Young people from primary and secondary Catholic schools across the Wimmera gathered in Horsham last month for a Student Agency – Schools that Listen forum.

The Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited, DOBCEL, marketing and communications manager Ruth Appleyard said the forums asked participants to share what mattered most in their learning and school experiences, and to explore the question, ‘What makes a great school for all?’.

She said the forums focused on student agency, networking, relationship building and skill development, with hands-on, fun and creative activities designed for mixed-age groups. 

A key feature was a learn, share, do approach – students learn together during the forum, return to their schools to recreate activities with their peers, and then take action by applying what they’ve learned in their own context. In the lead-up to the forums, students, teachers and parents were involved in a series of online workshops. The April forums, also in Ballarat, Warrnambool and Robinvale, were the first in-person sessions for the program.

DOBCEL collaborated with Dr Penelope Jean Stiles, who spoke at the forum via videolink from Canada, to support the program and student agency forums. 

“It’s a pretty awesome opportunity to show that we can collaborate globally,” Ms Appleyard said.

Dr Stiles’ research interests include school leadership, relationships and the micro-politics of schooling, with a strong focus on elevating student perspectives within whole-school improvement. DOBCEL is also supported in the collaboration by Dave Runge, who works with educational organisations to build new systems and create innovative outcomes. 

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