Meet the ACT’s future leaders
They’re the future of our nation. Meet some of Canberra’s best and brightest student leaders and read heir vision for the future.
Canberra Star
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From primary school to Year 12 students in the ACT are standing up to take on responsibilities as student leaders.
We spoke to just some of Canberra’s bright young leaders about their aspirations for 2022 and beyond.
Radford College
Claudia Kendall
Radford College co-captain Claudia Kendall says she hopes to “create an environment where everyone is comfortable to try new things and have a go” during her tenure.
Ms Kendall said she is passionate about equal representation and participation in sport.
“I row throughout the summer and play AFL and soccer during winter,” She said.
“As a female leader I find sport is a good opportunity to work in a team, have fun with my friends and aim for equality in every aspect of our lives.”
She said as a leader in a kindergarten to year 12 school leading by example is an important part of leadership.
“Being able to adjust and adapt how I interact with a variety audiences to inspire and communicate a positive message has been extremely helpful,” she said.
Ms Kendall says after Year 12 she hopes to travel with her friends through Queensland to “learn new things and create lifelong Memories”.
“Hopefully this experience will help guide my study choices once I'm back,” she said.
“Whatever I do post school I hope to continue displaying good morals and striving to make a positive impact on my community.”
Patrick Walker
Co-captain Patrick Walker said he hopes he doesn’t miss any opportunities he has been given.
“I am excited to face this year head on and make the most of the time I have left in school, he said.
He said he loves all things sports and has a “passion for people”.
“I love interacting with people and finding out their story,” he said.
“At school I involve myself as much as I can in various sporting activities and service opportunities within the school that relate to connecting with younger students in a fun and friendly way.”
So far in his leadership journey Patrick said he’s learned more about himself and how to listen and learn from others.
“I have been focusing on the art of listening and how listening to others with full attention can significantly improve relationship and you can get a lot more out of what said person is saying.”
When asked about his dream job Patrick said his honest dream job would be a “water-slide test subject” but said “after running some logistics I don’t know how realistic that is”.
“Maybe one day I’ll own a water park and test the rides myself … I think that’s more of a long-term dream,” he said.
“For now, I am simply excited to see where the world takes me … I have no plans for 2023 yet but I am keen to get out into the world and get involved.”
Patrick said he was considering options from “ construction management to physiotherapy or teaching”.
“Whatever path I decide to take I look forward to the future and enjoying life,” he said.
Ainslie School
Will Flanagan
Ainslie School co-captain Will Flanagan said he wants to make students “feel happy” and aims to champion events such as market days and swimming carnivals to boost morale among his peers.
“I know this will be challenging since the school has been broken down into bubbles, this disables us from travelling throughout the school,” he said.
“But if we team up with the newly formed SRC we can get them to go into their bubbles to help with connecting the school without interfering with the bubble system or increasing the risk of spreading Covid-19.
Will also has his eye on networking and collaborating with other student leaders.
“I want to meet other school captains from other schools around the ACT, either virtually through Google Meet or in person, to get ideas that could help and improve our school.”
Luke Jakubowski
Ainslie School School Co-Captain Luke Jakuboski said he aims to be a good role model for younger students.
“(I want to) do my best to make the whole school feel safe and happy.
“This is tricky when we are in cohort bubbles but I plan to work with our newly formed Student Representative Council (SRC) representatives from Kindergarten to Year 5 (to discuss) how they can lead throughout the school even when I’m not around.”
Genevieve Rutledge
School co-vice captain Genevieve Rutledge said a sustainable school and sustainable world was important to her.
“My aim in 2022 is to achieve this by reducing food waste.
“ (I want to) promote a system of waste disposal where everyone knows what goes in which bin and making sure everyone uses the compost and recycling bins as much as possible.
She also wants to improve school maintenance systems by “notifying the Front Office and Paul, our Building Services Officer (BSO) if anything looks or is broken.”
“I aim to be a kind and inclusive leader and role model and try to make everyone as happy as possible,” she said.
“While we can’t check on people physically, we can check with the SRC we are forming to see how the other grades are going.”
Tabitha Bobbin
School co-vice-captain Tabitha Bobbin said she wants to make sure there are opportunities and fun events for her fellow students.
“ Even if it means we will do it at home because of Covid-19 – but I really hope not,” she said.
“If we work together as a leadership team, I’m sure we can make a really happy fun year.”
Tabitha said she is optimistic the school’s new SRC will be a success.
“(The SRC) will help us as leaders to see how everyone else in the school is going.”
