Careers Blog

A mother listens to her daughter as they walk behind prospective families touring Santa Maria College.

Should Children Choose Their School? – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Children should have a meaningful voice in major decisions, but the final responsibility should remain with adults when a choice is beyond their developmental capacity. Parents can listen carefully, acknowledge concerns and offer age-appropriate choices within clear boundaries while retaining responsibility for decisions such as school choice. As children mature, the decisions they are ready to own can expand.

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Teenage girl lying on her bed at night using a smartphone, lit by the soft glow of the screen and warm bedroom lights.

She Is Not Just Using AI For Homework – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Young people are using AI for personal and social reasons as well as schoolwork. Australian research cited in the article found that 54% of children who had used AI had used it for personal or social reasons, while 32% had shared personal or sensitive information. Families can help by discussing how AI is used, setting clear privacy boundaries and keeping trusted human conversations accessible.

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Head Girl Santa Maria College 2027

Learning To Lead – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Girls leadership development grows through real responsibility, participation and everyday opportunities to act for others. At Santa Maria College, formal leadership roles are one part of a broader approach that helps students build confidence by speaking up, contributing and leading in daily school life. Families can support this growth by giving girls meaningful responsibility, recognising small acts of leadership and encouraging activities where they can practise.

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Two junior students sit facing each other in a sunlit window alcove, sharing lunch and mid-conversation while classmates gather below.

When Friendships Change – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Bullying is repeated, intentional behaviour involving a power imbalance, while friendship conflict can involve disagreements, changing friendship groups or moments of unkindness without all three elements. Parents can look at how long the behaviour has continued, whether the same person is involved and whether their daughter feels able to respond. Santa Maria supports friendship conflict through skill-building, conversation and mediation, while bullying receives clear consequences, structured support and follow-up.

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Six Santa Maria students sitting on the lawn together in conversation, laughing, with College buildings behind them.

Do You Have Someone To Turn To? – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Teen loneliness is not simply about spending time alone; young people can feel lonely even when surrounded by others. Research highlighted in the article suggests that regular face-to-face contact, belonging to a group and strong relationships with parents can help protect teenagers from persistent loneliness. Asking directly and creating opportunities for genuine connection can help parents understand how their daughter is really feeling.

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Investing in Our Staff, Investing in Our Students

Careers Blog, News Blog

The Parent Levy Professional Learning Grant at Santa Maria College provides funding for staff to undertake further study that aligns with the College’s Strategic Plan and Mercy values. The grant helps staff build new knowledge and skills that enhance teaching, student support and school improvement. In this story, Emma Wood, Head of Sport, shares how completing a Graduate Certificate in Education (Careers Development & Counselling) is already benefiting students and the wider College community.

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The Official Opening of Our Cultural Centre – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

The Santa Maria College Cultural Centre is a purpose-built home for performance, creativity and community connection. It includes the 642-seat Djinda Theatre, Kaarlak dance studio, Trócaire black box theatre and Catherine Courtyard. The Centre honours the College’s Mercy heritage, Whadjuk Noongar language and long history of music, drama and performance.

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Jennifer Oaten meeting with senior student leaders around the boardroom table over morning tea.

What Students Want From Their Education Today – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Students want an education that prepares them for life, not only exams. In this article, Santa Maria reflects on student feedback showing that young people value relationships, confidence, problem-solving, collaboration and clear learning. It also explains how the College is responding through its Connecting Learning to Life framework and emPOWER projects.

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A Santa Maria College student speaking at a lectern in front of her peers during a school assembly.

It Is Not Failure They Fear; It Is Being Judged – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

The fear of being judged can be a significant barrier for adolescent girls, often affecting participation, friendships, and confidence more than fear of failure itself. Research discussed in the article links this fear to loneliness and social withdrawal, especially in the early secondary years. The article encourages parents to respond with listening, honest conversation, and small steps that help girls build social courage.

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A group of Year 12 students gathered with Principal Jennifer Oaten in the foyer of the new Cultural Centre.

