Bayside, Caulfield, St Kilda 2020 school captains share hopes, dreams for future
They’re often thought of as selfie-taking showoffs — but our next crop of leaders are anything but. We asked Melbourne’s Year 12 school captains what difference they can make to the world. Here’s what Bayside, Caulfield and St Kilda’s have to offer.
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Change is inevitable — but what kind of world do our next generation of young leaders want to live in, and how will they play a role in making it happen?
In our second annual special report on Tomorrow’s Leaders, we asked school captains across the length and breadth of metropolitan Melbourne: “What action will you take to make a difference in your community?”
Captains of 216 schools responded, and the thought provoking and inspiring words of those from our local schools are published here.
A representative group of 26 of these young leaders, featured on the front cover of every local special print edition, gathered with us at State Parliament recently to extrapolate on their thoughts, and meet Premier Dan Andrews, who took the time to offer them some encouraging words to forge their own path as they prepare to take on the world.
One of the most inspiring observations from this gathering was how easily these confident young people networked with each other, despite never having met.
It reminds us great leaders are also great communicators.
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FRANKSTON AND GREATER DANDENONG SCHOOL CAPTAINS
LILYDALE, YARRA VALLEY AND MAROONDAH SCHOOL CAPTAINS
STAR OF THE SEA COLLEGE, BRIGHTON
Julia Fullard, 18 and Macy O’Sullivan, 17
What action will you take to make a difference in your community?
– Extending awareness beyond one’s own life – local community, nation, globally
– Focusing on justice
– Empowering leadership – educate all students
To consider how one can make a difference in our community, we must consider the actions of those enacting change globally.
As a generation, we are growing up in an increasingly interconnected, globalised planet.
We source inspiration in our student leadership from not only global leaders, such as Jacinda Ardern, but also leading organisations such as the United Nations.
As global citizens, we must consider the actions of these figures in promoting justice, peace and compassion and aim to apply these principles in making a difference locally.
With this in mind, we hope to empower all young adults to be energised to take action. Ensuring all students are informed and educated on issues such as indigenous rights, people movement, refugees and the environment.
As leaders, we hope that all students feel encouraged to make a difference and to be leaders in their own right.
Whether their passions lie in the realms of mental health, scientific research, literature or the arts, every young adult in our community has the power to invoke change, and truly make a difference.
FIRBANK GRAMMAR, BRIGHTON
Ollie Bream, 17 and Ivy Chen, 17
This year is Firbank Grammar’s Year of Courage. As student leaders and co-captains, we have adopted the motto: “It takes courage to be authentically you, courage to follow your passions, and courage to conquer failures.”
Together we will lead by example and create a community of students that are supported to share vulnerability and truly be themselves.
The far-reaching effects of kindness should never be underestimated, and we will take action by demonstrating compassion and acceptance.
Sometimes we fear that our generation has become so afraid of failure that we avoid trying new things if we think we won’t excel at them.
To conquer this, we will encourage and empower our community to be daring, bold, and brave.
We are proud to attend a school that will, in 2020, be launching the world’s first fully sustainable school uniform.
By developing this uniform, Firbank, and we as leaders, are focusing on sustainability and change in the world in which we live.
This year, we are taking action to strengthen our community’s commitment to an inclusive and sustainable future. We aim to inspire others to create positive change and open their minds to embracing new ideas.
SANDRINGHAM COLLEGE
Kaelan Green, 17 and Emily Nicholls, 17
Sometimes those who are in positions of leadership are wrongly dismissed as being part of an elite group and perceived as existing beyond the grasp of others.
It’s important that such perceptions are challenged as they can undermine the overall objective of the team that a leader represents.
In order to better support my community, I want to make a difference by being a leader to whom everyone can relate, one who exists to remind every person that they are leaders themselves, and as such their opinions should be heard and acknowledged.
I aim to alter barriers between groups and maintain successful communication within my community. — Kaelan Green
Leadership cannot be defined by a title; true value cannot be discerned within an individual’s position or the power they possess.
