Category: Education

Student’s winning jumper design

Northern Bay College Year 11 student Dream Hoysted has been announced as the artist behind North Shore Football and Netball Club’s 2026 Indigenous Round jumper design.

In partnership with GeelongPort and Northern Bay College, the North Shore Football and Netball Club (NSFNC) each year invites First Nations Northern Bay students to design the following year’s jumper through the Hansen ‘Rocky’ Couzens Scholarship for Indigenous Art.

As the 2025 recipient of the $1000 scholarship, Dream saw their design come to life out on the field during the 2026 season, with both Senior and Reserves football teams wearing the jumper across two matches.

NSFNC Scholarship Program Co-ordinator Mick Kramer said the club has a strong focus on strengthening the relationship between the club and Northern Bay College. The scholarship is one of seven co-ordinated by NSFNC in partnership with the College. 

“From our initial Indigenous art scholarship to the numerous awards we now offer across trade and sport as well, we’ve been able to bring together the club, school and a number of people and businesses, all with a desire to help the students of the Northern Bay College campuses,” he said.

Northern Bay College Design and Technology Co-ordinator Brett Squire said the program is having a significant impact on First Nations students at the school.

“The art scholarship allows students to explore their cultural knowledge and tell a story from their perspective,” he said. “In a way, this is an opportunity for sport and art to combine and celebrate all the things that we hold so dear in our lives – community, culture, and collaboration.”

Dream said: “My design represents the struggles of unidentified First Nations kids going through life in limbo not knowing who they truly are, while trying to find community in anything they can. But finally, they meet in the middle of the jersey design, representing them finding who they truly are and their true community after years of not being able to.” 

GeelongPort CEO Brett Winter said: “We are proud to have supported the scholarship program since its inception. The positive impact it has on students at Northern Bay College is clear, and we are delighted to play a small role in helping young people celebrate their culture, creativity and sense of belonging.”

Work starts on Hendy campus

Work has begun on a new learning facilities at Northern Bay College’s Hendy P-8 campus. The school was severely damaged by fire in 2024, and students have been learning in modular classrooms since.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll and Member for Lara Ella George turned the first sod on the new build, which is expected to be ready for students in June 2027.

Builder Melbcon Pty Ltd was announced earlier this year and work is now officially underway on a permanent replacement for the main building. Designed with direct input from the school community, the new state-of-the-art learning environment will include modern classrooms, offices and a library. 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said: “Today marks a major milestone for the Northern Bay community with construction officially underway on a brand-new Learning Centre that local students deserve.

“When this school was devastated by fire, we made a commitment to rebuild. Today we’re delivering on that commitment.”

Member for Lara Ella George said: “Our Northern Bay community came together when this school tragically burned down – making sure every student could keep learning while we got on with the rebuild. Today is a proud day as we build a world-class new facility for our kids.”

College launches new website

Northern Bay College has launched its new website, designed to make it easier than ever for students, families and community members to stay connected with everything happening across the college.

Community Connections Officer Kate Mastroianni, who supported the project, said the new website was created by Northern Bay College staff, using the broad range of skills available and saving considerable money.

“The website offers a fresh, modern design and improved navigation, making it simple to find important information, news and updates from all four campuses,” Kate said. 

“Visitors can explore learning programs, discover upcoming events, access key documents and keep up to date with the many opportunities available to students.

“Families can also find information about enrolments, attendance, wellbeing supports, transport, uniforms and college policies. The regularly updated news section showcases student achievements, community partnerships and exciting events throughout the year.

“The launch of the new website reflects Northern Bay College’s commitment to strengthening communication and celebrating the incredible learning, growth and success that takes place across the college every day.

“We invite everyone to explore the new website and discover all that Northern Bay College has to offer. Whether you’re a current family, a prospective student, a staff member or a community partner, the new website has been designed with you in mind.”

The website is at www.nbc.vic.edu.au

Norlane West Kindergarten joins Meli

Meli Kindergartens has welcomed Norlane West Kindergarten to its network this year,
ensuring families in Geelong’s north continue to have access to highquality early childhood
education close to home.
The transition means local children will benefit from playbased learning programs delivered
in a caring and supportive environment.
Norlane West Kindergarten offers playbased learning programs for children aged three and
four, nurturing social, emotional, physical, and language development for a confident start to
school.
Previously managed by a volunteer committee, the kindergarten has joined Meli following
the committee’s decision to adopt the Early Years Management model. This change will

deliver longterm stability for the kindergarten and provide families with access to additional
support services.
The kindergarten features a spacious outdoor area with shaded play zones that spark
curiosity and creativity, along with books, art, games, technology, and imaginative play
stations. As part of the Meli network, families can also access parenting programs and, when
needed, specialised children’s support workers.
Meli CEO Robyn Hayles said the move reflected Meli’s commitment to providing high-quality
and accessible early childhood education across the region.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Norlane West Kindergarten into the Meli family,” she said. “This
kindergarten has a proud history of supporting young learners and we’re excited to help
continue that tradition.”
Meli now delivers kindergarten programs at 32 sites across Geelong, the Bellarine
Peninsula, and Colac. For more information about attending a Meli Kindergarten, visit
www.meli.org.au/kindergartens

