Captain's Corner

Inspiring Leadership: Lysterfield Students at the Dream and Lead Conference

On Wednesday, March 26th, the School captions, Sports captions, House captions and Senior school leaders arrived at Upper Ferntree Gully train station at 7:25am. We hopped

 on the train on our way to the Melbourne Primary Dream and Lead conference. We were all very excited to learn more about our roles in leadership.

After getting off the train, we walked for 15 minutes to the Melbourne Convention Centre. When we arrived, we were greeted by sticky notes placed on comfy, cushioned chairs. Our first task was to write down three values that a great leader should possess. Once finished, we stuck the notes on a wall and watched as it filled with ideas and bright colours. 

The lights dimmed as Bonnie and Liam, the 2025 facilitation team, took the stage. They got us pumped us up with loud music, thanks to DJ Ollie. DJ Ollie then led a fun and interactive ‘Would you Rather’ game which put everyone in a good mood. Bonnie and Liam shared stories from their childhood and explained why they wanted to become leaders and do what they do.

The first speaker was Nick Pearce. He shared an important message “A person isn’t a homeless person; they are experiencing homelessness.” His words left us all wondering what we could do to help. Nick founded a company called HoMie which, supports people experiencing homelessness. Through HoMie, people in need can shop for food and clothing for free and even receive job opportunities to help them earn money.

During recess, we were given a challenge: to complete a bingo sheet by asking questions to students from different schools. Once completed, we could submit our sheet for a prize draw. Unfortunately, no one from Lysterfield won, but we gained an experience of a lifetime.

The second speaker was 22-year-old Wil Massara, one of the founders of YLAA. He taught us the steps and strategies to making change. First, find the problem. Then, identify the main cause so you can figure out how to solve it. Next, decide what tools or people can help you. Finally, take the first step. He left us with an inspiring quote: “Age does not determine your ability to achieve extraordinary things.”

After lunch, we returned to hear Lucy Thomas speak about bullying and how she took action against it. Lucy shared how she once lacked the courage to stand up to bullies but eventually found her voice. She and her sister founded Project Rocket, an organisation that empowers young people to stand up to bullying and create social change. She now visits schools to educate students about bullying and its effects.

To end the conference, four students from different schools shared their key takeaways. Lysterfield was lucky enough to be selected, and Alex and Levon had the opportunity to speak in front of 2,000 teachers and students. Levon spoke about the A.A.A. and G.O.T. strategies, while Alex explained the structure for making a difference.

It was an unforgettable experience, and we left feeling inspired and ready to take on our leadership roles. 

-Alex and Azalea