July 2026

What’s going on at LTC?

Key Events

Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards 2026 – nominations now open

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Secondary Scholarships are now open

Celebrating Student Achievement During NAIDOC Week

New Mural Celebrates Culture and Connection to Country

UC Southside Hub Sessions at LTC

$1,000 award for student writing on women’s health

Have your say on youth justice in the ACT

2027 Australian of the Year Awards

Academic Writing Workshop with the University of Canberra

TRaC-X is back for Semester 2!

Physics Students Explore Quantum Science

Volunteering Opportunity at Warrigal Care Hughes

Online Safety Presentations for Parents and Carers

Children’s Week 2026

Thank You to Helping ACT

Thank You to Lions Club of Kambah

Thank You to Woolworths

Legal Aid Support Available at LTC

Legal Assistance in College

2026 school year Equity Fund now open

Changes to bus services from term 3

ACT public school term dates

Dispensers for free period products in schools

Free Period Products Available at ACT Schools

Become a Homestay Host

Menslink – Supporting Young Men in Canberra

Parentline ACT

Blog information

Key Events

Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards 2026 – nominations now open

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards, recognising young people aged 12 to 25 who are making a significant contribution to the ACT community.

The Awards celebrate a wide range of achievements, including leadership, community service, advocacy, environmental action, creativity, personal achievement and youth engagement. Young people can nominate themselves, or be nominated by teachers, schools, parents, peers or community members.

There are 6 award categories:
- Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award (12 to 25 years)
- Young Achiever Award (12 to 17 years)
- Personal Achievement Award (12 to 25 years)
- Environment and Sustainability Award (12 to 25 years)
- Group Achievement Award (12 to 25 years)
- Arts and Multimedia Award (12 to 25 years)

Nominations close at 5 pm on Tuesday 1 September 2026. Find out more and submit a nomination.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Secondary Scholarships are now open

The ACT Education Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Secondary Scholarships Program is now open for applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students currently in Years 10 and 11.

Applications are made through the Smarty Grants website: Secondary Scholarship Program 2027 – ACT Education Directorate

Applications close on Friday 28 August 2026.

Celebrating Student Achievement During NAIDOC Week

As part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we recognised several Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for their achievements, commitment, and contributions across the college.

Natalija was recognised for her outstanding progress in her Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASBA) with AppleTree Daycare, while Elijah was acknowledged for his work in Certificate II in Construction Pathways, developing practical skills and industry knowledge.

Mason was recognised for his participation in the UC Story Ground Workshop with award-winning writers Dr Paul Collis and Dr Andraya Stapp, alongside his commitment to Music and the LTC Rowing Club.

Congratulations also to Ethan and Evelyn, recipients of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Secondary Scholarships, recognising their commitment to their education and supporting their senior schooling.

New Mural Celebrates Culture and Connection to Country

A new mural at the front of Lake Tuggeranong College, created by Wiradjuri artist Kalara Gilbert, celebrates First Nations culture and our connection to Country.

The artwork features Maliyan the Eagle, the Bogong moth story, the Brindabella Mountains, and other elements connected to Country. Fifteen LTC students worked alongside Kalara throughout the design process, helping create an artwork that reflects our school community. A smoking ceremony was held to mark the mural’s arrival.

UC Southside Hub Sessions at LTC

Students, parents, and community members were invited to attend UC Southside Hub sessions at Lake Tuggeranong College. The sessions provided an opportunity to learn more about university pathways and connect with the University of Canberra team.

RSVPs were available at: https://shorturl.at/tFAWO

$1,000 award for student writing on women’s health

Students in years 10, 11 and 12 can enter the Liam and Frankie Davison Award for literary writing on women’s health. Entries must be 500 – 1000 words.
Up to 2 winners will receive $1,000. Entries are now open and close on Monday 31 August 2026.
More information, including terms and conditions, the application form and past winning entries is available at Liam and Frankie Davison Award.

Have your say on youth justice in the ACT

Have your say on the draft ACT Youth Justice Strategic Plan. The plan outlines work planned over the next 5 years to improve outcomes for young people and contribute to a safer community for everyone.
It’s based on evidence, research and existing government commitments. It focuses on 6 key areas including early support, diversion, equity, therapeutic approaches, protecting young people’s rights and supporting successful reintegration into the community.
Share your feedback or express your interest in future community engagement activities at Youth Justice Reform.
Consultation closes 11 August 2026.

