In the spirit of John XXIII, Mary Ward and Ignatius Loyola, our College seeks to develop people of competence, conscience and compassion who are committed to God and the service of others.

Rationale
Overseas Excursions will be offered by John XXIII College where they demonstrate support for the College’s broad curriculum through a substantial educational, spiritual, service or competitive component.

Principles

• All overseas excursions must have the approval of the College Council who will be informed by a recommendation by the College Principal (The Approval of the College Council could be withdrawn up to the time of departure if there is adverse advice from DFAT.) Participation by staff and students in a tour will always be at the discretion of the Principal.
• All overseas excursions will be voluntary for students and staff and therefore cannot be made integral to the assessment schedule of a particular subject or be a condition of a continued membership of a group or team.
• All overseas excursions will be scheduled to ensure there is no conflict for a student or staff participant with their existing obligations to the College community (i.e. all tours should commence and conclude within scheduled term breaks).
• Overseas excursions should be financially self-supporting except in the case of those excursions designated as Pilgrimages which the College Council will cover the costs of supervising teachers. A Social Justice Fund exists to support pilgrims who might not be able to meet the full costs of their trip. Fundraising will not be facilitated or sponsored by the College to defray the cost of individual student travel.
• As there are increased demands on “the duty of care” expected of a supervising teacher on an overseas excursion, it is essential that teachers accompany students on the outward and return travel-leg of the excursion. For similar reasons, family members of a supervising staff member should not travel in a private capacity with the group.
• Where practical overseas excursions should avoid the packaging of ‘tourism’, and use where possible home stay for LOTE programs, and hosting by local communities for Pilgrimages.
• Overseas Excursions should operate from an approved schedule which would clearly indicate to a family the scope and sequence of the College’s Overseas Excursion Program. This will be a rolling – five year schedule.