A new generation of young leaders are stepping up at Vincentia High School as Youth Voice 2025 begins. This initiative is designed to give students the chance to develop their leadership skills, engage with their community, and contribute to meaningful projects that make a positive impact. Fourteen enthusiastic students are ready to become change-makers, equipped with the tools and knowledge to bring their ideas to life.

During Term 1, these students will embark on an exciting journey to develop their leadership and community engagement skills. They will start with the Community Minded Kids program, a unique initiative that teaches students how to be active, responsible, and engage with members of their community. This program focuses on collaboration and citizen-driven efforts, setting the stage for the students’ work throughout the year.

Youth Voice Sydney Trip

One of the key highlights of the term will be a trip to Sydney, where the students will explore the idea of paying it forward. They will take part in a recycling workshop at Banish, a Sydney-based organisation focused on preventing recyclable materials from ending up in landfills. The students will also attend the Secondary Youth Leadership Conference in Darling Harbour, an event designed to inspire and equip young leaders with the skills and confidence to drive meaningful community initiatives.

Research

Following the Sydney trip, the students will have the unique opportunity to work with a researcher from Uniting, where they will develop valuable research skills. This collaboration will give them the chance to explore real community issues, gather insights, and contribute to projects that can create lasting change.

Personal Sparks

To start their journey, the students split up into pairs and participated in the Gifts of the Head, Heart, and Hands exercise, an activity that helps them reflect on their personal strengths and how they can use them to benefit their community. This exercise encourages them to think critically about what they know, what they can do, and what they are passionate about, and how these gifts can make a difference.

This exercise helped the students reflect on their individual strengths, what we call Sparks, and started the formation of some ideas that might be explored this year.

In addition to the group activity, Sue, the School Learning Support Officer (SLSO), who is joining us this year, had a little fun by winning the Rock Paper Scissors challenge. We’ll see if she is able to hold on to her Rock Paper Scissors crown for the rest of the year.

Youth Voice 2025 is not just about learning; it’s about putting that knowledge into action. Follow their journey and stay tuned for updates on how they are working together to make a difference!