As a school that was founded by the Sisters of Mercy, each term McAuley focuses on one of the very beautiful Mercy values in our Integrating Focus. The students learn about an individual who disaplays these values  through their actions.

“Pay to all what is due to them … Respect to whom respect is due, kindness to whom kindness is due. Love your neighbour as yourself.” Rom 13:7-8

This term we are focusing on the Mercy Value of Human Dignity, and the role model who displays this is Bernie Shakeshaft.

Bernie Shakeshaft pictured, has been named the 2020 Local Hero in the Australian of the Year Awards. Bernie Shakeshaft is the founder and CEO of BackTrack. Based in Armidale, BackTrack, is a non-profit training and education organisation like no other. The first words you see on its website are: "keeping kids alive, out of jail, and chasing their hopes and dreams". Since its inception in 2006, the BackTrack program has worked with more than 1000 at-risk teens who have been kicked out of the education system, or are on the path to prison, or generally both. His actions are a wonderful example of the Mercy Value of Human Dignity.

Anita Mason, REC