Brisbane Girls Grammar School celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. To recognise and celebrate this significant milestone, Historian, Ms Helen Penrose, has researched and created a book—to be released later this year—that will explore the School’s pioneering history as one of Queensland’s original Grammar schools and leading girls’ school. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, is joined by Ms Penrose to discuss her discoveries during this process.
Jan 02, 2025•19 min
Three years ago, Illumine released an episode on sexual consent education which greatly resonated with not only our school, but the wider community. In this new episode of Illumine, hear from Year 12 students, Scarlett and Molly, to learn what they think has changed since then and what could be further improved in 2024.
Nov 12, 2024•21 min
In 2021, Chanel Contos sparked a national movement when she invited young women to share their experiences of sexual assault—resulting in mandated consent education in the Australian national curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 10, and inspiring conversations around the country. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, joins Director of HPE, Mr Stephen Fogarty, and Head of HPE—Curriculum Development, Ms Jane Martel, to review what has changed since this time and discuss what still li...
Nov 12, 2024•20 min
In 2024, more than half of the world’s population will take to the election polls. With rising trends of authoritarianism against a backdrop of increasing global conflict, some commentators are predicting this could be democracy’s biggest test to date. In this episode of Illumine, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, speaks with Director of Humanities, Ms Alison Dare, and Head of Subject—Humanities for Year 7, Mr Christian Moffatt on how to educate for good citizenship.
Nov 06, 2024•24 min
Earlier this year, a group of students and staff visited Italy, exploring places of significance in Western culture, from ancient societies through to the Renaissance … and of course, some of the nation’s gelaterias. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, sat down with students Charlotte, Ruby, and Grace to hear about the highlights, experiences, and learnings from the Latin and Roman World Study Tour.
Sep 30, 2024•11 min
Few of us can say that, in our lifetime, we have fulfilled a dream we have harboured since we were seven years old. One lucky person who can make that claim is celebrated writer and Brisbane Girls Grammar School alumna, Anna McGahan (2005). Earlier this year, Anna was awarded one of Australia’s most prestigious literary awards for young writers, The Vogel Prize, which was won by her uncle, Andrew McGahan, in 1991. In this conversation with Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, Anna reflects on the ...
Mar 14, 2024•31 min
Australia's National Financial Capability Survey 2021 has found that 94 per cent of young Australians aged 14 to 17 feel it is important to learn how to manage their money, but only 42 per cent felt confident to do so. A few of our students here at Brisbane Girls Grammar School are taking their financial wellbeing seriously, through the establishment of a new Financial Literacy student club. In this episode, hear from founders Maddie and Lily as they discuss their goals and inspiration behind th...
Nov 09, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Should artefacts currently in museums be returned to their country of origin? In recent years, the debate has been gathering momentum, kick-started again in 2022 in light of the death of Queen Elizabeth. Reconciling the actions of those acting in the past with our values in the present is an issue fraught with tension, and no easy answers are apparent. In this episode, Head of Ancient History, Dr Rashna Taraporewalla, discusses this topic with Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, and explores some of th...
Oct 19, 2023•20 min
It's no secret that true crime podcasts are hugely popular, but why do we find historical murders so interesting? In this episode of Illumine—Grammar Women, host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, interviews two alumnae of the School: Rosalind Crone (1998) and Anna Whip (2016). Both graduates share a love and keen interest in the study of history, having each forged unique career paths following their time at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Reflecting on these...
Sep 28, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Choosing subjects for Years 11 and 12 can be a challenge for many students, as they balance subjects they are passionate about with the need to fill prerequisites for certain tertiary degrees. Although at BGGS we value the Creative Arts as part of our broad, liberal approach to education, sometimes external pressures, misconceptions, and worries about scaling can lead students to hesitate before committing to studying Art, Music or Drama in the senior years. In this episode of Illumine: from the...
Sep 01, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 7
What makes an excellent teacher? According to acclaimed educational researcher, Professor Dylan Wiliam, it’s about regularly checking for student understanding. Professor Wiliam is passionate about the practice of formative assessment — the assessment that many people say ‘doesn’t count’. Over the course of many decades of research, Professor Wiliam has established that there is nothing teachers can do that has a greater impact on student achievement than by making teaching more responsive to st...
Aug 24, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut? Here at Girls Grammar, one of our most popular and longest-running international programs is Space Camp, where students get the chance to take one step closer to that dream. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks with three students who recently returned from Space Camp—about what they encountered, learned, and hope to achieve in aerospace and aeronautics.
Aug 10, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In early 2023, social media furore erupted after publisher, Puffin, employed sensitivity editors to rewrite parts of Roald Dahl's books deemed offensive. Throughout history, artists, authors and musicians have been censored by various authority figures, but in recent decades, activists and social media campaigns have called for pieces to be edited, 'cancelled', or removed from exhibitions. How do we decide when—or if — it is appropriate to change or remove a published work? To discuss this compl...
Aug 03, 2023•42 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In recognition of NAIDOC Week 2023, Illumine shares Part 2 of Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, in discussion with Professor Adam Shoemaker, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University. Much of Professor Shoemaker’s past three decades has been spent listening to, recording and sharing the work of Indigenous Australians. As one of Australia’s foremost researchers in Indigenous literature and culture, Professor Shoemaker has written nine books on the subject. In this conversation, Professor Shoemaker ...
Jul 21, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In the critical developmental years of secondary school, students need safe spaces to explore and debate the important issues affecting their lives, identity, and understanding of the world. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, sat down with three senior students—Sophie, Yasmin and Sophie—who have all participated in one such forum at Brisbane Girls Grammar School: the Educate and Empower group. Listen to the students' conversation about the group's coverage of topics such as reli...
