Our Year 9 and Year 11 student leaders recently had the opportunity to attend the Melbourne Secondary Youth Leadership Conference on Thursday 27 March 2025. This event united young leaders from across the region to enhance their leadership abilities. Below are two accounts from our students, sharing their experiences and key takeaways from the day. 

Attending the Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA) Conference was an inspiring and transformative experience. The event brought together passionate young leaders from many different schools, all eager to develop their leadership skills and create meaningful change. Through engaging workshops, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities, I gained valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and teamwork.

One of the most impactful moments was hearing from experienced leaders who shared their journeys, emphasising the importance of perseverance and adaptability. The conference also provided practical strategies for effective communication and problem-solving, which I can apply in both personal and professional settings.

Ramon Abbey-Sobh Year 9 N12

Beyond the learning experience, YLAA fostered a sense of community, encouraging collaboration and innovation. It reinforced my belief that young people have the power to drive positive change. I left feeling motivated, empowered, and ready to apply these lessons to my own leadership journey. YLAA’s leadership conference empowered us to forge our own definitions of leadership, and highlighted that, whether we hold formal student leadership titles or not, we can still fit and act on these definitions.

The conference featured a range of keynote speakers who shared their inspirational leadership stories and yet again highlighted that leadership is not a set formula, but rather a person’s ability to – in their own unique way – empower others to collectively achieve positive outcomes.

For example, we heard from Fiona Sanford, the former CEO of the Flourish Journey, a non-for-profit organisation focusing on the personal development of young women in the ever-changing social landscape. She discussed her journey in leadership and highlighted how accountability and introspection – or self-leadership – are essential qualities for a well-rounded leader.

This event granted us student leaders’ insight to cultivate positive change both within and beyond our school community.

Orlando Pettinella Year 11 T07