Future Gold Coast 2025: A.B. Paterson principal Joanne Sheehy on today’s student versus 20 years ago
A Gold Coast principal says there are stark differences between today’s students versus 20 years ago, from their critical thinking to how they buy a cup of coffee.
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The principal of an elite school on the Gold Coast is confident the city’s future is in good hands and says our next generation of leaders are more curious, thoughtful and intentional than ever before.
A.B. Paterson College principal Joanne Sheehy said the Gold Coast’s growth and maturity as a city in recent years has appealed to its students, with more now seeing a future for themselves here beyond year 12.
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She said the city has “dramatically changed” since she moved here 22 years ago from the hustle and bustle of London.
“I honestly hated it initially because it was very different from the London experience that I had known and loved,” she said.
“(The Gold Coast) was a little country town compared to London.
“It was like chalk and cheese.”
Ms Sheehy said today’s Gold Coast students were “much more sophisticated” than two decades ago and was confident they would be able to take our city to the “next level”.
“They ask great questions and they are curious,” she said.
“Twenty years ago, they just used to passively listen to your opinion but now they respectfully ask ‘why do you think that?’
“They are thoughtful (and) that is what you want in good humans.
“They are more mature and they understand their place in the world and that they are a part of something bigger.
“The papers are full of kids that are doing terrible things and rising youth crime.
“There certainly needs to be provisions for those kids but that is not the kids I know.”
Even a simple task of buying a cup of coffee shows the difference between today’s students versus two decades ago.
“A kid from 20 years ago would just go to the nearest coffee shop,” Ms Sheehy said.
“But now, they value community and the vibe of the cafe matters to them.
“They’re more intentional.”
Ms Sheehy said there were now a diverse range of work and study opportunities for young people on the Gold Coast.
“Twenty years ago, students didn’t want to go to universities on the Gold Coast,” she said.
“They were leaving to go to Brisbane, Sydney or overseas and it wasn’t even considered to stay, study or live here beyond year 12.
“It was seen as a nice place to grow up but nothing with any substance.
“But now, students can stay on the Gold Coast and find meaning and purpose in so many new industries.
“There is so much richness and so much more here now.”
Editor’s note: The Bulletin acknowledges the Future Gold Coast sponsors for supporting this important series and notes sponsors have no control over the content or views expressed.
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Originally published as Future Gold Coast 2025: A.B. Paterson principal Joanne Sheehy on today’s student versus 20 years ago
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