Community
16 March, 2026
Commitment to excellence
GOOD Counsel College hosted a special awards assembly last month to celebrate the exceptional academic achievements of the 2025 Year 12 cohort.
The event brought together students, families, staff, alumni and community supporters to recognise the hard work, resilience and dedication that shaped last year’s outstanding results.
Ceira O’Brien opened the ceremony with an Acknowledgement of Country, followed by the Australian National Anthem. Principal Paul Melloy then addressed the assembly, commending students for their commitment to excellence and the strong culture of learning within the college.
Students who achieved an ATAR of 90 or above were formally recognised for their remarkable academic performance.
Xavier Sutton was named College Dux, achieving an ATAR of 93.85. He received a $300 bursary from the P&F Association, along with a book and medallion donated by Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter MP.
Cooper Ingram was awarded Proxime Accessit with an ATAR of 93.15 and received a $250 bursary sponsored by the P&F Association.
The college also congratulated Saskia Habermann who achieved an ATAR above 90.
In his address to the assembly, College Dux Xavier Sutton shared the study habits that helped him succeed. He encouraged students to develop consistent routines, seek help from teachers, and focus on improvement, rather than stress when faced with disappointing results.
“Study every day, rather than cramming everything in before an exam,” he advised.
Students from Years 7 to 10 were recognised for outstanding achievement in semester two subjects. Academic Excellence awards were presented to students who attained very high achievement results, while Top of Subject awards celebrated the highest performers in each subject, including Year 7 and 8 electives.
Attendance achievements were also highlighted, with more than 420 students with 90% or higher attendance in 2025, a strong indicator of engagement and dedication. Impressively, three students achieved a perfect 100% attendance record.
The 2025 Year 12 cohort delivered excellent results across all pathways with 98% of students awarded a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE); 13.6% of ATAR eligible students achieved an ATAR of 90 or above; 11.1% secured a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship and 83.33% attained one or more VET qualifications.
These outcomes reflect the college’s commitment to supporting diverse learning pathways and preparing students for success beyond school.
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