New Social Media Regulations: What you need to know

From 10 December 2025, new laws will take effect in Australia to protect young people online by restricting access to social media for those under the age of 16. This important change reflects growing community concern about the impact of early social media use on children's mental health, wellbeing, and development.

Research shows that social media can expose children to unrealistic comparisons, online pressure, and harmful content long before they are emotionally ready to manage it. While regulation is a positive step forward, real safety begins at home. Families continue to play the most powerful role in helping children build confidence, resilience, and awareness in the digital world.

These new regulations provide an opportunity to talk openly with your child about their online experiences and what these changes mean for them. It's also a chance to review family technology habits, reinforce healthy routines, and explore age-appropriate ways for young people to connect, learn and express themselves.

This Special Report explains what the new laws mean in practice and offers practical guidance to help families prepare for the upcoming changes.

Here is the link to your Special Report.

'Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.' 2 Corinthians 9:7

If you, like me, are still in denial that it’s even November, then you probably don’t really want me telling you how few weeks there are left until Christmas. So, I won’t. The thing is, though, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! There are decorations in shopping centres, whole sections dedicated to sweet treats like mince pies and plum puddings, and cheery carols coming through the sound systems.

I love everything about Christmas — the preparation during Advent, the carol singing, the nativity at church, the Christmas lights twinkling in the suburbs, the delicious dishes, the laughter as we open Christmas crackers and thoughtfully-chosen gifts. But when you strip away all the trimmings, the thing I love most, and the reason for it all, is Jesus. A gift from a generous and loving Heavenly Father, to reconcile us to him and bring the peace, joy, hope, and purpose that we so deeply crave — the 'life in abundance' of John 10:10.

Last year, in the lead-up to Christmas, Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) shared that Australians were expected to spend a staggering $921 million on unwanted gifts at Christmas. That floored me. So much money, and for what purpose? When so many of us already have so much, wouldn’t it be amazing if even just a fraction of this amount was redirected to people and places that needed it?

Each year, ALWS puts together a Gifts of Grace catalogue, where you can choose gifts that go beyond us and our wants and needs to impact some of the poorest communities around the world. It’s a chance to use the gift-giving tradition of Christmas to bring the real hope, joy, and peace of Jesus to life in practical ways. You can read more on the gifts here: https://www.alws.org.au/what-you-can-do/gifts-of-grace/. This week, Gifts of Grace catalogues will be sent home with Primary Years families, and they will also be available at the Sub-School receptions around the College for those who would like a paper copy.

This year, there are 27 unique gifts to choose from, and with five gifts under $10.00, it is an affordable way to let family and friends know you are thinking of them at Christmas, while also spreading the joy beyond your immediate community. With each Gift of Grace you purchase, you receive a Grace card and a Grace sheet. Each Grace card has a bookmark that can also be used as a Christmas tree decoration as a reminder of your gift, and the Grace sheet details how the gift you have chosen will bless someone’s life. In the past, my family has experienced much joy through buying long-drop loos, pigs, classroom supplies, seeds for community gardens — the list goes on! This year, I’m considering chillies for families in Indonesia, study buddies for children in refugee camps in Kenya, and fishing lines and nets for South Sudanese communities.

Just as you experience joy thinking about and shopping for your loved ones, you can experience joy by thoughtfully choosing Gifts of Grace that will bless people you will never even meet. What a generous gift that is!

Renata Rankin
Director of Identity, Formation and Service

Families with children currently enrolled at St Peters Lutheran College who wish to enrol a sibling in the following year levels are kindly reminded to submit an online application before the end of Term 4.

• Prep 2027
• Year 5 2028
• Year 7 2029

Due to high demand for places, all sibling applications must be received by Wednesday, 3 December 2025.

Nicole McMahon
Admissions Manager

Uniform fittings can now be conveniently booked online! Parents and caregivers can take advantage of our new, streamlined booking process to easily secure a uniform fitting time that suits their schedule.

Simply click the booking link below or scan the QR code to make your appointment. This new system ensures a smooth and efficient experience for all families.

Link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/qxeys
Event code: qxeys

The St Peters P&F Committee is once again proud to bring extra fun to Carols Under the Stars with a great range of jumping castles, rides, and arcade games for all ages. 

