and opportunity for our students to life.
Kate Manners
Director of Strategic Initiatives
After four rounds of the Term 1 GSV Weekly Sport competition involving softball, tennis and volleyball, CGGS teams are building momentum for the second half of the season and run into potential finals campaigns.
As the incoming CGGS Director of Sport, I am excited for the 2025 GSV sporting season. For the previous 7 years, I was the Director of Sport at Ravenswood School for Girls on Sydney’s Upper North Shore.
With a background in the science of Positive Psychology, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ravenswood, a lighthouse school that has won multiple awards for its Positive Education program.
Ravenswood competed in the IPSHA and IGSA Sport Associations, and I was thrilled to conclude my tenure there with the school claiming the IGSA Sport Gymnastics Championship in Term 4, 2024.
Having this year returned home to Melbourne, I am honoured to have become a member of the CGGS community as I strive to support our students in their sporting ambitions.
Forty students represented CGGS at the annual GSV Triathlon at Altona Beach Foreshore recently, recording some stunning results.
In the Event 1 Intermediate category, the team of Eden C, Nini C and Amelia L claimed the silver medal. Following closely in the same category, Jessica M, Olivia Y and Anni Z narrowly missed the podium, finishing in 4th position.
One of the Junior teams made a significant statement and provided a glimpse of what is to come in future years, crossing the finish line in 5th place. Congratulations to Lydia H, Georgia P and Aneira P.
The first of the GSV Carnivals for 2025 has been contested, with CGGS competing in the preliminary event to determine divisions for the upcoming championship carnival on Tuesday 18 March.
In Diving, CGGS closed out the competition in the overall position of equal 5th, with impressive performances by several students. In the A Divisions, the following students all recorded fourth place finishes: Summer Z (Senior); Nellie R (Intermediate), Zoe MM (Junior).
The Swimming team also claimed the Overall position of 5th, with notable A Division results below:
With CGGS having already hosted two GSV PB Meets on February 11 and 18, excitement is building in the lead-up to the GSV Championship Carnival. Both the Diving and Swimming teams will compete in Division 2 on Tuesday 18 March (the Diving team ranked 3rd for Division 2 and the Swimming team ranked 1st in Division 2).
Year 8 student, Nawita D has enjoyed great success at the recent Victorian State Athletics Championship.
Saluting the judges to podium twice, she won the silver medal in the Hammer Throw and bronze in Discus for her age division.
These superb performances have qualified Nawita to represent Victoria at the Australian Junior Nationals in Perth from 4-8 April.
Following on from this major event, Nawita has her sights set on the Australian Track & Field Championships (U13-U18) in June.
Cameron Childs
Director of Sport
On Wednesday 28 February, 9C and 9d embarked on an exciting Geography fieldwork to the South Melbourne Market. The purpose of our visit was to explore the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the market, aligning with our studies on globalisation.
We began our adventure by taking public transport to the market, which added to the day’s excitement. Once there, we spent our time engaging with locals, market visitors, and store owners. Through surveys and conversations, we gathered valuable insights into the market’s operations. Additionally, we collected data on the variety of goods sold and the sustainability initiatives in place, all of which will be crucial for our upcoming group presentations.
Beyond these activities, student also had the opportunity to shop and savour delicious food from various cultures, making the day both educational and enjoyable.
Katherine Rottmann
Year 9 Geography Teacher
One of the highlights of the Year 12 calendar is the Year 12 Formal and it was indeed a spectacular evening again in 2025.
Gathering at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club on Friday 21 February in clear and perfect conditions, for a three course sit down meal and a night of dancing and connecting, our students were impeccably behaved and represented CGGS in the way we have come to expect.
The glamour and elegance were taken to new heights with outfits of all colours and styles, matched with some of the most intricate nail designs ever seen. Students enjoyed some wonderful food, fabulous dancing and were entertained by the annual Formal Video.
The School Captains emceed the evening and my thanks to them for running this so well, along with a shout out to Ruby T for designing our menu and place cards. The awards committee, overseen by Ash L, Amber, Hannah and Anika presented a range of fantastic awards ranging from the classic, Best Dressed to the more unconventional ‘Most Likely to start a Mosh pit’, ‘Fanciest Updo’ and Best Feature in the Formal Video.
With dancing, laughter and many photos taken in the photo booth, it truly was a wonderful night and will live in the memories of all who attended.
Nareen Robinson
Year 12 Coordinator
Mrs Dunwoody discusses CGGS's partnership with The Cyber Safety Project to educate and support students, parents, and staff regarding digital safety and wellbeing.
This week, our CGGS Secondary School swimmers successfully defended their GSV Division 2 Swimming Championship title.
At the Junior School, Year 1 has shared a special ritual they do every day with the Foundation students.
The School welcomed Old Grammarian Lisa Chiba (2001) as the guest speaker at this year's International Women's Day Breakfast.
