Students, families and staff are invited to get involved in the 2026 Aussie Bird Count! From 19 to 25 October, people across Australia will be spending 20 minutes observing and counting the birds around them as part of BirdLife Australia’s annual Citizen Science event.
Spend just 20 minutes watching and listening to the birds around you. You can take part at home, at school, in your backyard or at a local park. No birdwatching experience is needed!
Why not make it a family activity?
Put the phones away, listen carefully and see how many different birds you can discover. You might be surprised by what is living right outside your door!
How to take part
- Register here for the Aussie Bird Count.
- Download the free Aussie Bird Count app.
- Between 19 and 25 October, choose an outdoor spot.
- Spend 20 minutes watching and listening to the birds around you.
- Record the number of each bird species you see and submit your count.
Ready to get bird watching?
Explore the Aussie Bird Count resources for bird identification tips, videos, guides and other helpful resources before the Count begins.
Let’s see what birds we can discover in our own backyards and within our school grounds!
With VCE exams fast approaching, and Years 7 to 9 exams taking place in late November and December, this term can be a particularly stressful time for students and their families.
ReachOut offers a range of practical resources to help young people manage exam stress, look after their wellbeing and prepare with greater confidence. Resources include strategies for managing anxiety, self care and mindfulness techniques, as well as an exam preparation checklist.
These resources may be helpful for families supporting students through the busy assessment and exam period.
Do you have broken items lying around at home? Don’t toss them – bring them along to the Mernda Repair Café and give them a second life!
This is a FREE community service, helping reduce waste and bring neighbours together through skill-sharing and sustainable practices. Come along, learn a new skill, and help create a more sustainable Mernda. Everyone is welcome!
- When: Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Where: 2 Heals Road, Mernda
- Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Our skilled volunteers, aka the Repair Doctors, will be on hand to help with:
- shoe repairs
- bike and scooter tune-ups
- small electrical fixes
- clothing mending and darning
- fashion jewellery repairs
- power tool fixes.
NEW: Chainsaw sharpening! Please book under Power Tools. Blunt chainsaws are a hazard! Our new repairer Alby can help you with that!
Note: minimum three items of clothing per booking. If you need a zip replaced please attempt to unstitch it. It will save our repairers a lot of time. Thank you!
Note: If you know your item needs spare parts, please bring them with you such as bike parts, or zips for clothes, plugs for electrical items.
Our local Epping CFA Open Day is taking place on Sunday, 25 October, with the local fire station opening its doors to the community from 10am to 2pm.
As part of CFA’s Get Fire Ready campaign, visitors can learn more about home fire safety, emergency planning and how to prepare for an emergency, particularly as we head into the warmer months.
The day will also feature fire trucks, a live rescue demonstration, fire safety presentations, a BBQ lunch, raffle, children’s activities and plenty more.
- Date: Sunday 25 October
- Time: 10am to 2pm
- Venue: Epping CFA Fire Station, corner O’Herns Rd and Epping Rd
It is a great opportunity for local families to meet Epping’s volunteer firefighters, explore the fire station and pick up some practical tips to help keep their households safe and prepared.
Our Mission
As an Australian school in the Islamic tradition, our mission is to develop enlightened individuals of learning and character.