Starting December 2025, Australian law will enforce a minimum age of 16 for using most social media platforms. This landmark change stems from the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, the first of its kind worldwide. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X must now take "reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from creating accounts—failing to do so could result in hefty fines, up to tens of millions of dollars.

The law reflects growing concern over youth exposure to addictive features—endless scrolling, targeted algorithms and even AI-driven deepfakes—that can harm mental health. Australia’s E-Safety Commissioner likens the change to a “digital swimming lesson”: protecting younger teens until they are ready, while teaching them to spot harmful content and build resilience.

Currently E-Safety commissioner is consulting experts, parents, platforms and educators to develop guidelines for age verification and compliance monitoring. They will also work with privacy authorities to ensure data protection is prioritised.

In our digital world, this "social media delay" offers teenagers time to grow critical thinking skills—so when they do join, they can navigate online spaces more confidently and safely.

For more information and to help you prepare for this change with your young person, please visit the Office of the E-Safety Commissioner - Social media age restrictions | eSafety Commissioner

Mr Dominic Piacun
Head of Secondary Years

Join us for our weekly Coffee Catch-Ups, held every Wednesday morning from 7:45am to 8:15am at The Hearts Cafe Coffee Nook. These informal sessions provide an opportunity for parents and students to connect with members of our Senior Leadership Team in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Whether you would like to discuss specific topics or simply enjoy a friendly conversation, our Leaders are here to listen and engage with our College community.

Next week, Wednesday 30 July, Mrs Lia Sabri, Head of Primary Years will be hosting the session. Please feel free to drop by; we would love to see you there.

Mr Craig Brown
Head of Springfield

24 July

- Year 10 Meningococcal Vaccinations (second dose)

29 July

-Year 8 Geography Excursion
- Beenleigh Eisteddfod Dolce Voce

30 July

- Lutheran Primary Gala Day
- School Photo Day 1 (Staff and Secondary Years)
- French Bilingual Puppet Show Incursion (Prep – Year 2)

31 July

- Central Districts Track & Field
- Prep Open Classroom
- Parent Event (ThinkUKnow)

1 August

- School Photos Day 2 (Primary Years and Siblings)

Calling all young innovators and creative problem-solvers! The Ideas and Imagination Award is back in 2025, giving students from Prep to Year 12 the chance to turn bold ideas into real solutions for Springfield's future.

Students will develop skills in STEM, design thinking and entrepreneurship through hands-on workshops and expert mentoring, all leading to an exciting live Pitch Day on Wednesday 10 September at UniSQ.

Choose your passion area from Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing, Smart Economy or Creativity and help shape our city's tomorrow.

Program starts Wednesday 30 July 2025 and is open to all students Prep to Year 12.

Your brilliant idea could change Springfield's future.

Full details: Ideas & Imagination Award 2025 – Maha Sinnathamby

Registration form: Register for Maha Sinnathamby Ideas & Imagination Award | 2025

Mrs Lia Sabri
Head of Primary Years

To book your tickets, please click on the following link: https://bit.ly/St-Peters-2025-...

Arise Live is an event for youth and young adults and for those young at heart, held in Junior High Precinct at St Peters Springfield. With a focus on music, a message from God’s word, food and friendship, this will be a fun night for all. Come and be encouraged in your journey of faith.

Pastor Matthew Wilksch
St Peters Springfield Chaplain

Last week we passed the mid-winter milestone. While I’m looking forward to warmer nights and longer days, as a cyclist I have been embracing the cold mornings. There is something perversely satisfying about facing a freezing morning with only a bike and a stiff upper lip. My coldest ride this winter was -1.2C, with a “feels like” temperature of -5.1C. There are plenty of colder places, but this was fresh enough for me.

What’s the appeal of freezing your fingers and toes and most other parts of your body first thing in the morning? It’s partly a mindful exercise to experience cold on your skin and in your body, and to feel this sensation deeply. It’s partly a necessary thing to burn off the winter comfort food that is so enticing. And it’s partly to do with Rule #9 (it’s a cyclist thing, I can’t explain here, but if you know, you know – try searching online for Cycling Rule #9 and see what it says).

One of the best things about a cold morning ride is the hot shower afterwards. The feeling of how water running over your cold skin, thawing your freezing body is nothing short of glorious. Sometimes it is only then that you realise just how cold you were and how delightful the warmth is.

I think this is a picture of God's love. Our hearts are cold until they are warmed by God's love. Theologically, our hearts are stone cold dead until God enlivens us by the power of his Spirit through faith in Jesus. The fire of God's love gives us life. We only realise how cold our hearts can be when we encounter the warmth of God's love.

There are many things we can say about God and many ways to describe God, but if we were to say just one thing about God that captures God's essential character and being, it would be love. God is love. John writes this in his first letter, and there are numerous references to God's love throughout the bible. God is by nature, love. Every other attribute or action of God must be viewed through this lens.

When we think of the troubles we encounter in the human relationships in our life – loneliness, conflict, discrimination, violence – every one of them is made better by love. When we think of how to care for people in our lives who are going through sickness, heartbreak, stress or injustice, every situation calls for love. There is never a time when love is not appropriate. Love comes in the form of friendship, care, kindness, presence, provision, forgiveness, empathy, understanding and many other ways.

Love sent Jesus to the cross for us. Love raised Jesus from the dead. Love sets our hearts on fire for God and for each other. When we give and receive love, we experience God’s essential nature.

As winter endures, may you be warmed by God’s love. And may you warm others with the love God has given you.

