November is a time of celebration for year 12 students across the state.
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Their high school days are done, exams are finished and most have a few months of free time before pursuing further study or starting jobs.
Many head to the Gold Coast for a few days of surf and sun, others jet overseas to tropical locales, while many more rent houses down the coast for a laid-back week.
But five students from St Mary Star of the Sea College are marking the end of their compulsory education in a slightly different way.
Nicola Downing, Holly Heffernan and Isabella Dunn, as well as their two friends Chloe Bradley and Claudia Edensor, are heading to the Philippines for two weeks to volunteer with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in Manila and Bacolod.
Their trip comes in the aftermath of devastating typhoon Haiyan, which has killed thousands and wiped out countless homes.
The girls hope they can do some good while they are there and are fully aware of how challenging the trip may now be.
"It's going to be an eye-opener," Holly said.
"No matter how prepared we are, it's going to be a shock."
While the trip's schedule has, so far, not been heavily altered by the typhoon, the girls believe they will now do more aid work with people affected and that their planned homestays will be cancelled as families begin recovering from the disaster.
During their time in the Philippines, which begins on November 26, the girls will visit and assist at schools, work with regional outreach programs, visit villages and meet Father Brian Gore, a priest who has worked tirelessly with impoverished communities.
They have paid their own way, but spent time this year raising money to take with them to buy school supplies, sports equipment and Christmas gifts for the children they meet while there.
Nicola said she was driven to spend the time volunteering out of a sense of social justice and the chance to make a difference somewhere in the world.
None of the girls said they were interested in the "traditional" schoolies route.
"It's a time in your life where you don't really have any obligations and this will really give you something you can take with you for the rest of your life," Holly said.
Isabella agreed. "It would be fun hanging out and going out with friends, but I have the rest of my life to do that kind of thing," she said.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something really worthwhile and you don't know where it could point you for the rest of your life."
