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2025 Round Square Reflections and 2026 Opportunities
Matthew Flinders Anglican College proudly provided many outstanding Round Square opportunities for our students in 2025, enabling our Secondary students to embrace global citizenship through meaningful cultural exchanges, service learning and conference experiences. Below we share some of the highlights and share students’ reflections.
In 2026, Round Square celebrates its 60th anniversary. As a proud Round Square school, Flinders is looking forward to offering our students an incredible milestone year ahead. There are exchanges across Australia and overseas, service projects to South Africa and Peru, an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro and the International Conference in Sydney, alongside a pre-conference in Alice Springs.
Student Leah D is a huge fan of Round Square and encourages others to give it a go if possible.
“My advice would be to absolutely take the opportunity if you’re offered the chance to go on a Round Square trip, whether it’s a service project or a conference. These experiences truly broaden your perspective, change the way you see the world and have the potential to be life-changing in the best way.”
Secondary students can express interest in upcoming Round Square opportunities via MyFlinders “Round Square” group.
2025 International and Domestic Exchanges
Our 2025 International Exchange program saw 29 students across Years 10 and 11 embark on reciprocal Round Square exchanges lasting 3-12 weeks across Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, the UK and USA. These transformative experiences helped build independence, deepen cultural understanding and form lifelong friendships.
One such friendship between Neve F and her exchange partner Maya extended beyond their time at school, with their families reconnecting in Italy and Switzerland during the September and December school holidays.
Our Domestic Exchange program provided 13 students in Year 8 with two-week placements in a choice of leading schools in Perth, Launceston, Canberra, Orange and Alice Springs, an excellent stepping stone to international opportunities.
Year 8 student Milla D ventured to Kincross Wolaroi School in Orange, NSW for two weeks in October. She shared that she particularly enjoyed life in the boarding house and the facilities, adding that the opportunity inspired her to pursue more travel and exchange experiences.
Domestic Exchange in Orange, NSW Exchange students in JapanNeve and Maya in Switzerland
2025 Round Square International Conference “Beyond the Dunes”- Dubai and Kenya
Six Year 11 students attended the 2025 International Conference in Dubai in September, which featured a pre-conference tour in Kenya where students were hosted by the Starehe Boys’ Centre.
At Starehe, our students experienced a vastly different style of school life. They were welcomed by the students performing in the school band and given a tour of the campus, where they quickly noticed the strong sense of discipline and routine.
At Starehe, students follow a rigorous academic schedule, often studying until 11:30pm before waking again at 2:00am to continue their studies. Each morning begins with students cleaning the school grounds and classrooms in preparation for the day. Only prefects walk to class, while all other students run between lessons, symbolising the school’s culture of discipline, responsibility and respect.
Mrs Jodie Symons, the Flinders Round Square Co-ordinator, shared,
“One of the most powerful highlights of my trip to Dubai and Kenya was our visit to Starehe Boys’ Centre in Nairobi. As awe-inspiring as Africa’s wildlife is, it is the people who truly make the continent unforgettable, and nowhere was this more evident than at Starehe.
From the moment I walked through the gates, I felt the pride, discipline and deep sense of community that define the school. Starehe’s commitment to academic excellence, service and character development aligns strongly with the Round Square IDEALS and with my own philosophy as an educator.
A particularly profound moment was the privilege of teaching 44 Year 10 Chemistry students. Many come from significantly underprivileged backgrounds, where education is not just important but life-changing. Their focus, discipline and gratitude was extraordinary. Every student was fully present, engaged and deeply respectful of the learning process. The experience was a powerful reminder that education has the ability to transform futures, and it reaffirmed my belief in the importance of how global connections and service create meaningful opportunities for young people to thrive.
The Dubai component of the trip was equally inspiring. To be surrounded at the conference by more than 1,500 students from over 50 countries was extraordinary. It was a true celebration of global citizenship in action. Watching young people connect across cultures reinforced the importance of international experiences in shaping thoughtful and compassionate future leaders.”
Student Reflections
Avani J shared,
“Our experiences in Kenya and Dubai reminded me how interconnected the world is and how much of an impact young people can make when they work together. The experience made me more motivated to pursue opportunities that involve global citizenship, advocacy and leadership. I came back feeling more grateful, but also more determined to use what I’ve learned to help others.”
