Photo: Joint Secondary Video Winner, Joseph Chahine from Parramatta Marist High
Over 125 students from 10 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) schools have been recognised for their empathy and powerful storytelling as part of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Refugee Week Creative Competition.
Held as part of Refugee Week under the 2026 theme, ‘A Million Stories’, the competition invited students to respond creatively through artwork, writing or video, sharing messages of hope and belonging for refugees and people seeking asylum.
JRS Schools and Community Engagement Officer, Kristen Lazarus, said this year’s entries were inspiring.
“We were incredibly inspired by the nearly 150 entries we received from students across Australia, each one reflecting thoughtful messages of belonging, hope, and the richness of a multicultural Australia,” said Kristen.
Photo: Primary Artwork Winner, Maria Gerges from St Patrick’s Primary Guildford
CSPD students made an outstanding contribution to the competition, their moving submissions reflecting the compassion and social justice values nurtured through Catholic education.
“We were delighted to welcome so many CSPD students and their families to our Refugee Week exhibition…a wonderful celebration of art, storytelling and community. Their creativity demonstrates how young people can help build a more welcoming and inclusive community through the stories they choose to tell,” JRS’s Kristen Lazarus said.
An impressive 14 of the 19 shortlisted works were created by CSPD students.
Among the award recipients were:
Primary School Artwork
Maria Gerges (St Patrick's Primary Guildford) - First Place
Tala Haddad (St Patrick's Primary Guildford) - Second Place
Arianna (St Mary's Primary Rydalmere) - Third Place
Ethan (St Mary's Primary Rydalmere) - Highly Commended
Rose (St Mary's Primary Rydalmere) - Highly Commended
Elina (St Mary's Primary Rydalmere) - Highly Commended
Secondary School Artwork
Bianca Mekdess (Cerdon College Merrylands) - Second Place
Kashish Bafna (Catherine McAuley Westmead) - Highly Commended
Secondary School Video
Benjamin Kalouche and Joseph Chahine (Parramatta Marist High) - First Place
Secondary School Written Work
Evanshka Jeyasotharan (Catherine McAuley Westmead) - First Place
Maryam Yamayan (Caroline Chisholm College Glenmore Park) - Second Place
Alexander Tran (Parramatta Marist High) - Third Place
Alphen Albert (Parramatta Marist High) - Highly Commended
Jared Caucan (St Patrick's Primary Parramatta) - Second Place
Photo: Third Place Primary Artwork by Arianna from St Mary's Primary Rydalmere
Photo: Second Place Primary Artwork by Tala Haddad from St Patrick's Primary Guildford
The shortlisted students and their families were invited to attend a Refugee Leadership Exhibition hosted by JRS Australia in Surry Hills on Friday 26 June, where their work was showcased alongside moving stories and creative pieces highlighting the experiences and resilience of refugees and people seeking asylum.
Many of the student artists, writers and filmmakers also shared personal reflections about their work, with some drawing on their own family migration and refugee experiences to create deeply meaningful entries.
The competition provided students with a valuable opportunity to engage with the stories of others, reflect on the importance of welcome and inclusion and use their creativity to advocate for compassion and justice.
Photo: JRS’s Kristen Lazarus (centre) with award recipients Kashish (L) and Evanshka (R)
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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06 Jul 2026
From Facebook
A huge congratulations to Hali, who has been selected in the MacKillop Rugby Union team after representing the Parramatta Diocese at the MacKillop Rugby Union Trials in Forbes last weekend. π This is an outstanding achievement and a testament to Hali's hard work and dedication to the sport. We wish Hali the very best of luck as he represents MacKillop at the NSWPSSA Rugby Union Championships in August. We know he will make us proud!
02 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Year 1 has been inspired by The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires! After reading the story, students worked in groups of 2β4 to design and build their own magnificent creations using concrete building materials. They showed fantastic teamwork and creativity as they brought their ideas to life. We are so proud of their amazing efforts!
Latest News More news
08 Jul 2026
CSPD students recognised in Refugee Week Creative Competition
Over 125 students from 10 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) schools have been recognised for their empathy and powerful storytelling as part of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Refugee Week Creative Competition.