2027 Australian of the Year Awards

Nominations are now open for the ACT 2027 Australian of the Year Awards, including the Young Australian of the Year category, which honours outstanding individuals aged 16–30 who are shaping the future.
Nominations close on 31 July 2026.
Visit Australian of the Year to nominate.

Academic Writing Workshop with the University of Canberra

Our students participated in an Academic Writing Workshop delivered in partnership with the University of Canberra.

Through a series of interactive sessions, students developed practical strategies to strengthen their academic writing, use evidence effectively, and build confidence in their study skills. Thank you to the University of Canberra Academic Skills team for supporting this valuable learning opportunity.

TRaC-X is back for Semester 2!

TRaC-X gives students the opportunity to build new skills, explore their interests and connect with others through a wide range of extracurricular activities.

This semester’s program includes rowing, chess, Indigenous Art, baking, creative writing, design, student leadership and much more. New activities this semester include Circle of Courage, Active Citizenship and Pokémon GO

Physics Students Explore Quantum Science

Year 11 and 12 Physics students welcomed Dr Jessica Rosenberg, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at George Mason University, for a session exploring the future of quantum science.

Organised by the U.S. Embassy Australia, the visit introduced students to emerging fields including quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum sensing. Students also took part in a hands-on activity and Q&A session covering topics from quantum computers and black holes to the discovery of new galaxies.

Volunteering Opportunity at Warrigal Care Hughes

LTC students were invited to take part in a volunteering opportunity at Warrigal Care Hughes, spending time with local seniors and supporting a range of activities.

The experience provides students with an opportunity to build connections with the community while exploring pathways into health care.

Online Safety Presentations for Parents and Carers

Join our free online webinars to learn about how AI and algorithms shape your child’s world, with practical strategies to protect their safety, privacy, and sense of reality.

Explore how AI and algorithms can lead young people down harmful ‘rabbit holes’ – from the manosphere to eating disorders, conspiracy theories, and inaccurate mental health advice. We will address:

emerging AI-driven risks, including deepfakes, chatbot grooming, and the impact of hyper-realistic misinformation.
helping your child develop the critical thinking skills needed to spot bias and manipulation, while teaching them how to control and curate their own experiences to protect their privacy and wellbeing in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Webinar dates:

Wednesday 5 August – 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Thursday 6 August – 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Visit the Parent and Carer Online eSafety Webinar registration page.

Explore past webinars and resources. Access the online eSafety resources for parents and carers.

Explore past webinars and resources

Access the online eSafety resources for parents and carers.

Children’s Week 2026

Children’s Week Awards

Does someone at your school or in your community do an amazing job improving outcomes for children and young people? Nominate them for a non-competitive ACT Children’s Week Award.

You can nominate more than one person. Nominations close 5:00 pm Friday 11 September.

Find out more at ACT Children’s Week Awards.

Children’s Week seeding grants

Applications for small seeding ACT Children’s Week grants are now open.

The grants are designed to help organisations hold an event or activities in or around Children’s Week. Applications close on Friday 11 September.

Details about grant categories, timeframes and the application form are available at ACT Children’s Week Grants.

Thank You to Helping ACT

Thank you to Helping ACT for supporting the LTC Breakfast Club. This program is made possible through your contribution.

Thank You to Lions Club of Kambah

Thank you to the Lions Club of Kambah for donating to the LTC Pantry and for providing funds to help subsidise courses for our students. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Thank You to Woolworths

Thank you to Woolworths for their $250 donation to the LTC Pantry. The pantry provides essential items such as personal care products, ready-to-eat meals and snacks to support our students.

Legal Aid Support Available at LTC

Legal Aid support is available every Friday in the N.E.S.T. Free legal assistance is offered to students and families in the Library from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

Legal Assistance in College

You can get help with any legal concerns including:

· your rights at work

· personal and family safety

· discrimination

· sex and consent

· scams and debts

· car accidents and traffic issues

· cyberbullying

· tenancy

· issues with police.

A lawyer can help by:

· giving legal advice on your specific situation

· representing you when communicating with other organisations

· drafting a letter of demand

· referring you to other services.

2026 school year Equity Fund now open

To ease the pressure of back-to-school costs, eligible Canberra families can apply now for 2026 Future of Education Equity Fund payments.

The Equity Fund supports eligible low-income families and independent students from preschool through year 12 with a one-off, annual payment to help cover the costs associated with schooling such as uniforms, sport equipment and activities, tuition and music lessons.

Check your eligibility and find more information about supporting documents on the Equity Fund webpage.