Rides will operate from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, followed by the Carols performances from 6:45 pm. Food Trucks and the Bar will be open throughout the entire event.

Ride Wristbands

Families are encouraged to pre-purchase a wristband for each child via Eventbrite to enjoy unlimited access to all rides and games.

This year, ride operating hours have been extended to give everyone more time to enjoy the fun, and new attractions have been added for Senior School students.

• Pre-purchased wristbands: $20.00 per person
• On-the-day wristbands: $25.00 per person (available from the Info Tent on Harts Road Oval)

Wristbands can be collected from School Receptions from Wednesday 26 November. Passes will be collated under the eldest child’s name in each family. Please ask your eldest child to collect them from their Sub-School Reception. Note: If the eldest is in Year 12 (2025) or away at Ironbark, passes will be issued under the next eldest child.

Students performing in the Carols are eligible for a discounted wristband price (ride access after rehearsals). Please contact the Music Department for the discount code.

To pre-purchase your ride pass, click here.

Nicola Britton
Community Liaison Officer

Celebrate Christmas in the St Peters Chapel!

• Christmas Eve – 7:00pm Carol Service
• Christmas Day – 9:00am Communion Service

Music by organist Gregory Mayer and the wonderful St Peters Church Choir.

All are welcome!

St Peters is one of the largest Duke of Edinburgh Award Centres in Queensland, and we currently have 161 students enrolled in the Bronze Award, 28 in Silver, and 46 students undertaking their Gold Award. This significant uptake is primarily due to our iconic Ironbark program, where students complete the Bronze Adventurous Journey as part of their five-week experience. For many students, this also sparks a love of the great outdoors and a desire to continue to challenge themselves.

Students who enjoy the Ironbark experience often continue on to complete their Silver and Gold Awards. Each Award level comes with its own challenges, and upon completing all three levels, students have truly experienced self-discovery and growth. With the added benefit of QCE points attached to each Award level (one point each for a Bronze and Silver Award and two points for a Gold Award) students gain a lot from participating in the Duke of Edinburgh during their time at St Peters.

At the end of their Duke of Edinburgh Award, most students have the fondest memories of their Adventurous Journeys (AJs). This is also how students continue their connection to Ironbark, as Ironbark staff run the Silver and Gold AJs during school holidays. Our Silver AJs are conducted as canoe trips, while our Gold trips are four-day hikes. Over the September holidays, a group of 15 students from both the Indooroopilly and Springfield campuses visited a stretch of the Brisbane River for their AJ. The students enjoyed time improving their canoeing skills, getting to know each other, and camping on an idyllic part of the river. A big thank you to Mr Gudze from Ironbark, Mr Bygraves from Indooroopilly, and Ms Masko from Springfield for supporting the students on this trip.

Good luck to the 12 students completing the Gold Hike AJ to O’Reilly’s and Binna Burra, the ten students going to Somerset Dam for their Silver Canoe AJ, and the Gold students heading to Cambodia or the Band Tour as part of their Gold Residential Project over the upcoming summer holidays.

Finally, I would like to thank the 2025 Student Leaders, Georgia C, Ruby S, and Jonathan W, for all their help in supporting our Duke of Edinburgh students this year. Congratulations to the 2026 Duke of Edinburgh Leaders, Terrence G, Kate W, and Tom W. We look forward to supporting all students on their Duke of Edinburgh Awards in 2026.

Susannah Treschman
Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator

In Week 3, our Year 11 IB students farewelled the graduating Year 12 IB class in a wonderful community event filled with celebration and reflection.

This week, we continue to celebrate and recognise our Year 12 IB students, who will complete their final examinations on Friday. Over the past two years, they have demonstrated critical thinking, reflection and resilience — all qualities of an IB learner.

While the past three weeks of examinations have marked the culmination of their IB journey, we know they will carry the skills and values of the IB Diploma Programme into the next chapter of their lives, wherever this may lead them. Congratulations, once again, to our graduating IB seniors — we are incredibly proud of you and all that you have achieved.