It is the connections we forge with those around us that have the most profound impact on individual lives.
Often all that is required to make a difference is to pay careful attention, offer assistance and use knowledge to facilitate the growth of a peer.
The seemingly insignificant acts of decency are ultimately those that infuse the community with a sense of belonging, and therefore my focus is on noticing the smaller moments and their potential for creating change.
— Emily Nicholls
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MOORABBIN, MORDIALLOC AND CHELSEA SCHOOL CAPTAINS
MORELAND AND MOONEE VALLEY SCHOOL CAPTAINS
MORNINGTON PENINSULA SCHOOL CAPTAINS
NORTHCOTE, PRESTON AND HEIDELBERG SCHOOL CAPTAINS
NORTHERN, SUNBURY AND MACEDON RANGES SCHOOL CAPTAINS
BRIGHTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Jack Clarkson, 17
Drums pounding. Voices roaring. Fresh faces walking through a sea of blue and red. Smoke rising to the roof. Hairs tingling on the back of your spine as young men confront their first day of school.
At Brighton Grammar, we harness the energy of the first day and celebrate it. Personally, I feel that we took a risk when planning that first day.
People are usually in a state of discomfort when young men are expressing themselves emotionally with their voices. However, we as a school believe that these events have a positive impact on the boys and that they challenge the traditional stereotypes of being an alpha male: we join together as one but many different voices of masculinity make up the whole.
The message that we convey is “You are welcome”.
I am learning that leadership is about stretching myself and being prepared to be uncomfortable, even vulnerable at times. It is about being organised and bringing people together.
These celebrations give us something to stand by, to stand together, and most importantly, a sense of belonging.
Ultimately, as a leader, I have learnt that leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.
ST LEONARD’S COLLEGE, BRIGHTON EAST
Francesco Maraventano, 17 and Amelia Gaskell, 17
A great leader demonstrates interest not in their status but cares more deeply about the plight and environment of the people they serve.
This definition of leader extends to all: one’s ability to preserve our earth and our neighbours within it is set through our own individual efforts.
From the donations of millions to finding cures for disease or a simple act of kindness, all social aid is immeasurable yet deeply welcomed by leaders.
It is by a universal moral duty that we must employ our own expertise and growing field of technology to enact positive change.
– Francesco Maraventano
Speaking up. Through communication, today’s youth holds the potential to alleviate the taboo surrounding poor mental health.
Our generation is progressively becoming more disconnected to each other and communicating less, despite an increase in online connection.
Real, influential communication needs to be vocal; it needs to be loud, and it needs to be face-to-face.
As a collective, we need to begin to really talk about the mental health issues of those closest to us.
As this movement gains momentum, we will be able to reach a point where mental health becomes an open conversation in our communities.
– Amelia Gaskell
BRIGHTON SECONDARY COLLEGE
Maeve Ford, 17 and Darcy Vissenjoux, 17
Brighton Secondary College is undergoing a time of great change, and during this time we are prioritising making a positive difference in our community, both in school, among staff and students, and in the broader community.
More specifically, we are working towards bettering our culture of connectedness and creating a positive environment, which we know is so important in a society where mental health issues are becoming ever more prevalent.
We want everyone to have a voice, feel valued and be motivated to seize opportunities.
To begin building this environment, the students have promoted their many clubs and committees within the school, which are run by staff and students, creating a sense of unity and getting more kids involved.
Furthermore, we have invited outside organisations such as the Bayside Youth Council to share their support and guidance.
We have sought input from the whole community in regards to what they want to see change in our culture and we have strengthened our reach into the broader community by increasing our presence on social media, an invaluable tool for our generation’s leaders. Finally, through collaborating with other local schools, we plan to hold community events that will facilitate strong, healthy relationships between everyone in the BSC family.