Jul 13, 2023•14 min•Season 4Ep. 5
With so many exceptional tertiary options available in Australia, it’s no wonder the idea of international study may not always be top of mind. However, the benefits of studying overseas—for your whole degree or only for a semester or two—are endless. To explore why overseas tertiary study can be so enriching, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, spoke to Director of Tertiary Pathways, Ms Louise Walls, and Head of Ancient History, Dr Rashna Taraporewalla, as well as current Year 12 student, Lily B...
Jun 16, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Year after year, research shows that young Australians rate body image as an important concern. So, how do our students feel about their bodies, and what are they doing to promote body acceptance? In this episode of Illumine from the Students , Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, speaks to two Year 12 students, Emma and Liza, who have presented to the School's Educate and Empower student club on the topic of body image.
Jun 09, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 4
‘In this country we have the oldest continuing civilisation in the world, and that’s something really unique that I think we should celebrate… that’s the one thing that is truly Australian.’ —Ms Sophie Mynott, BGGS Deputy Principal (Co-curriculum). In this episode of Illumine: For Parents , we discuss the School’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which will be launched next week during National Reconciliation Week. Ms Sophie Mynott has a passion for engaging with indigenous people and communiti...
May 26, 2023•23 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Do you remember the world without screens? Our younger secondary school students are part of ‘Generation Alpha’—completely digital natives who have been around smartphones and devices for their entire lives. Emerging research indicates that these young students use devices and interact with social media in vastly different ways to their older peers. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, speaks to three Year 8 students, Sophia, Isobel and Zoe, about parental limits, screens and thei...
Apr 27, 2023•28 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Homework, or 'home learning' as we call it at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, can be a hot topic for families. While many students comfortably complete their allocated work each night, some find they struggle with quantity, or understanding what they need to accomplish. Home learning also changes as students progress through secondary school, with the intention of encouraging more independence in senior years. To discuss how can parents support their children, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, s...
Apr 21, 2023•16 min•Season 5Ep. 2
The world is abuzz about ChatGPT and the potential of artificial intelligence. But what do our young people think of the tools that are predicted to run their future? In this episode of Illumine From the Students, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, speaks with three Year 11 students about their experiences, their concerns, and their hopes for AI platforms.
Mar 23, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The number of Australians, and in particular, Australian women, experiencing homelessness has never been higher and it’s a crisis that shows no sign of slowing. As a nation, we have never been more reliant on non-profits and charitable organisations to shelter women and their children who are in crisis and have found themselves suddenly without a roof over their head. For more than a decade, Brisbane Girls Grammar School has supported the Second Chance Programme—a charitable organisation based i...
Mar 16, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 2
ChatGPT remains in the headlines around the world for its ability to answer seemingly anything. Educators around the world are grappling with how to manage ChatGPT, with many schools restricting access to the platform. Is this option sustainable in the long term? Or, should we find ways to use such AI responsibly, and for our benefit? In this episode of Illumine , Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, discusses the potential and pitfalls of AI with James Keogh, Acti...
Feb 23, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 2
To experience the arts can be inspiring and life-affirming, and yet many parents and society at large struggle to connect their relevance to our modern lives. In this episode of Illumine for Parents, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, and Director of Creative Arts, Andrew Pennay, discuss the opportunities that Grammar girls have in the world of arts, their value in a broad, liberal education, and what students of the arts can expect to gain from their studies....
Feb 17, 2023•23 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Despite research that indicates that Generation Z will have multiple careers in their lifetime, students still feel that their ATAR score is a defining moment. But it can take years, reflection and a range of experiences before individuals find the area of learning that they will thrive within. Recognising this, Australian universities are employing a range flexible models of higher education to support the diverse needs of their students. In this episode, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar Sch...
Feb 10, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Did you stay in touch with your secondary school after graduation, or perhaps reignited old connections at a reunion years, or decades after graduating? Being part of a school's alumnae community can be a treasured addition to one's sense of community and belonging. In this episode of Illumine—Grammar Women host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviews three recent alumnae of the School: Sarah Wilkey (2018), Abi Ashford (2017) and Lily Cilento (2015). These gr...
Feb 02, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Do you remember your first day of secondary school? Your nervousness and excitement? Perhaps also some terror about the unfamiliar? Scared that you won’t have someone to talk to, or eat lunch with? In this episode of Illumine from the Students, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, is joined by our Year 7 Advisor, and four students to discuss how they navigated through their first year of secondary school, and their advice for our new Year 7 students who are just starting...
Jan 23, 2023•20 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Has the cyclical nature of the global economy in recent times made your head spin? The continuous cycle of boom, collapse, then boom again before we tip south. We can all agree that it has been a tumultuous few years for the global economy—the pandemic, soaring property prices, supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine, and unprecedented levels of debt powering many countries, including Australia. In this episode of Illumine , Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks wi...
Nov 17, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Parties! Such fun at any age and most particularly when you are young—the anticipation leading up to the event, perhaps some nerves as you arrive, and then, hopefully, the dancing and chatting with friends, old and new, that ensues as everyone arrives. In this episode of Illumine for Parents, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, is joined by Head of House, Mrs Sybil Edwards, and HPE teacher, Ms Cathy Rees, to discuss what parents can do to help their daughters navigate t...
Nov 15, 2022•25 min•Season 4Ep. 10
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Navigating career choices with your daughter can be an exciting and terrifying experience—for both parents and children. Students today are more aware than ever that the subject selections they make in high school can impact the degrees and courses that they want to study at a tertiary level in their post-schooling lives. Adding to this complexity, the current generation of adolescents do not see themselves as having just one career—recent data has reve...
Nov 10, 2022•31 min•Season 4Ep. 9
