Student Leadership
At Springside West Secondary College students are encouraged to have a voice and enact agency within their learning. The Student Representative Council (SRC) is made up of students from years eight to 12 and they meet regularly to discuss the issues that matter to them.
The Springside West SRC:
- Organises events to recognise national days that promote inclusion such as Harmony Day, IDAHOBIT Day and Reconciliation Week
- Fundraises for local and national causes
- Promotes house pride at whole school events
- Runs a ‘Recycling Rewards’ program to combat litter in the yard
- Represents the college at leadership events in the wider community
- Provides valuable feedback about teaching and learning that is shared and acted upon by staff
Our School Captains are role models within the college. They oversee the Student Representative Council and have regular opportunities to collect and share the broader student voice with members of the Springside West leadership team.
What does it mean to be a leader?
A leader means inspiring positive change within ourselves, our peers and community. It is our responsibility as senior students to demonstrate ideal behaviour both within and outside of our College. Junior and Middle school students look to the seniors as to how to act and react in the classroom, as well as with any obstacles they may face in their personal lives. Being a leader, however, is not linear; we make mistakes and wrong decisions, but what is crucial is learning from these experiences to ensure that we build a positive and safe environment here at SWSC.
The definition of being a leader is taking the lead or command of a group, organization, or country. Being a school leader, however, is much more than this. It is becoming the person who can guide and inspire their fellow classmates. It is one who has the voice to make a change and who garners the support of the students in the school. It is being the face of the students and to represent their needs and concerns. A school leader is passionate about making the school a better, more comfortable place, driven by their peers.
Student leadership means to help push students like ourselves to better themselves each day. We also need to continually place ourselves in the shoes of others to better understand the thinking – the decisions and actions – of our peers. It also means to lead and influence others to do the best they can to succeed. Here at SWSC, being a part of student leadership means having a student voice. It is not often that students are able to express their thoughts and opinions, but through student leadership we are able to share any concerns and new ideas to improve our school community. Student leadership also has a learning side to the role; we learn many skills such as event planning, holding responsibilities, time management, and problem solving. These skills are of course very important to take into our future adult lives, in our future jobs and everyday lives.
Being a student leader is not just about the title, it is the commitment to uplifting our community and encouraging our college values. At Springside West, the role of School Captain embodies inspiration and the spirit of unity. Our focus is to promote inclusivity through team work, academic excellence and school pride. We serve as a bridge between the students and faculty; maintaining a positive relationship with peers, while also working collaboratively with administration is a key element of our roles. Nurturing student voice and empowering the community to share their concerns and ideas is also something that we are passionate about.