Future Gold Coast 2025: What A.B. Paterson College students really think of our city

We asked year 12 students from A.B. Paterson College, who are the next generation of Gold Coast leaders, what they really think about our city. HERE’S WHAT THEY SAID

Year 12 students from A.B. Paterson College in Arundel say they are proud to call the Gold Coast their home as it offers them a wealth of opportunities to help them reach their goals and potential when they finish high school.

Nevindu Dammanagoda, 17, who is the college’s co-captain, said the Gold Coast was “one of the greatest places to live”.

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“It’s one of the greatest places to live and we have so much diversity here,” he said.

“The Gold Coast has the best future for me because not only am I familiar with it but it is a place that I can see developing and growing as I grow up as well.”

Ellie Sinclair, 17, who is the college’s captain, said the Gold Coast was a “unique city” with its hinterland and coastline.

A.B. Paterson College students Ellie Sinclair, Matilda Grant and Nevindu Dammannagoda. Picture: Glenn Hampson

She said she could see a future for herself on the Gold Coast as a psychologist.

“There is a big stigma nationwide around mental health and I would like to improve that the best I can,” she said.

Matilda Grant, 17, who is the college’s community and wellbeing captain, said she was proud to be a part of the Gold Coast community and that it was a privilege to call it her home.

“It feels really special that I am a part of a community which values that natural environment,” she said.

“I care deeply about the environment ... it is a great tourism seller so it is really important that we maintain it for everyone.”

Nevindu said the Gold Coast needed to celebrate its growth more.

“I think we are very focused on the future but we need to celebrate how far we have come,” he said.

“We weren’t a very big city going back a couple of decades but we have come so far.”

How Gold Coast students have changed in 20 years

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.

Joanne Sheehy on the modern Gold Coast student.

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.”

A.B. Paterson College principal Joanne Sheehy. Picture: Annette Dew

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.

Originally published as Future Gold Coast 2025: What A.B. Paterson College students really think of our city