She said her goal is to be a good role model for future leaders at Ainslie School by “ showing kindness, responsibility and respect.
Tabitha said she aimed to promote caring for the environment by raising awareness and knowledge about correctly recycling waste at school.
Canberra Grammar School
Genevieve Lane
Canberra Grammar School co-captain Genevieve Lane says she has been struck at how her fellow students are ready to “bring something of their own to our community to make the school a better place”.
Genevieve said she and her co-captain are eager to foster a sense of belonging at the school which would continue to grow even after they leaves.
“Helping everyone to belong, no matter who they are, is hugely important to our whole captaincy team,” She said.
“We hope that our new student program, and our plans for Harmony Week and a Belonging day can bring us closer to this.
Genevieve said after school she is eager to spend time volunteering and is interested in studying arts at university.
Tom Gazard
Year 12 student Tom Gazard is a co-captain at Canberra Grammar School.
He said while leadership comes with responsibilities “the challenge is exciting.”
“I am inspired to represent the diversity and passion that is fostered in our school community,” he said.
“Throughout the year, I hope to promote student voice and increase the sense of belonging for all that come to school.”
“ While balancing this with Year 12, I believe that a long-lasting sense of inclusion at Canberra Grammar School is extremely important for years ahead.”
Miles Franklin Primary School
Annie
Annie said she would “like to make sure people can be themselves, and express themselves, as they really are”.
She said she also wants to improve recycling at school.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn said she wants to support other students who want or need help.
“I would really like more days where we can celebrate things, be together and be happy with ourselves,” she said.
Dayal
Dayal says he wants to promote French language and culture in the school.
He is also conscious of how social issues may affect students.
“I think there is still discrimination in society,” he said.
“ I want to make sure no one experiences (discrimination) in school.
Elijah
Elijah said he aims to “improve reconciliation for Indigenous Australians by celebrating their culture more”.
Elijah said he looks forward to representing his school and helping those who need it.
Kiran
Kiran said he wants to improve how the school runs and encourage cooperation among students.
“(We should) help each other and ensure increased racial harmony, inclusion and cultural awareness, he said.
Melrose High school
Caitlin Watson
Year 9 student Caitlin Watson is Bataba Community co-captain.
Her role includes organising events and fundraisers and “ helping make our community a better place.
In 2022 she said her greatest goal is to “make the school a more positive, inclusive environment
“I hope that everyone can feel safe and included in and out of school,” she said.
“ Unfortunately, there is still a lot of discrimination in our world and I hope I can assist in eliminating it.
“People should not be judged because of the colour of their skin, religious beliefs, culture, or gender.”
Caitlin said she hoped to team up with a charity during the year to do her part in helping the community.
Sara Vasilic
Year 10 Student Sara Vasilic is a Peer Support Leader and a Bataba Community Captain 2022.
She said her responsibility at the school was to “ encourage and support students to become the best versions of themselves.
She said she wanted to help students not only with their academic achievements but with their mental health.
“I would love to help create fundraising events for both outside and inside our school community.
“With the current situation in the world, including the pandemic we all are still going through, there is a lot of stress and negative emotions present.”
Alexander Gillespie
Year 10 Student Alexander Gillespie has served as the student member for the Melrose Highschool board since 2021 and is a year 10 Peer Support Leader.
“(As a student board member) I have the responsibility of providing representation for my peers in the financial direction of the school,” he said.
Alexander said he biggest goal for 2022 is to assist in reinstating the Student Representative Council to help “ further student representation in the governance of the school.
Additionally he wants to ensure the student body can participate in more activities such as school camps again.
Joshua Searle
Joshua Searle is in year 10 and is the Mankina house captain, a Peer Support Leader and Community leader for Big Picture at Melrose.
He said he aims to “ help encourage students to actively participate in their community, as well as planning and helping set up school events”.
Lily Crompton
Lily Crompton is a Peer Support Leader and year 10 student at Melrose High School.
“With the current pandemic it has become difficult to show leadership,” she said.
“ My goal for 2022 is to encourage students to find opportunities to be a leader whether in a leadership role or not because I strongly believe that everyone has the potential to positively influence the people around them.”
Sofia Palywoda
Year 10 student Sofia Palywoda is a peer support leader at Melrose High School.
She said she aims to use her passion for sport to increase student morale at the school
“I hope to make sure the younger years in the school feel a part of the Melrose community.
“Covid-19 permitting, I hope to do this by encouraging students to participate at sporting carnivals and making sure they are comfortable at whole school events.”
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