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WHITEHORSE AND MANNINGHAM SCHOOL CAPTAINS
WHITTLESEA AND DIAMOND VALLEY SCHOOL CAPTAINS
SHELFORD GIRLS’ GRAMMAR, CAULFIELD
Jodi Pang, 17 and Lucy McConville, 17
As recently elected co-captains of Shelford Girls’ Grammar, we are humbled and proud to lead our school in 2020.
The responsibility of leadership at this level is not one we take lightly and we intend to represent the student body and contribute to positive change within the community through initiatives around the environment and wellbeing.
In light of the recent and ongoing bushfires in Australia, we plan to directly support schools in devastated communities that require rebuilding.
Working with the principal and supported by the wider student body from ELC to Year 12, this will be our prime fundraising focus throughout the year.
Within our school community, we’ll also strive to encourage all students to prioritise their personal wellbeing.
We want to nurture a positive mindset among the students in our school to ensure they can reach their full potential. We hope to place an emphasis on the connections they can develop with their peers, the importance of R U OK Day and the significance of checking in with friends.
With a focus on caring within our community, we hope to leave Shelford improved for the future years of students to come.
GLEN EIRA COLLEGE, CAULFIELD EAST
Noah Loven, 17 and Chloe Guss, 17
In an ever-increasing and polarising world, we as leaders must look beyond the four walls of our classrooms to guarantee a prosperous future that will result in greater social cohesion between one another.
We must take responsibility and act on the pressing issues that face our generation in 2020 and beyond.
We, as leaders, will engage with the youth in our community, providing them with assistance and a place that is built on the foundations of tolerance and acceptance.
It is our obligation as leaders to invigorate the youth of today to ensure that we can create a better tomorrow, especially to improve the mental wellbeing of the reported 13.9 per cent according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare of young people who suffer from mental health issues while combating the institutionalised stigma surrounding mental health disorders.
This cannot continue. Moreover, promoting coexistence between those of different religions, races, cultures and ideologies is a necessary challenge to overcome, especially in these very socially and politically partisan times.
As leaders, we will strive to implement changes continuing to create growth within our community, while grabbing this opportunity with two hands to help others who do not have the confidence or ability to access the resources to help themselves.
ST MICHAEL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ST KILDA
Lucy Grant, 17 and Thomas Hill, 17
When considering school leadership, I found myself in a dilemma. Part of me thought I shouldn’t apply; it would be better to challenge the concept that one needs an “official position” in order to be a leader. I gave in to the stigma that claims leadership is homogenous. But leadership is misconstrued.
Leadership is about representing new voices and challenging preconceptions. Change is only possible in a community through the involvement, engagement and empowerment of its people.
Through amplifying the unheard voices that we can shift leadership from something that is out of reach to something that is collaborative dedicated to progression.
— Lucy Grant
Leading by example is a profound leadership quality that I hold dear and believe is the most crucial of all. I would never tell someone to do something for me, others or themselves, if I wouldn’t do it myself.
We want our peers to enjoy coming to school every day, and being in an environment where they feel as comfortable as possible.
We want to hear what our peers want by openly asking for any student to come forward to us with ideas of how they wish to see the school today and for years to come.
— Thomas Hill
CBC ST KILDA
Patrick Gannon, 17
Right now, we’re living in a time of extraordinary change.
The world, society and us as young people are changing at such a fast pace. It seems like there’s no slowing down. Right now, a significant issue that desperately needs the attention of all people is violence against women.
We live in a world whereby extraordinary and necessary change has helped our sisters, mothers, friends and daughters, yet this world still has many women fearful for their lives. This is not acceptable.
This is a situation where people need to lead the charge by setting the example. We must show people how to treat women, so that violence is never used by a man to exercise control or to intimidate a woman.
The men of the world need to realise that the great power we have is to be protectors and role models to others, especially the boys and young men in our communities. This is an issue that affects all of us in some way, and it’s a part of our society that can be slowly changed by small efforts from everyone – old and young. I cannot wait for a world in which everyone, regardless of gender feels safe. We’re on the brink of it.