Every year, Marian College leaders attend JJAMM in Australia, a conference that connects us with other Josephite schools across Australasia. This year Deputy Head Girl Jayde Liang and Head of Special Character Ashley Coroza represented Marian. They share their experience.

Recently, we had the incredible privilege of representing our school at JJAMM, a five-day leadership immersion in Sydney, Australia. Joining student leaders from across Australia and New Zealand, we dove deep into what it means to lead with a "Josephite" heart.

During our time at JJAMM, we learned about leadership in many ways, shapes and forms. The experience was grounded in the Charism of St. Mary MacKillop and the visionary leadership of St. Joseph and Julian Tenison Woods. We learned that while these figures are our role models, we aren’t called to be "exact copies" of them. Instead, we explored our own unique leadership styles, focusing on the Six P’s of Josephite Leadership:

• Passion

• Possibility

• Practical Action

• Partnerships

• Prayer

• Perseverance

The program wasn't just about theory; it was about real-world impact. We engaged in sessions on:

• Social Justice: Analyzing global issues and finding practical ways to advocate for change within our own school community.

• Communication: Mastering the "Four P's" of effective public speaking: Pitch, Pace, Projection, and Pause.

• Collaboration: From rewriting popular songs to reflect Mary MacKillop’s message to staging a social justice rally, we learned that leadership is a team sport.

One of the most powerful aspects of JJAMM was the sense of "whānau" despite the geographic distance. Whether we were playing a competitive game of Spoons, singing karaoke, or attending Mass at Mary MacKillop Place, the bond between the students was instantaneous.

A highlight was the ferry ride under the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Valentine’s Day. Watching the fireworks light up the sky alongside new friends from across Australasia was a magical reminder of the vibrant community we belong to.

JJAMM was personally a once in a lifetime opportunity for us.  This whole programme was all about developing and learning on how to become a successful and inspiring Josephite leader in our school community, but not only did we leave wanting to be inspiring leaders like St. Joseph, St. Mary MacKillop, and Julian Tenison Woods, but we left a special bond with each other that united us all, as a Josephite community.  

A huge thank you to Mrs Davidson for this opportunity, Whaea Myra for the seamless organization, and Mrs Grocott for looking after us and sharing the journey in Sydney.

Article added: Thursday 26 February 2026