YLAA Secondary Youth Leadership Conference
by Ms Chloe Martinich, Leading Teacher Student Voice, Agency & Leadership
Box Hill High School
Our Year 12 Prefect team spent the day at the Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA) Secondary Youth Leadership Conference on 19 March. The program featured interactive sessions and inspiring guest speakers focused on self-leadership, communication, and creating meaningful change. Students were particularly fortunate to hear from:
Lexy McDonald - a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, digital creator, and the founder of HerHelp, a platform designed to make girlhood and early adulthood feel less lonely.
Lucy Thomas OAM - CEO & Co-Founder of Project Rockit Awardee for Anti-Bullying Advocacy.
Wil Massara - Founder of Youth Leadership Academy Australia & 2025 WA Young Changemaker of the Year.
Our School Captain, Rohan, was selected to join an onstage panel alongside three other student leaders from across Victoria. He represented our school with confidence and authenticity as he shared his leadership journey, his passion for advocacy and connection, and his advice for emerging student leaders.
The Prefect team took away valuable insights from the day, reflected in their thoughts below:
Rohan (School Captain): “The message that resonated most with me was the concept of imperfect action being superior to perfect inaction. I couldn’t agree more and I think giving things a go always beats waiting for the perfect moment and never ending up trying it.”
Leigh (Vice-Captain): “One small immediate action I can take this week is to look for the similarities rather than the differences with people I talk to.”
Sophie (Sports Prefect): “The most inspiring moment was how everyone was connected through being a leader. Everyone was energetic and ready to try new things!”
Oscar (Sustainability Prefect): “The leadership lesson that resonated with me the most was when the guest speakers encouraged us to let go of doubts so we can achieve things that we would usually think we couldn't.”
Amelie (STEM Prefect): “The leadership lesson that resonated the most with me was the fact that actions come before confidence.”