Values

The College is committed to challenge its residents to develop personally. This goes beyond the realm of technical proficiency to include the development of character, a spirit of service and sense of responsibility.

The key to this aim is the role of the residential tutors. As older students, they have the opportunity to provide guidance and friendship to those they live with. They can also point residents to the range of developmental activities that are promoted in the College.

Setting the Standards

The College believes that sustaining the right environment is crucial to personal growth. Residents therefore commit to living up to certain standards of behaviour expected by the College. This starts with a willingness to give to others and openness to diversity. Not all residents are Christians, but all are expected to respect the College’s Christian ethos and the fact that it seeks to create a living environment that is compatible with life as a Christian. It also promotes a wholesome, family atmosphere where anti-social behaviour like binge drinking, substance abuse and pornography are not acceptable.

†Top of Page

Guests at Formal Dinner

Each Wednesday night the College invites a guest speaker to join residents for formal dinner. Afterwards, the guest typically presents a short speech afterwards in the Main Common Room. Guests come from a variety of backgrounds, representing the diversity of professional life: politics, professions, sports, business and entertainment.

Guests provide an insight into their own family background and professional journey, passing on life lessons to residents. This sometimes results in residents gaining work experience or part-time work with some of the guests. Guests in 2007 have included: Mr David Gonski AC, Chancellor of UNSW, Professor Fred Hilmer AO, Vice-Chancellor of UNSW, Mr Danny Casey, COO of World Youth Day 2008, Dr Karl Schmude, Chesterton scholar, Mr Anthony Mir, comedian and Mike Munro, TV personality.

†Top of Page

Public Lectures and Seminars

Warrane strives to make a contribution to the community at large. The annual Warrane Lecture is presented by a person eminent in public or professional life. Its aim is to contribute to the understanding of important issues and challenges facing our society.

Download a complete list of Warrane Lectures

Throughout the year, a number of seminars are conducted on topical issues of interest to students. These provide input and provoke lively debate among residents.

In recent years, themes have included:

• Career Planning
• History of Modern Philosphy
• Leadership
• Logic
• Medical Ethics
• Public Speaking
• Work and Human values

In 2007 the Easter Seminar was held in Warrane, on the topic: "Relativism and Human Rights". Speakers included: Dr Joseph Azize, Dr John Lamont, Mr Roger Sandall and Ms Jenness Warin. Papers from this seminar as well as lectures from past years can be purchased from the College.

†Top of Page

Service to the Community

The College is conscious of the fact that there are many in the community less advantaged than those in the relatively privileged university environment. As a response to this, College residents are encouraged to give of their time to help those with special needs in the community.

Voluntary Service Projects
Since 1987, some Warrane residents have been spending their summer or winter holidays participating in voluntary service projects overseas or in outback Australia. The destination for these "workcamps" range from Balgo in Western Australia, to Fiji, Vanuatu and most recently, Vietnam. The work carried out on these workcamps involves mainly basic tasks like painting and refurbishment work, but the camps also provide a tremendous opportunity to work as a team, learn about a new culture and grow in the face of adversity and hard work.

The official report of the 2006 Workcamp to Navunibitu, Fiji Islands can be viewed here: Workcamp Report.

Warrane Workcamps are run in conjunction with Reledev Australia Ltd, an Ausaid accredited Non Government Organisation. Visit their website at www.reledev.org.au.

Contributing to the local community
Closer to home, the College collaborates with local community initiatives. The Warrane Neighbour Aid program was established with Randwick Information and Community Centre to offer gardening and repair services to the frail aged in the Randwick city area. A team of volunteers from Warrane participate in St Vincent de Paul’s Night Patrol program every month, providing food and company for Sydney’s homeless. More informally, residents also make visits to nursing homes and housing estates in surrounding suburbs.

†Top of Page

Spiritual Side

At the heart of Warrane’s unique ethos is a view that man is a spiritual being. The spiritual care of the College is entrusted to Opus Dei, a prelature of the Catholic Church, founded in 1928 by Saint Josemaria Escriva, a Spanish priest whom Pope John Paul II canonised in October 2002 before hundreds of thousands of people. It spreads the message that God invites all Christians to seek holiness in and through their ordinary work, family life and social relations.

In the context of Warrane, residents are given the opportunity to learn more about the Catholic faith through talks from the Chaplain and staff, retreats and other activities carried out in the College chapel. There are also presentations given on topics such as ethics, virtues and leadership. All these activities are completely voluntary.

Residents make use of the College chapel, which offers a quiet place for prayer and reflection. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 5:00pm and attracts people from other Colleges on campus. The resident chaplain, a priest of Opus Dei, is available for personal consultation and guidance. Further information about Opus Dei can be found at www.opusdei.org.au or through enquires made to the College.

†Top of Page