Pastor Matt Wilksch
St Peters Springfield Chaplain

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,

We would like to assure you that planning is well underway to ensure effective educational programs, staffing and administration at our school in 2026. As part of this process, it is important to confirm our expected student numbers for next year.

For students Continuing at St Peters Springfield in 2026

If your child will continue as a student at the College in 2026, no action is required. Unless the Head of Springfield or our Enrolments Office receive written advice from you indicating otherwise, we will assume your child is returning and their place at the College is secured.

For students Leaving St Peters Springfield at the end of 2025

If you plan for your child to leave the College at the end of 2025, we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about your decision. While we understand that family circumstances and plans may change, we welcome your feedback and may be able to offer support or explore alternative options that could assist.

Please note that the College requires written notice at least one Term in advance for any student withdrawing at the end of the year. The final date to provide notice is Thursday 18 September 2025.

If you have any questions about continuing enrolment or are considering enrolling a sibling, please contact our Enrolments Team at s.enrolments@stpeters.qld.edu.au or by phone 3470 3888.

Thank you for your continued support.

Enrolments Registrar

SPARQ-ed (Students Performing Advanced Research Queensland – Education) is a unique biomedical educational program for school students, delivered through a collaboration between the Department of Education and the Translational Research Institute (TRI). This year we have our very own bright SPARQ in Riya M (Year 10). who has been offered a place at a special set of Science Week Workshops. Riya will receive a practical introduction to Biomedical Research, including Cancer Cell Biology, Bacterial Transformation and Microbiology, in a fully equipped Physical Containment (PC2) teaching laboratory and learning centre.

Students in Junior High (Years 7, 8 and 9, can still apply for the Junior Research Engagement Program occurring in December 2025 (applications open on 7 October, but put in your application soon so that you don’t miss out). Applications can be made through the SPARQ-ED website https://www.tri.edu.au/resources/sparq-ed.

Dr Michelle Thygesen
Curriculum Leader – Science and HPE (Years 7–12)

Be on time, Be prepared, Be a leader, Believe!

Springfield Festival of Learning

Congratulations to Lucy L, Ariel Q and Aaroosha J who represented our College at lead in events to the Springfield Festival of Learning to be held in September. Our representatives were part of a creative vocal workshop lead by Josh Arnold or a conversation held from 15-17 July. On Wednesday 16 July the vocal students were involved in the recording and filming of the Coalition song which gave them an insight into the technicalities of, and the patience required in this production stage of the process.

Senior Drama Troupe Workshops

The Senior Drama Troupe have been working with leading Shakespeare actor and director and co-founder of A Moveable Theatre Company, Terry Hansen, as they prepare for their production of excerpts from "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Their next workshop will be on Thursday 14 August from 2:45pm-5:00pm. Thanks to Mrs Wilson for her guidance and further opportunities to industry connections for our budding actors. We look forward to their presentation on 5 September.

Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod

Year 6 students under the direction of Mrs Kathy Wilson will again compete at the Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod as a Speech Choir on Thursday 24 July. They have been preparing two pieces, a poem called Skateboard by Max Fatchen and a piece of prose called Storm Boy by Colin Thiele.Thanks to Mrs Wilson and the Year 6 students as they further continue to develop teamwork, memorisation skills, rhythmic elements and communication skills.

Beenleigh Eisteddfod

On 29 July, Dolce Voce will compete at the Beenleigh Eisteddfod. We wish them well and look forward to celebrating their results.

Acknowledgement of Country/ Queensland Independent Schools Summit

Last Thursday we welcomed back to the College Ms Waveney Yasso who led us in May in creating a unique Acknowledgement of Country song for our College. A small group of vocalists rehearsed with Waveney in preparation for the Queensland Independent Schools Summit to be held on 31 July on the Gold Coast and we were excited to be able to present our inaugural performance at the Lower Primary Assembly. As a result, we have been invited to present the song again at a NAIDOC Week Morning Tea hosted by the Springfield City Group in August.

Upcoming Events

Term 3

• 29 July Beenleigh Eisteddfod – Dolce Voce
• 29 July Assembly Performance – Rock Band
• 31 July Queensland Independent Schools Summit – Waveney Yasso
• 7 August – Twilight Tours – Piano and Guitar
• 14 August – Senior Drama Troupe Workshop
• 27 August Lunchtime Concourse Concert- Rock Band
• 5 September Primary and Secondary Drama Troupe Presentations
• 8 September Springfield Festival of Learning – Dolce Voce/Visual Art Workshops
• 12 September Springfield Festival of Learning Events TBC
• 17 September – AVEO Secondary Presentation

Mrs Geraldine Campbell
Performing Arts Coordinator

Term 3 Sport Training Schedule

Please engage with the Term 3 Sport training schedule. Please note program start dates and times. Please email k.reed@stpeters.qld.edu.au if you wish to register.

Term 3 Springfield Track & Field Training

Track & Field training is now underway and runs every Wednesday morning from 6.:15am and Thursday afternoon from 3:00pm with Coach Marty and her team.

These sessions are essential for students preparing for AIC, QGSSSA, Greater Brisbane Conference (GBC) and upcoming trial events.

Term 3 Years 6-12 Running Club

Join Mr Brown each Friday morning from 7:00am at Springfield Sports Complex AFL Field for Running Club. These sessions are designed to prepare middle to long distance runners prepare for upcoming events.

Please engage with the Term 3 Track & Field events schedule.

Sports Bus Bookings

Students participating in Sport at Indooroopilly must book a seat on the Term 3 Sports Bus via the 2025 SFD Sport Bus Manifest on Teams. This must be done through the student’s account. For assistance, please contact k.reed@stpeters.qld.edu.au.

Mr Kale Reed
Head of Sport Springfield