Changes to bus services from term 3

From Monday 20 July 2026, changes to the bus network will begin across Canberra. These changes will help make bus services more reliable for students and other passengers.
Changes include the return of Rapid 2 and Rapid 3 services to west Belconnen, more frequent Rapid 4, Rapid 5 and Rapid 6 services, and updates to some school bus timetables. This means that temporary local services route 12 and route 13 will cease service.
The timetable changes are designed to improve service reliability and better support students travelling to and from school. These improvements have been made following ongoing monitoring of traffic conditions around the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal project. Improved traffic conditions mean buses can travel more reliably across the bridge.
Schools, parents and students can view updated timetables and details of the changes on the Transport Canberra website, Passengers can also email ced.tcmarketing@act.gov.au or call 13 17 10 for more information.

ACT public school term dates

The ACT public school term dates for 2026-2030, including student-free days, are now available on the Education Directorate’s website.

Each year, the first day of every term is a student-free day. We use student-free days for staff development, enabling us to plan in a student-free environment.

Use these dates when planning your future holidays.

Dispensers for free period products in schools

From term 3 students will have access to free period products through newly installed dispensers in addition to the expansion of access points throughout the school. This is part of an ACT Government commitment to provide students with access to free period products in a way that supports dignity and privacy.

Sanitary pads are available in primary schools, while high schools, P-10 schools, and colleges provide both sanitary pads and tampons.

This initiative supports students’ health, wellbeing and learning by removing stigma and addressing barriers related to menstruation. It is guided by the broader goal of ending period poverty.

Students will be informed of dispenser locations and encouraged to take what they need to use. They may take products for themselves, for friends or even for family members at home.

Free Period Products Available at ACT Schools

All ACT public schools are stocked with free period products so students can access them no matter their circumstances. This is part of the ACT Government’s commitment to ensuring students feel comfortable and confident within our schools.

Free period products are available at our school’s front office. Students can access them at any time by talking to our helpful front office staff.

Sanitary pads are available from the front offices of primary schools, while pads and tampons are available at the front offices of high schools and colleges.

Because menstruation is a fact of life, we believe free access to period products should be too.

fTo learn more about this equity initiative and other places where free period products are available, please visit: https://www.act.gov.au/community/women/free-period-products

Become a Homestay Host

Are you interested in broadening your family’s cultural experiences and forming lifelong friendships?

The ACT Education Directorate is seeking Homestay hosts for international students planning to study at an ACT public high school or college.

By becoming a Homestay host, you’ll not only provide a room and meals, but you’ll also welcome a young person into your family and support their growth as they gain new perspectives, confidence, English fluency, and academic and essential life skills.

International students participating in the Homestay program are aged 16 years or above. If you have the time to support a student’s social wellbeing and academic endeavours, and have an interest in other cultures, we would love to hear from you.

A weekly payment will be provided to help cover the costs of living expenses.

Find out more at bit.ly/HomestayCanberra or email ieu@act.gov.au, or call 02 6205 9194.

Menslink – Supporting Young Men in Canberra

Menslink has provided free counselling to young guys throughout the Canberra region for 20+ years.

If your young guy is having a hard time, is anxious, uncertain or fearful of his future and could really use someone to talk to, get in touch!

Our wait times are relatively low so we’re ready to help when your young guy needs it.

We provide a welcoming and supportive environment for young guys to share their concerns and worries and we provide tips and strategies to get them through those tough times that many of them are facing right now.

Menslink Counselling sessions are completely confidential and are available to any young guy aged 10-25. There are no fees or charges, and no limits to the number of sessions. You don’t need a mental health plan and we are available during school terms and school holidays.

Do you think your young guy would really benefit from a counselling session? If so, have a chat with them and head to www.menslink.org.au, hit the ‘Get Help’ button, fill in the form and we’ll get back to you, generally the same or next business day.

If you need more info on how to have that chat with them, just email admin@menslink.org.au or call 6287 2226 and we will send you some information.

Parentline ACT

Parentline ACT offers free and confidential telephone counseling for parents and carers in the Australian Capital Territory. This service provides guidance and assistance on various parenting issues, ensuring you have the support you need with no appointment necessary. Parentline ACT is open on Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For support, call (02) 6287 3833.

Blog information

Do you have a positive story to share about our students, alumni, staff, or the wider college community?

We’re excited to showcase stories, photos, and artworks on our blog.

Please send your submissions to scott.montoyaval@ed.act.edu.au