Isla Mc reflected,
“It opened my eyes to how big the world is and how connected we all are. It made me want to keep exploring, learning from different cultures and using what I’ve learned to make a positive impact wherever I go.”
Round Square students in KenyaMrs Jodie Symons teaching at StareheFlinders students at Starehe
Round Square Conferencc, DubaiRound Square Conference, New ZealandRound Square Service project, India
2025 New Zealand Conference
Nine Middle School students travelled to New Zealand in December 2025 for Whanganui Collegiate School's International Leadership conference, participating in activities designed to promote Round Square IDEALS.
Guided by the theme, “Journeys Without Limits: Uniting the World Through Adventure,” our students fully embraced the experience.
Set among rivers, coastline and volcanic mountains of New Zealand’s stunning native bush, Whanganui provided a spectacular backdrop for team building, high ropes, rafting and hiking.
Students also visited a local Marae, gaining valuable insight into Māori culture, and participated in a service day supporting the local community.
The trip also included a day of tourist activities, with visits to the Wētā Workshop, famed for its work on “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”, and the Te Papa Museum.
Throughout the conference, our students seized every opportunity to grow in leadership, resilience and teamwork, representing Flinders with confidence and pride.
2025 Service Learning Projects
Service learning remained a key part of Round Square experiences.
In July 2025, Ollie Lovell completed a two-week project in South Africa, contributing to building a kindergarten and supporting local beekeepers alongside his international peers.
In December, Enzo H attended a project at Panna National Park in India, where they supported the staff at medical eye health camps and helped to construct a community library.
2025 Round Square in the Primary School
In Term 4 of 2025, our Year 5 Primary Round Square Committee launched “Project Positivity”, a student-led initiative celebrating everyday acts of kindness. Year 5 student Catherine F shared that the idea came from wanting to “notice and name” kindness to help it spread.
The group created the Kindness Tree, an olive tree symbolising peace, where students can recognise their peers for kind actions. Each week, one act of kindness is drawn and added to the tree, and the student receives a friendship bracelet with uplifting words.
Three Kindness Trees can be found across the Primary campus, proudly labelled “Making Kindness Known”.
Year 5 student Keogh M said Project Positivity also ties in perfectly with Round Square’s ideal of service.
These exciting and challenging Round Square experiences provide our students with diverse opportunities to develop as globally-minded, service-oriented young leaders.
2026 Round Square Opportunities - Celebrating 60 Years
Our 2026 Round Square International Exchange Program is already underway at Flinders.
International visitors from the USA, UK, Peru and Germany, along with their host families, have embraced life at Flinders, the Sunshine Coast and beyond.
From climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to skydiving, camping and surfing at Rainbow Beach, our guests are making the most of their Australian adventure.
Leo S and Ralph P from Felsted School (UK) have also reunited with their cricket exchange hosts after Lachie B and Toby E spent a term playing cricket in the UK last year. Ralph shared that cricket under lights in the Queensland warmth has been a highlight! He has also picked up some new skills and scored a half century in one of his first matches.
For Flinders students like Taj, the joy has been sharing Australian culture and everyday College life with his buddy, Ben, from the USA.
The Kindness TreeUK Cricket Exchange2026 Round Square Exchanges
Old Flinderians continuing the Round Square Connection
Our Flinderians alumni are also embracing the Round Square connection with Lucy Sinnamon (Class of 2025) currently volunteering as a teacher at Starehe Boys’ Centre in Nairobi.
Lucy is currently teaching senior English, French, Life Skills and Biology classes as well as providing tutoring after school. She has also been involved with debating, Model UN, swimming and band. Lucy started a French club with some of the boys and has also been teaching a beginner clarinet class at one of the neighbouring primary schools.
Reflecting on the experience so far, Lucy shared,
“The teachers and the students have been very welcoming and are all so dedicated.
“I have explored the city, visited the Masai Markets, a museum and a snake park. I’ve also been on a safari in Nairobi National Park. It has been such an amazing experience. I genuinely don't know how I'm going to leave in April!”
During the recent half term, Lucy travelled to Mombasa with some of the teachers. A teacher at Starehe shared that Lucy has been an invaluable contributor, particularly in her enthusiasm to support the school’s debating club and French classes.
