As Term 1 winds down, excitement builds through the Year 10 cohort for the beginning of the Zero Journeys for 2025. The first group of Year 10 students will embark on an unforgettable expedition to northern Queensland once Term 2 gets underway, marking the beginning of a transformative experience designed to foster personal growth, environmental awareness and cultural understanding.
The Zero Journey represents a significant moment in the Carey students’ learning journey, emphasising regeneration and meaningful cultural engagement. Students will participate in conservation projects, connect with local indigenous communities and develop leadership skills while navigating the spectacular landscapes of northern Queensland.
There are several new aspects to the journey this year, one of these being the strengthening of our partnership with the Palm Island community. This year we will have six student groups visit and work directly with students on Palm Island.
This month, we’re particularly proud to unveil the new Carey Zero logo, which will become the visual identity for the Year 10 experience.
The Carey Zero logo is based on a painting by Kamilaroi artist Barry ‘Rainman’ Boland, which was commissioned by Carey to represent the Carey Zero experience and honour the connection to Country inherent in the program.
Boland’s design incorporates elements representing land, sea and community – the three pillars of the Zero Journey experience. The artist worked closely with Carey staff to ensure the artwork and logo authentically represents the program’s values and aspirations.
The central motif of the artwork is the turtle, representative of the ocean and marine life that Carey students engage with throughout their journey. The turtle is adorned with human footprints and the symbol of a meeting place, this reflects the students coming together for inclusive cross-cultural learning through stories, knowledge and experiences. Surrounding the turtle are the footprints of the northern bettong and cassowary, land animals native to the area that the students encounter through conservation projects and research.
As we approach the departure dates for the first groups this year, we extend our gratitude to the staff, community partners and families who have supported the development of the Zero Journey. We look forward to sharing stories and reflections from our student travellers upon their return.
Click here for more information about Carey Zero.
Tom Ziebell
Head of Carey Zero