Cassandra Magar
IB Diploma Programme Coordinator

Year 6 PYP Exhibition

Last Thursday evening, our Year 6 students proudly presented the culmination of their Primary Years learning journey through the annual PYP Exhibition, a highlight of the school calendar. The evening was filled with excitement, anticipation, and a touch of nervous energy shared by students, families, and staff alike.

This year’s Exhibition followed an action cycle that began with a provocation around personal passions. From the very first Amazing Race activities designed to spark curiosity and collaboration, students embarked on an inquiry journey that strengthened their Approaches to Learning and deepened their understanding of themselves as learners and global citizens.

Held in the Centre for Learning and Innovation, the Exhibition came to life across three unique spaces: the Amphitheatre, Process Room, and Gallery, each showcasing a different dimension of the students’ learning.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Year 6 teachers, specialist staff, and mentors for their unwavering guidance and support throughout the Exhibition process. Special appreciation goes to Mrs Simone Mitchell, whose vision, care, and attention to detail ensured a seamless and inspiring experience for all.

The 2025 PYP Exhibition was not only a celebration of learning, it was also a testament to curiosity, creativity, and the collaborative spirit that defines the Primary Years at St Peters.

Healthy Screen Habits Webinar

We’re excited to share an upcoming opportunity for parents and caregivers: the Healthy Screen Time Habits webinar, presented by Life Ed Queensland and the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. This practical session will provide simple and effective strategies for setting reasonable screen time limits, teaching healthy digital habits, and managing conflicts over technology use. With expert guidance, you’ll gain tools to help your child be safe, responsible, and balanced in our digital world.

We know that supporting children’s wellbeing in the age of technology works best when we partner together. By attending this free online workshop, you’ll join a community of families committed to positive screen time routines. We encourage all parents to register and take away actionable tips, including creating device-free zones, modelling mindful tech use, and having open conversations about online safety.

REGISTER HERE for the free webinar on Wednesday 26 November at 7:00 pm.

Remembrance Day

This year, our Lower Primary students commemorated Remembrance Day in a meaningful and creative way through the RSL’s Draw to Remember initiative. Together, they created a vibrant chalk mural in the Early Years Playground, an expression of gratitude and remembrance for those who have served.

A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Natalia Grieves, Mr Andrew Robin, and Mr Cameron Glass for thoughtfully coordinating this special experience for our youngest learners.

Please enjoy the story captured by 7News: 7News Video

Lisa Challenor
Head of Primary Years

Over the past fortnight, I have once again been reminded of the generous and compassionate spirit of our Junior High students. Our recent free dress day in support of Emmanuel City Mission was a wonderful example of our young people living out service to others. The kindness and maturity they demonstrated in contributing to a cause that makes a real difference are something we can all be proud of.

Raising Teenagers

I would also like to take this opportunity to speak with families about an important and emerging area in the lives of young people: the safe and considered use of technology and social media.

At St Peters we have long held the position of being a phone-free school during the day. This is because we recognise the increasing impact that constant connectivity can have on learning, wellbeing, and relationships. The Australian Government's Legislation placing restrictions on children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms will come into effect on December 10.

This is a timely moment for families to begin conversations at home. Our students are growing up in a world where digital communication is part of everyday life, yet they are still developing the skills necessary to manage its influence. Early and unsupervised access to social media has been linked to challenges in emotional development, sleep patterns, academic focus, social interaction, and mental health. While technology brings great benefits to learning and connection, guidance and boundaries are essential.

Junior High Cocurricular Presentation Ceremony

On Tuesday 25 November we look forward to celebrating the outstanding cocurricular achievements of our Junior High students.

This special occasion recognises the dedication, talent, and commitment demonstrated by our students across a diverse range of activities, including sport, music, service, and cultural pursuits throughout the year.

Parents of students who will be receiving an award will be notified by email in the coming days.

Max Forbes
Head of Junior High

This week has been a busy week academically for the Year 8s, with work on assessment occurring across a variety of subject areas. Half of the cohort have been working on their podcasts for Christian Studies in groups, utilising their skills in teamwork, negotiation, and creativity to produce a podcast on Jesus and his identity, along with a zine about a parable from the Bible.

