At Firefly, we believe that meaningful community change begins with listening, really listening, to the voices of young people. Across our Youth Voice Projects at Vincentia High School and Sussex Inlet Public School, students are not only being heard, but they are also being equipped with the skills, confidence and tools to turn their ideas into action. These projects extend beyond generating ideas: they involve building confidence, strengthening connection to peers and community, and showing young people that their voices genuinely matter.
Vincentia High School: Asking the Right Questions
The Youth Voice students at Vincentia High School are currently in the ‘Ask’ Phase of their project journey, a critical stage focused on data collection and understanding community needs. The group, made up of 11 dedicated students who come together each Wednesday in place of sport, have embraced their role as peer researchers, guided by our in-house Researcher and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) lead, Camilla.
Through hands-on learning, students have explored what it takes to gather meaningful insights. They’ve developed a strong foundation in a range of data collection methods, learning how and when to use tools like surveys, interviews, and observations in community work. A key focus has been designing surveys that people actually want to complete, ensuring they are engaging, clear, and purposeful.
The group has also examined how data can be presented in accessible and meaningful ways, so that their findings can be easily understood and used to inform decisions. They’ve explored the use of case studies to shape their thinking and spark ideas, while also building skills in promoting their data collection methods to reach a diverse and representative group of participants.
Their emerging project ideas are already taking shape, with a focus on areas such as clubs, wellbeing and the performing arts, reflecting the issues and opportunities that matter most to them and their peers.
Alongside this, students have begun developing their ability to pitch ideas effectively, learning how to clearly communicate their thinking and advocate for change. Over the coming weeks, they will apply all these skills by collecting data using a range of methods to support their change-maker projects.
We have been incredibly impressed by their curiosity, teamwork, and commitment. It’s clear that these young people are passionate about creating meaningful change, and we’re excited to see their ideas develop further.
Sussex Inlet Public School: Confidence, Creativity and Real Impact
Meanwhile, the Youth Voice Junior group at Sussex Inlet Public School has gone fromstrength to strength, recently reaching an exciting milestone. In Week 7, students delivered two outstanding change-maker project pitches to the school’s executive team, demonstrating a high level of preparation, confidence and creativity.
The first pitch proposed the introduction of a buddy bench in the school playground. Students identified a clear issue: some children feel lonely or unsure about who to play with. This idea was supported by data collected earlier in the term and presented a thoughtful and inclusive solution. Their idea included not only the purchase of a buddy bench, but also a promotional campaign to help students understand its purpose and encourage a culture of inclusion and connection.
The second pitch focused on improving accessibility at a Georgia Fletcher Park in Sussex Inlet. Students identified barriers within the space, including uneven, cracked paths- making it difficult to navigate with wheelchairs/scooters, the playground is not inclusive for low mobility, Lack of accessible toilets and equipment to play, Lack of adequate signage, and supported their findings using site visit photos and interview responses. Their proposed solution included upgrading pathways to create smooth, level access throughout the park, introducing inclusive playground equipment that can be enjoyed by children of all abilities, improving accessibility to park facilities, including toilets, picnic areas, and drinking fountains, and removing or reducing physical barriers that limit independent access for people with disabilities. Aiming to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for the whole community.
Both presentations were of an exceptionally high standard. The Firefly team was blown away by the enthusiasm, maturity, and strong sense of community connection shown by the students. While the school executive selected the buddy bench project to move forward, both ideas demonstrated the students’ ability to think critically, use evidence and advocate for meaningful change.
Importantly, the second group’s work will continue beyond the classroom. Plans are underway to support these students to connect with local community groups in Sussex Inlet, allowing them to advocate for their accessibility project and continue building momentum for change.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the next phase of the program, both Youth Voice Senior and Junior are building towards exciting outcomes.
At Vincentia High School, students will soon transition from gathering insights to sharing their ideas. In early Term 3, they will pitch their change-maker projects to a selected panel of school and community members. This is a pivotal moment, where students will present the evidence they’ve gathered, communicate their ideas clearly, and advocate for the changes they want to see. From these pitches, two projects will be chosen to move forward, bringing student-led ideas one step closer to reality.
At Sussex Inlet Public School, the Youth Voice Junior group has officially entered the ‘Act’ Phase. Following their successful pitch, students have begun turning their buddy bench idea into a tangible project. As part of this stage, they have been learning about the phases of project management, gaining practical skills in planning, coordination, and implementation.
The team has already made strong progress. The buddy bench has been selected for purchase, and students have started developing an advertising campaign to ensure the initiative is widely understood and embraced across the school. This campaign will play an important role in promoting kindness, inclusion, and connection among students.
If all goes to plan, the buddy bench and its promotional campaign will be launched in July, a fantastic achievement that reflects the students’ hard work and dedication.
Across both Vincentia High School and Sussex Inlet, one thing remains clear: when young people are genuinely listened to, they bring forward ideas that are thoughtful, creative and deeply connected to their communities. By creating spaces where young people feel heard, and by backing their ideas with real opportunities for action, the Firefly team is helping turn youth voice into meaningful change.