Outward Bound
All Year 9 students go on the annual Outward Bound camp where they are introduced to the skills, pleasures and challenges of outdoor education. This is under the care of Ascham teachers as well as highly-trained Outward Bound staff.  Girls may continue with such activities supported by the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) Department.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is available in the Senior School under the auspices of the PDHPE Department.  Girls from Year 9 can participate in the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, which involve community service, cultural activities and evidence of leadership, as well as participation in sport and outdoor activities. The school arranges camps, hikes, bicycle tours and similar expeditions, which are eligible for the outdoor component of the award.

Leadership
Ascham girls have many opportunities to develop leadership skills.  Elections in all form classes choose representatives, whose tasks include organising charity events and assisting the Form Teacher with administrative tasks.

In Year 11 girls elect house committees.  These committees assist the house chairmen with various activities and develop leadership skills for Year 12. Year 12 offers many leadership opportunities. Some positions are elected; others allow girls to nominate themselves and a staff committee makes the choice.

Many roles and activities allow the girls to develop leadership skills:

• Senior School Committee: 15 prefects
• House Chairmen: 6 positions
• Sports Captains: 15 sports
• Representatives on Student Representative Council: 2 from each year
• Members and Chairs of Committees: charities, chess, debating, drama, music, social justice and environment.
• Participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• Leadership camp in Year 11
• Peer support for older girls to assist new and younger students.

These opportunities help girls develop essential team skills as well as learning committee procedures and protocols, important tools for future professional life.

Careers advice
The Ascham Careers Adviser has an outstanding careers program for Years 10-12.  This includes work experience, seminars, open days, information evenings for parents and students, and guest speakers from various professions, universities and colleges. These provide girls with inspiration and practical information to assist them in making decisions about study and career preferences.  Guest speakers include former students of the school, who are warmly welcomed to share their study, career and life experiences.

The Careers Adviser encourages all girls to follow their interests, passions and skills, to develop a life-long love of learning and to contribute actively to society. She works full-time at the school in the well-resourced careers room.  Under the Dalton Plan, the Careers Adviser is available in study periods throughout the week for girls to discuss career options, university and residential college applications, international university information, gap year options and community work. 

By Year 12, the Careers Adviser knows each girl well and continues the comprehensive individual interviews and assistance.  She also jointly organises a special careers information evening with four other schools in the area, so that all girls have as much current and comprehensive information available to assist career choice and tertiary education options, both within Australia and internationally.

Community contribution and social justice
Ascham involves its students in many voluntary activities.  The school supports a number of charities and provides volunteer support for a variety of community projects.  It has an active social justice and environment group which plays an important role in increasing awareness of community issues. Through its social justice group, Ascham supports initiatives such as Clean Up Australia Day, the 40 Hour Famine and the Exodus Foundation.  The group organises guest speakers and ongoing educational awareness initiatives on issues such as climate change and the environment, and encourages girls to use this knowledge locally.

Each year group chooses two charities to support. They research the charity, raise awareness within the school community, and raise funds to donate. In Year 10, girls also begin a program of community work at a variety of hostels, hospitals, homeless centres and charitable organisations.  This work raises their community awareness and a sense of social justice at an age when girls are able to provide practical help to many organisations. This involvement continues in a voluntary capacity for girls in Year 11, such as the recent design and implementation of a program of assistance to a local community centre for disadvantaged children.

The girls, their families and the staff have supported many local and international charities and community organisations: Meals on Wheels, shopping for the elderly, the Wayside Chapel, Anglicare Opportunity Shop, Clean up Australia Day, Jean Colvin Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, 40 Hour Famine, Community Aid Abroad, Freedom from Hunger, Smith Family, the Mathew Talbot Hostel, Barnardos, Red Cross Canteen, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Beyond Blue, the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation, Royal Flying Doctor service, Wairoa Special School and the Juanita Neilson Centre.

In Years 11 and 12, girls are appointed to a Charity Committee.  These girls are role models for girls in Years 7-10 and implement many of the school’s charity programs.

Opportunity Cambodia
The entire Ascham community worked together to raise funds to build two schools in Cambodia and to pay the salaries for their English and Computer teachers. Girls, parents and staff have visited the schools and have brought back many first hand accounts of their success.  Regular visits are anticipated in the years to come.