06 Jul 2026
From Facebook
A huge congratulations to Hali, who has been selected in the MacKillop Rugby Union team after representing the Parramatta Diocese at the MacKillop Rugby Union Trials in Forbes last weekend. π This is an outstanding achievement and a testament to Hali's hard work and dedication to the sport. We wish Hali the very best of luck as he represents MacKillop at the NSWPSSA Rugby Union Championships in August. We know he will make us proud!
02 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Year 1 has been inspired by The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires! After reading the story, students worked in groups of 2β4 to design and build their own magnificent creations using concrete building materials. They showed fantastic teamwork and creativity as they brought their ideas to life. We are so proud of their amazing efforts!
29 Jun 2026
From Facebook
β½οΈ Congratulations to all four of our Stage 3 boysβ and girlsβ soccer teams on a fantastic day at the Soccer Gala Day! We saw great skill, teamwork and plenty of goals, with every team showing excellent sportsmanship and representing St Andrewβs with pride. ππ A big thank you to our teachers for their support and coaching, and to our parents for cheering on the teams throughout the day. π
26 Jun 2026
From Facebook
ππββοΈπββοΈ Congratulations to Amelia, William, Rhys and Violetta on proudly representing the Parramatta Diocese at the NSWCPS Cross Country Championships! ππ A special congratulations to π₯ Violetta, who finished an outstanding 8th, and π Rhys, who achieved a fantastic 18th place. Well done to all four students on this wonderful achievement. You have represented our school and the Parramatta Diocese with pride! πππ
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
πOur hearts are full of gratitude! π A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful St Andrewβs community for your generous donations of pantry items for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. π₯«π§π As always, every item donated will be gratefully received and will make a real difference to those experiencing hardship in our community. β€οΈ Your kindness, compassion and willingness to support others embody the spirit of giving that makes our school community so special. π€β¨ Thank you for helping us bring warmth, hope and support to the poor and vulnerable this winter. π§£βπ We are deeply touched by your generosity. ππ
17 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Year 4 have been exploring how body systems enable movement through the study of bones, muscles and joints. In Science, we created artwork inspired by X-rays, carefully representing the bones in our hands. Check out our X-travagant work! π¦΄β¨
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
πββοΈπββοΈπ A big congratulations to all of our students who competed in the Parramatta Diocesan Cross Country at Eastern Creek! π Our students put in a fantastic effort and represented St Andrewβs with pride, determination and sportsmanship. ππ We were thrilled to see so many personal bests achieved across all age groups! ππ A special congratulations to π William, π Rhys, π Amelia and π Violetta, who all finished in the Top 8 and have qualified for the next level of competition. What an incredible achievement! π We are so proud of every student who took part. Well done everyone! πππββοΈπββοΈ
13 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Itβs official! βοΈππ SAPS is delighted to share the exciting news that Mrs Bond will continue to be part of our wonderful school community, having officially been appointed as our new Principal! Congratulations, Mrs Bond! βοΈππ
12 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Our little Kindergarten scientists have been investigating how different materials are used for different purposes and how some materials are more durable than others. To put their learning into action, students took on the challenge of building homes for the Three Little Pigs using a variety of materials. They explored, tested, and compared which materials made the strongest and most durable houses. It was wonderful to see their creativity, problem-solving skills, and scientific thinking as they worked together to design and build their houses. Well done, Kindergarten scientists! ππ β¨
11 Jun 2026
From Facebook
βοΈ Our Year 2 students have been developing their persuasive writing skills by writing letters to Mrs Bond, advocating for a new playground π and a garden filled with sweet-smelling flowers πΈ. π‘ The children also brainstormed creative fundraising ideas to help bring their projects to life. It was wonderful to see them sharing their ideas, supporting their opinions and thinking about ways to improve our school. π Future leaders in the making!
10 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our fantastic Students of the Week and Best Classes for Weeks 6 & 7! Your hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to learning have made you wonderful role models in our school community. We are so proud of your achievementsβkeep up the great work!