Our Catholic Action Program
In Years 9 and 10, students have the opportunity to put their learning into action through the Catholic Action Program (CAP). This hands-on initiative allows students to embody Catholic Social Teaching by engaging in meaningful service experiences such as visiting aged-care homes and local primary schools, connecting across generations, and promoting dignity, compassion, and inclusion.
VCE Religion and Society
At the senior level, Padua College offers a comprehensive Religious Education program that caters to students’ diverse interests and pathways.
Unit 1: The Role of Religion in Society (Year 10)
This introductory VCE unit explores how religion has shaped — and continues to shape — societies throughout history. Students investigate how belief systems influence culture, values, laws, and social structures. They also examine the interaction between religion and contemporary issues, developing skills in ethical reasoning and cultural analysis.
Unit 2: Religion and Ethics (Year 11)
Building on Unit 1, this unit invites students to explore how different religions, including Catholicism, approach moral decision-making. Through case studies and philosophical reflection, students examine ethical frameworks, moral dilemmas, and how faith traditions inform responses to complex social questions. This unit encourages students to think critically about how beliefs translate into action in the modern world.
Units 3 & 4: Religion and Society (Year 12)
In these culminating VCE studies, students examine the dynamic relationship between religion, society, and change. Unit 3 focuses on the origins, development, and challenges of religious traditions, with an emphasis on the Catholic Church’s enduring role and influence. Unit 4 then explores how religions respond to internal and external challenges — such as secularism, scientific advancement, and moral pluralism — while maintaining continuity with core beliefs and teachings. Students develop advanced analytical and evaluative skills that prepare them for university study in theology, philosophy, law, humanities, and social sciences.
Year 12 Religious Education Program
As an alternative to VCE Religion and Society, students may choose the Year 12 Religious Education Program, which focuses on Contemporary Social Issues through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching. This course challenges students to critically engage with pressing local and global issues such as poverty, climate justice, human rights, and bioethics, exploring how faith can inform action and advocacy in a modern world.
Religious Education at Padua College equips students with the moral vision, spiritual depth, and critical thinking skills to become compassionate leaders who work for a more just and hopeful world — faithful to the Gospel and responsive to the needs of their time.