Drivers in the north can help learners

Geelong’s L2P Program is on the hunt for fully licensed drivers aged over 21 to volunteer to
support young learner drivers as they work towards achieving their P plates.
The program has a volunteer shortfall from Corio, Norlane, Lara and North Geelong,
meaning local learner drivers are waiting up to six months longer than those in other suburbs
to gain experience behind the wheel.
Volunteer mentors are integral to supporting young people to drive safely and achieve their P
plates when they don’t have access to a supervising driver or vehicle. Driver mentors receive
a full day of training from the Department of Transport and Planning.
In 2024-25, 110 volunteers across Greater Geelong contributed to 76 drivers passing their
probationary licence test. A total of 621 local drivers have become P-platers in the program’s
16 years of operation.
Driver mentor Sylvia Brown said she became a mentor in a time in her life where she
needed to have purpose again. 
“That has definitely happened. Like in most things, when you invest your time and efforts into
something you believe in, the rewards are tenfold,” Sylvia said.
“I have always enjoyed spending time with youth but being able to help them in a more
tangible way and see the benefits of their learning and the development of their skills in
driving is so rewarding.
“It’s easy to fit into your life but you do need to be committed to allowing enough time for a
drive session each week and to see a young person through to the achievement of their
licence.”
The L2P program is funded by the TAC, administered by DTP, and coordinated by the City of
Greater Geelong. Community Bank – Lara District proudly sponsors our two vehicles in
Corio.
To express interest in volunteering for the program, email [email protected].

Student’s space camp experience

Northern Bay College Captain Farzana Mohammad Aref has attended NASA Space Camp
in the USA, one of four Australian students selected to participate.
Farzana (pictured) spent a week at the International Space Camp program in Huntsville,
Alabama in July. She was a member of Mission Team Australia and was able to connect with
fellow teams from around the world, fostering international collaboration and long-lasting
friendships.
Farzana was selected for her outstanding commitment to her studies and her community. In
an interview with Northern Bay College’s Community Connections Officer Kate Mastroianni,
Farzana said:
“I went to NASA’s space camp in Alabama, and we learned a lot about how to run mission
control on Earth and how the astronaut feels when they’re in space. We learnt about how it
feels like to work as a team and how the leadership impacts both relationship with space and
the ground, which means every communication matters.
“Every day we learned something different, something that contributed to our leadership,
teamwork, and resilience.
“My favourite activity was when we spent about two days making a rocket that would fly, with
an astronaut housed safely inside – this was an egg. We would then fly this rocket as part of
a competition against other groups.
“Alongside this, we had to create a parachute, design a budget and keep the egg safe.
We
had to create an astronaut shield (uniform) around the egg, which would keep it warm but
not cook the egg. We ended up doing this using concrete and spaghetti.
“We also did scuba diving and G force training. We did lots of activities which included
teamwork and creating something new, and how to problem solve in those situations
between our teammates.”
Farzana is currently preparing for her final Year 12 exams and is planning to study
engineering. She currently has RMIT, Deakin and Melbourne University on her list of
universities to consider.

“I’d like to go into Melbourne, but Deakin would also be great,” Farzana said. “Both are great
schools.”

Ashton proudly representing students

Northern Bay College vice-captain Ashton Stonehouse is the Geelong region’s only representative on the Victorian Student Representative Council in 2025.

The Victorian Student Representative Council was created by students to be a voice for students at the highest levels of decision making in Victorian education. It comprises 15 secondary school-aged students, who make decisions collaboratively with a group of six adults about how VicSRC operates, what programs it offers and how it hears from students about education.

Ashton’s appointment followed a written application and interview, in which she was able to talk about her school leadership roles over several years.  

In the interview she also talked about the College leadership team’s plans and how she gets regular feedback from her own community and other students in her program, with the aim of making it better.

“I explained that I was the only person in our senior leadership team in VCE Vocational Major and how for me, that was really important,” Ashton said. “It wasn’t about the fact that I got picked, it was about the fact that somebody from the VM program got picked and that was really important representation.”

“I really see this as an opportunity to change the curriculum for any future students that go into the program, and it’ll benefit so many people. 

“Rather than me going ‘I’ll just do this because it looks really good on my resume or it’ll be really good for me’, I was aware that anything that I do in the VicSRC will not directly benefit me. It’ll benefit next year’s Year 12, the Year 11s after that, and everyone else really and that was the whole point for me.”

Ashton said the VicSRC’s mission to ‘stand with and for students to elevate their voices to be heard’ is “a really big thing” for her.  “That is the reason that I do leadership,” she said. “Giving not just myself, but other people that platform is something really important. It’s our education. It is our future, and we should be the ones who build it.”

