Meet Ballarat’s 2023 school captains

We asked Ballarat’s incoming school captains how they felt about leading their schools next year. Read what they had to say.

We asked Ballarat's incoming captains what they hoped to accomplish as school leaders in 2023.

As the year’s school calendar draws to a close, secondary schools across the state have begun to announce their student leaders for 2023.

We asked Ballarat’s incoming captains who they were, how they felt about leading their schools next year, and what they hoped to accomplish before their time at secondary school came to a close.

This story will be continually updated with more schools.

Here’s what the captains had to say.

Ballarat High School

Ellie Howlett

Hi, I’m Ellie Howlett, Ballarat High School’s 2023 school captain.

Throughout my schooling I have taken on many leadership opportunities, including being a student leader and attending leadership camps. I have had the opportunity to participate in Specialist Sport, which has allowed me to further develop my passion for sports and inspire others to be active. This year I was able to complete voluntary work experience at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute. I was extremely privileged to witness the amazing work that they do and had the opportunity to work alongside them in the lab.

Outside of school I am extensively involved in leadership roles, such as my involvement with a youth development organisation and attending camps designed to improve leadership and teamwork. I currently work at a local pharmacy and I am looking to pursue a career in Science through ADFA.

I aspire to be a friendly face and a student voice that actively works towards positive change. I’m looking forward to working with my fellow student leaders and contributing back to our school and the wider community. I hope to empower students to achieve academic excellence, follow their passions and be an approachable role model for BHS.

Isaac Jantzen

I’m Isaac Jantzen. I am very fortunate to be representing Ballarat High School next year as School Captain alongside Ellie. This year, for the first time in our schools history we didn’t have a male school captain representing our school. I am excited and proud to be a positive male role model. I am hoping I can encourage and empower young leaders, especially male students throughout our school.

I am very passionate about sports and enjoy playing footy. I’m also very passionate about leadership and I want to ensure our school community continues to align with our core values of Pride, Respect and Responsibility. Overall, I’m excited for next year and looking forward to what’s to come and what I can achieve as School Captain.

After school I want to be a broadcaster calling horse racing, and I know my role as school captain will support me in becoming a more confident and fluent speaker.

Damascus College

Damascus College 2023 captains Sophie Busuttil and Xavier Byrne.

Sophie Busuttil

I come from a family of five, plus my miniature schnauzer Coco.

I love to do anything creative, whether it be playing guitar, drawing, or crocheting.

I have always loved being a part of something bigger than myself, and feel very humbled and privileged to be able to help lead the college next year with my co-captain Xavier.

The school has helped nurture my love of leadership, as I have been involved in the Student Representative Council for three years and participated in the 2020 Western Bulldogs Youth Leadership Program.

In my role as college captain, I hope to continue to develop the school’s proud culture and be a smiling face who is there to hear and represent the voices of students and continue to strengthen the college’s inclusive and supportive environment.

Xavier Byrne

I love Damascus.

I am very excited and enthusiastic about being a college captain for Damascus in 2023 alongside Sophie.

Throughout the year, I am looking forward to improving my public speaking and being a relatable and approachable leader of the school.

During my time at Damascus, I have looked up to the school captains and I’m thrilled to be in the position to help nurture and build the school’s culture and identity.

I look forward to maintaining and building on the past captain's legacy and making 2023 a special year for Damascus.

I am also looking forward to building stronger relationships with a wider range of staff and peers at Damascus.

During my time as school captain, I hope to lead by example alongside Sophie and be a strong face for the school.

Loreto College

Loreto College 2023 captains Bridget Bales and Alexandra Grieve.

Bridget Bales and Alexandra Grieve

As the Loreto College Ballarat school captains for 2023, we feel both privileged and enthused for the year ahead, following the legacy of those before us.

We have both embraced the Loreto culture and all that our school offers since Year 7 and have actively embodied the school values of justice, felicity, sincerity, freedom and verity.

Leadership has been a part of our Loreto journey including being involved in sports and arts, volunteering for our house and year level, as well as being friendly figures to our Loreto community.

In our role as school captains we aim to provide support and inclusivity within the school community, hear the student’s voices, and be approachable figures within the school.

In 2023 the Loreto value of justice will be our guiding influence as we aim to strengthen the connection with each another, our Senate and all students throughout all year levels.

Together, and with our Senate, we will place an emphasis on valuing and keeping the school spirit alive and in doing so, ensure we are not leaving anyone behind.

We hope to inspire and influence those around us to continue the legacy of past leaders.

We’re beyond excited to have this opportunity to lead our beautiful school that has given us the best experiences for our development and future beyond Loreto.

Mount Rowan Secondary College

Mount Rowan Secondary College 2023 school captains Charlie Rigg and Natasha Flynn.

Charlie Rigg

My name is Charlie. I have no particularly special talents or skills, but I am a genuine person with a genuine drive for helping and leading the community.

I have always wanted to lead my school as a captain after seeing the great leaders that have led before me at Mount Rowan.

Of course, the qualities of a great leader are within everyone, but it takes a strong kind of person to be able to tap into that and be able to use that strength to benefit others and not just themselves.

Leading the school as school captain is a great privilege and by no means an easy role.

It is a great deal of responsibility and a role that cannot be completed without support groups from family and friends as no leader leads alone.

I hope to inspire those who are younger and older than myself, to do better for our community and lead as someone that our community can be proud of.

By the end of my schooling journey, I hope to have contributed to my community where we continue to be proud of the school that they go to and proud of its achievements.

Natasha Flynn

My name is Natasha Flynn. I’m an outgoing person who loves sharing a laugh with my friends and family and overall having a good time.

I am a senior student at Mount Rowan Secondary Collage and have nominated for and been voted in as a school captain for 2023 at MRSC.

I am beyond excited to be able to contribute to my school community. This is a very important role and I have to admit, I’m a little nervous about it, but I’m very grateful to receive this role and will do my upmost best to help out anyone in need and lead in a very positive way.

Before my time comes to an end at Mount Rowan, I wish to lead our school in continuing to being a welcoming school where all students can achieve in a positive and supportive environment.