Our French students have been hard at work practising their speaking tasks. Many have visited Junior High Reception to interview staff, asking a variety of questions, including: What is your favourite colour? How long have you worked at St Peters? What do you enjoy about working at St Peters? Who is in your family? Students are then required to translate the English answers back into French. It has been fantastic seeing them learning new words and getting out amongst our beautiful environment to enjoy some fresh air while learning these important, real-world skills.

Allie Walsh
Acting Year 8 Coordinator

Our Year 9 students are travelling well as we move through the final weeks of the school year. Last week, AB, CD, EF, and LM showcased their Year 9 Pastoral Projects, reflecting on favourite memories, moments of personal growth, and the experiences that have shaped their time in Junior High. Many students highlighted Ironbark as a significant part of their journey, celebrating the friendships, challenges, and personal development that have come with this unique experience.

On Tuesday, we farewelled the final group of students as the LM classes departed for their Ironbark adventure. There was plenty of excitement and anticipation as they prepared to embark on this milestone experience.

It is wonderful to see the students approach the end of their Junior High journey with such positivity and a deep sense of community.

Helena Lambert
Year 9 Coordinator

FTC Robotics Success

For the first time in almost a decade, St Peters has won awards for both teams competing at the same event. Two of our FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams competed in the two-day Brisbane North qualifier event at Grace Lutheran College.

Flaming Tacos received the Think Award, which recognises the team that best demonstrates the engineering journey behind their robot. This award is based on the strength of their Engineering Portfolio, which shows how they analysed problems, tested ideas, and improved their design over the season. Despite experiencing a battery fire that required the team to completely rebuild and rewire the robot overnight, they pushed through to become third-place alliance finalists. This was a remarkable display of resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure.

Our Flaming Galahs team received the Connect Award, which is given to the team that actively engages with the broader STEM community. This award recognises teams who build partnerships, learn from experts, and share STEM opportunities with others. The Galahs demonstrated strong outreach and a clear plan for their continued growth as a team.

Both teams interviewed exceptionally well during the judging process, both receiving multiple interviews for the several awards for which they were in contention. This is evidence of deep knowledge of their entire process and preparation throughout the year. Each team can win only one award at this event.

Overall, it was a fantastic result for St Peters, showcasing not only technical skill and competitiveness, but also creativity, collaboration, and the spirit of FIRST.

This weekend, our rookie team, Flaming Marshmallows, will be competing at the Brisbane South competition, hosted here on campus in the Centre for Learning and Innovation. Best of luck, Marshmallows.

2026 Digital Focus for Girls at St Peters

Next year, St Peters will compete in the QGSSA eSports competition, and we need players of all skill levels to represent our school. Players are required for three competitions: eChess (using Chess.com), Minecraft Capture the Flag, and Rocket League. There will also be demonstration games of Just Dance, League of Legends, and VR Tennis. If your daughter is a budding gamer, we would like to hear from her and help prepare her for competition. Players will be divided into:

• Open Division – High-performance, competitive teams
• Division 1 – Intermediate teams
• Division 2 – Development and participation teams

There will be unofficial practice events throughout Semester 1, with plenty of time to practice for the official competition dates:

• Friday 5 June 2026 (Term 2, Week 7)
• Friday 23 October 2026 (Term 4, Week 3)

If you would like to find out more, please contact Mr Canfield at s.canfield@stpeters.qld.edu.au or drop into MSO7 for a chat.

UQ – Girls Learn to Code

At the University of Queensland, the Girls’ Programming Network (GPN) runs workshops that teach high school girls programming. During the workshops, you'll learn everything you need to know to build an awesome project and have a great time doing it!

At a GPN workshop, you’ll learn cool new skills, play games, solve fun computation puzzles, hang out with great mentors, and make new friends.

Don't miss this chance to join this amazing coding community. Sign up by 27 November at this link.

Simon Canfield
Digital (Robotics) Coordinator

Please save the date for our Back-to-School Sale at the Second-Hand Uniform Shop!

Friday 23 January
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
P&F Centre, Indooroopilly

Proudly brought to you by the St Peters P&F and Community Hub