At BCE our highest priorities are the safety and wellbeing of our students.
On Monday 21 October, Brisbane Catholic Education celebrates Student Voice Awareness Day, an opportunity to highlight student voice and ensure it remains embedded in everything we do.
Student Voice is at the centre of Standard 2 of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, which mandates that children and adults are safe, informed and participate in decisions affecting them, and are taken seriously. It outlines the importance of providing students with information and opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
At St Joseph's Primary School Corinda, Principal Kim Davis is dedicated to inviting, involving and supporting students to become key contributors to projects across the school.
From classroom refurbishment to school uniforms, Kim has put formal processes into place that ensure student ideas are incorporated, and they can see the impact of their ideas every day.
“Listening to the voices of students has enabled specific projects to be enhanced, and student-friendly, because of the insightful and considered contributions," Kim said.
Perspectives, experiences and understanding of students is different to the adults facilitating the learning and educational processes within a school.
“By listening to students, we acknowledge these differences and can target and provide precise opportunities that maximise impact," she said.
“The students who have been involved in some of our school projects have also gained skills in project management, collaboration, compromise and budgeting."
St Joseph's student, Erin said she was excited to be involved in a project at school.
“I enjoyed the responsibility of attending meetings and listening to other people's ideas and I feel like we accomplished the goals that were set," Erin said.
Engaging student voices at Siena Catholic College Sippy Downs across all levels of the school, with the crucial support of the ELT and teachers, has shaped an inclusive and innovative school community.
Campus Minister, Joan Prasser said Siena College students have wholeheartedly embraced this movement.
“I am immensely proud of our accomplishments through Student Voice," Joan said.
“We have established an incredible platform for student voice to be heard which has truly empowered and enriched the high school experience for our students."
Sienna College student and BCE Student Voice Consultant, Sophie Hattingh said participating in Student Voice had been both a life-changing and challenging experience.
The Student Voice Network is a community of BCE secondary students created to connect and empower students to take an active role in shaping their education.
“I felt a lot of responsibility and the urge to be perfect, but quickly learned that Voice not only embraces our differences but celebrates them.
“From the More2Me mental health toolkit to the Student Voice Network, with the guidance of mentors and support staff, I've found purpose in discovering my own voice and helping others find theirs."