Ashton said she’d like see change around the stigma of choosing to do Vocational Major rather than mainstream VCE. “I lost friends because of the program that I chose, but I just wanted something different.”

When she leaves school, Ashton wants to work in healthcare. “I’d love to be able to help other people,” she said. “Whether that be paramedicine or a nurse in the emergency room or just anything emergency health-related.”

In the meantime, Ashton will continue to show leadership and help set the path for future students.

Farzana finalist in space program

Northern Bay College Captain Farzana Mohammad Aref has been shortlisted to attend Space Camp in the USA.

Farzana (pictured) is a finalist in the Endeavour Scholarship, an international STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) education program that each year selects a team of four Australian secondary students and one teacher to travel on an all-expenses paid trip to Space Camp USA.

The scholarship recipients will spend one week at the International Space Camp program in Huntsville, Alabama in July 2025. They will form Mission Team Australia and connect with fellow teams from around the world, fostering international collaboration and long-lasting friendships.

Farzana was selected for her outstanding commitment to her studies and her community. In her nomination, she said: “As a girl with a deep passion for STEM, I faced countless challenges growing up in my home country. Opportunities for girls to pursue careers in STEM were limited, and societal expectations often made it harder to follow my dreams.

“Moving to Australia opened up new possibilities, but the transition came with its own set of hurdles, including adapting to a new educational system and cultural differences.

“Despite these obstacles, my love for STEM only grew stronger. I am fascinated by how technology can solve real-world problems and improve lives, and I am eager to contribute to innovations that make a difference.”

Awards recognise Raelene’s dedication

Corio early childhood educator Raelene Carr capped off a successful year in 2024 as a finalist in the Educator of the Year in the Victorian Early Years Awards.

Raelene has worked at William Hovell Preschool in Corio for more than 25 years and is a passionate educator and advocate for children and families.

“It’s the best job in the world,” Raelene said. “There are challenges … but the great days outweigh the bad.”

Raelene’s early childhood teaching career took off after she responded to an advertisement in the local newspaper for a role at William Hovell Preschool and was selected from 250 applicants for an interview.

“At the interview I said if I get the job, I’ll be here until I retire … and now here I am 26 years later. I think that’s why I got the job,” she said.

The Educator of the Year Award nomination highlighted Raelene’s dedication to building connections with children to support their learning and wellbeing.

She said she was “overwhelmed and excited” to be chosen as one of just three finalists in the state-wide award, which recognised an educator who has demonstrated “innovative and exemplary practice in early childhood education and care”.

Her caring, calm and consistent approach, along with her dedication to developing strong relationships with families, has led to positive outcomes for children and families at the preschool.

“It’s nice to be able to look back at the end of each year and see the difference you’ve made in these children’s lives,” she said.

Raelene has two grown-up sons of her own and six grandchildren aged six to 21. She lives in Corio and values her close connections with families. She’s now teaching children whose parents, aunties and uncles were once in her care. “I can’t go to the supermarket without someone coming up to me. I’ve even been invited to 18^th and 21^st birthdays of former students. To think I’ve had that much impact is incredible.”

Time to get ready for 2025

Families are getting ready to finish another school year, but it’s also time to think about 2025. 

Preparing children for a new school year is more than buying a uniform, bag and lunchbox. Many will start their transition to school in Term 4.

Prep teachers at Northern Bay College have suggested that parents follow tips from the Department of Education and Training, which advises them to:

• Practise the journey to and from school.
• Arrange play dates with families who have children at the same school.
• Encourage independence – skills like dressing, packing and carrying a bag, applying sunscreen and going to the toilet.
• Label all belongings – clothing, bags, lunch boxes, drink bottles.
• Talk about and practise any after-school arrangements.
• Check the start and finish times and where to drop off and collect your child.
• Be positive, get your child excited and talk about any worries they have.
• Visit a library and read with your child.
• Start using the name of their new teacher to help build familiarity.
• Establish predictable routines including dinner, bath time and bedtime.

Other things to focus on include opening zips on bags and lunchboxes, practicing a morning routine, children packing their bag, bathroom routines including washing hands, taking on and off jumpers and jackets and tying shoelaces.

There are Prep classes at four of the Northern Bay Colleges – Wexford, Peacock, Tallis and Hendy – and up to 160 new school starters are expected in 2025. Other primary schools in the northern suburbs include St Francis Xavier and St Thomas Aquinas.

To enrol your child for 2025, contact the office of the nearest campus to where you live. The staff will support you with enrolment paperwork and provide dates of information and transition sessions.

Families wanting to enrol children other than Preps can also contact the office of the campus they are zoned to for help with paperwork. They’ll also be able to meet with a member of the Principal Team to talk about starting dates and answer any questions.

If you’re not sure about which campus you’re zoned to, contact any of the P-8 campuses and they will point you in the right direction.