Welcome to the Autumn 2026 edition of Mary’s News Today. I am pleased to share this update with you and reflect on the difference your support continues to make.
This edition centres on a shared belief that every child deserves access to a quality education, no matter where they are born or the circumstances they face. Equity in education sits at the heart of our work and guides everything we do.
I am deeply grateful for the generosity of supporters like you. Together, you helped raise close to $200,000 through our Christmas Appeal, enabling us to extend inclusive early education to children and communities facing the greatest barriers to learning.
The appeal focused on Marcia and her community in Timor-Leste and highlighted the vital role inclusive early education plays in shaping a child’s future. Through our Inclusive Early Education project, children like Marcia are gaining access to books, learning resources and creative tools in their own language, helping them to learn, grow and flourish.
While this support is already making a meaningful difference, many children are still waiting for the opportunity to learn in environments that are inclusive, safe and culturally appropriate. With your continued support, we can keep taking steps toward a more equitable future for every child.
In this edition, you will also meet Laurenzia, one of our First Nations Scholarship students. While studying at North Regional TAFE, Laurenzia received the Mary MacKillop Today First Nations Vocational Scholarship, supporting her to pursue her goals and overcome barriers to education.
You will learn about the launch of our EdTech for Early Learning project in Timor-Leste; an innovative digital initiative developed with the generous support of the Noel and Carmel O’Brien Family Foundation and with the Ministry of Education. Using classroom-based technology and parent focused digital tools, the project supports preschool teachers to deliver engaging, curriculum aligned learning while helping families reinforce these lessons at home. Following a successful pilot, the project is now expanding to 100 schools, reaching around 9,000 children, along with their teachers and families.
You will also read about Juan and the Youth Entrepreneurship project in Peru. His experience shows how education can extend beyond the classroom, building confidence, creativity and practical skills for life.
Finally, you will meet Maureen, one of our dedicated monthly supporters, inspired by the enduring legacy of Saint Mary MacKillop and her commitment to education and social justice.
Thank you for walking alongside us and for your ongoing commitment to helping create a more just and equitable world through education.
With gratitude,
Jane Woolford
Chief Executive Officer
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