Community Council Uniform Working Group
Lumen Christi Catholic College Uniform Strategy March, 2025
Lumen’s College uniform is distinctive. It positively reinforces the perception of our College and our students within the community and is an educational, pastoral and reputational asset.
You will be aware that we changed uniform providers in late 2023, partnering with Lowes for the provision of a high-quality uniform. Through the transition the College has taken the opportunity to consider and refine our thinking about the many items of our uniform. At the forefront of our thinking are matters such as student comfort, the symbolic power of the uniform, cost, and commercial viability for our supplier.
In College frameworks, we value growth, inclusion and relevance, and the Lumen Community Council Uniform Working Group (UWG) has been re-formed to develop a long term Uniform Strategy. College Leadership, along with the Community Council endorses the strategy, which is to ‘Streamline and Standardise’.
The strategy is underpinned by seven goals, shown below. These have been used to identify and assess our strategic uniform initiatives. They will continue to be the guideposts informing uniform decisions under and alongside the uniform strategy.
STRATEGIC UNIFORM GOALS
So far, 2 broad initiatives have been proposed and approved in principle under the strategy. They are:
- Discontinuation of extraneous uniform elements. This includes elements that only serve a small proportion of our students, have a poor uptake and/or where other suitable alternatives exist within the uniform set. Expected timeframe: within 12 months
- Standardise the girls uniform in line with the boys in terms of fabric and general style.
Expected timeframe: approx. 5 years.
A third initiative is to explore and discuss options for an everyday primary student uniform. This will take some careful deliberation and is not yet approved.
The expectation is that through these strategic initiatives, Lumen will be in a better position to enjoy a long and successful partnership with our uniform supplier. More detail on each proposed initiative will be provided in future communications.
We are aware that change brings disruption, uncertainty and that some changes may not satisfy everybody. The UWG are committed to minimising the impacts of any change through clear and timely communication, transparency in decision making and generous transition timeframes.
Uniform decisions will be made by the College Leadership Team based on what is best for the College as a whole in line with our strategic goals. Where appropriate, the College community will be consulted and the responses considered in the final decisions.
What do you need to do?
For now, nothing. Continue to purchase uniform items from our supplier as your children need them. You will be informed well ahead of time of any approved changes via our standard College communications channels.
Next steps
As part of Initiative 1, the UWG will identify candidate uniform elements for discontinuation at their next meeting in Term 2.
Regards
Raelene Forbes UWG Chair
The Lumen Community Council Uniform Working Group (UWG) is an advisory group of College executives, teachers and parents with a particular interest in the ongoing suitability and viability of our College’s uniform. If you have questions, suggestions or feedback relating to uniform and/or the uniform strategy, please contact the UWG by emailing lumencommunitycouncil@gmail.com.