What Leading a Major School Build Taught Me – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Leading a major school build requires patience, clear values, and the willingness to make difficult decisions over several years. This article explains how Santa Maria College brought its new Cultural Centre to completion, from early master planning and redesign challenges to heritage preservation, teamwork, and the leadership lessons learned along the way.

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A Santa Maria College senior student in winter uniform writes intently in her notebook, seen in profile. Her expression is focused and serious. Other students are visible but softly blurred in the background.

The Pressure To Be Everything – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog, Uncategorized

The pressure to be everything can leave young women feeling that no amount of effort is ever enough. This article argues that the real issue is not simply a full schedule, but the expectation to keep adding more in order to feel successful. It suggests that choosing fewer commitments and going deeper can support confidence, self-knowledge and wellbeing.

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Why We Teach

Careers Blog, News Blog

Teachers choose education for many different reasons, including inspiring mentors, a love of learning, and the opportunity to support young people. In this article, experienced and early career teachers from Santa Maria College share what first inspired them to teach and what continues to make the profession meaningful. Their reflections highlight the importance of connection, curiosity, encouragement and community in education.

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A high school girl in a dark Santa Maria College blazer sits alone at a long table, deeply focused on writing or sketching on a piece of paper with a pencil.

Not Every Girl Needs to Be a Leader – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Not every girl needs to hold a formal leadership role at school to be growing well. This article explains that quiet, thoughtful girls often contribute in meaningful ways through friendship, study, creativity and character, and that confidence and influence may develop later in life. It encourages parents to recognise what their daughter is already doing, rather than measuring her against visible leadership roles.

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Jennifer Oaten Principal on a balcony at Santa MAria College overlooking the city.

What Watching Students Grow Up Taught Me – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Watching students grow up shows that young people need to feel seen, supported and believed in as they develop. The article explains that friendship, parental presence, challenge, kindness, character and gradual confidence all play a lasting role in how students grow. It also reminds families that ordinary daily moments often matter more than they realise.

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A teenage girl's hands hold a smartphone above a soft bed, with a messaging app open and her thumb resting near the screen.

She Would Never Say That to Her Face – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Cyberbullying among teenage girls often happens within existing friendship groups rather than between strangers. Online communication can remove the emotional cues that normally shape empathy and restraint, making hurtful comments easier to send. Group chats and screenshots also give words a permanence that can intensify conflict and damage relationships. The article encourages parents to discuss empathy, accountability and respectful communication with their daughters before they press send.

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Candid photograph of three or four women of different ages gathered around a worn timber kitchen table in a sun-filled Australian home, mugs of tea in hand, mid-conversation, natural window light, warm and unhurried, film grain texture, no one looking at the camera, authentic and unposed

The Women We Keep Close – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Female role models for girls help shape identity, belonging and emotional wellbeing. This article explains that daughters learn not only from their mothers, but also from the wider circle of women around them, including relatives, friends, mentors and boarding staff. It argues that these everyday relationships quietly influence how girls see themselves and what they come to value.

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Teenage girl sitting alone on a rocky beach or headland, looking out at the ocean. Late afternoon light. No phone. Relaxed posture, not posed. Shot from behind or side-on. Warm, natural tones. Western Australian coastline feel.

The Quiet That Changes Everything – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Quiet time is essential for teenage girls because it supports mental processing, identity formation, and emotional wellbeing. Without constant stimulation from devices, the brain can reflect, connect ideas, and settle. Research shows excessive passive screen use is linked to poorer mental health outcomes, making regular moments of stillness increasingly important.

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A teenage girl, approximately 15 years old, sitting in a softly lit living room or bedroom. She is holding a phone at mid-height, her gaze directed at the screen. Her expression is calm but slightly distracted, neither happy nor troubled.

The Truth And Lies In Social Feeds

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Social media misinformation affects teenagers because algorithms reward attention, emotion and repetition rather than truth. Parents can help by discussing where information comes from, checking reliable sources together and encouraging deep reading. Santa Maria College supports students to evaluate sources and understand how algorithms shape what they see online.

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