Six Chisholm Catholic College staff members and 13 Year 10-11 students took part in the College’s inaugural immersion trip to Vietnam during the Term Three break. 

The immersion was designed to strengthen the College’s connection and mission with the Dominican Sisters as part of the Chisholm heritage. 

It also gave participants a chance to put into practice the College values of Character, Learning and Compassion in a different context. 

The immersion comprised of learning about the country during the first three days: its histories, cultures and peoples. 

Also featured was a trip to the Dominican Motherhouse, followed by valuable time spent at Hoa Hong, a school for children with hearing-impairment.

Visiting Hoa Hong was a truly humbling experience that brought to light how much the sisters, families and the children in the area strive to help those students integrate into mainstream schooling. 

Excursions included the Central Highlands of Pleiku, where the Dominican Sisters run a boarding school serving indigenous communities. 

Staff and students attended an indigenous mass and visited various villages.

Year 11 participants Ethan Care and Declan Beckett summed up their experience with great fondness. 

“The Vietnam Immersion will forever be more than 10 days,” they said. 

“What we learnt and became aware of will be with us forever, much like the change of our characters. 

“This experience is something greater than, ‘just going to Vietnam.’ 

“It was experiencing the communities, the culture, the people and being part of the communities we had come across on our travels and path of service.” 

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