In March, Year 9 student leaders from the Elsternwick Campus had the opportunity to attend the State Youth Leadership Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre, an event that brought together 1,800 student leaders from Years 7 to 12, from 180 schools across Victoria.
Aiming to equip young leaders with the skills and confidence to become change-makers within their schools and communities, the day-long event was vibrant and engaging, filled with opportunities for students to connect with peers from other schools while reflecting on their own leadership journeys.
Participants heard from three keynote speakers who shared their unique leadership experiences:
Fiona Sanford, CEO of The Flourish Journey, a passionate youth advocate and mental health champion committed to empowering young girls.
Noah Yang, founder of We Are Mobilise and one of Australia’s Top 100 Future Leaders (AFR). Noah's charity supports people experiencing homelessness, helping them forge their own paths toward independence.
Wil Masara, 22-year-old founder of Youth Leadership Academy Australia - the organisation behind the event and a respected changemaker, social entrepreneur and Gen Z advocate.
Reflecting on the experience, Year 9 leader Rachel said, ‘My biggest takeaway from the conference was learning about all the different tools and questions you can ask yourself to identify what might be holding you back from being the best person you can be.’
Charlotte ‘found it really interesting and inspiring to hear the stories of how people got to where they are today.’
The day left students feeling inspired, empowered and ready to take action in their communities. We're proud to support them as they take the first steps in their own leadership journeys.
