From our Principal 

Courage, Service and Leadership: Choosing Our 2027 Student Leaders

Over recent weeks, St Peter's College has undertaken a significant and rigorous process to identify our Student Leadership Team for 2027. While the process is demanding, it reflects the importance of these positions and our commitment to developing authentic student leaders who embody the values of our college.

The journey began with a Leadership Day for our Year 11 students. During the day, students engaged with college staff and an external presenter to explore our understanding of servant leadership. At St Peter's College, leadership is not about status or recognition. Rather, it is about service, humility, courage, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Students wishing to be considered for College Captains, Liturgy Captain, Social Justice Captain, Arts Captain, Environment Captain or Sports Captains were then required to submit a written application outlining their vision and suitability for the role. They also prepared and delivered speeches to their peers. Candidates for College Captains addressed the entire campus, while candidates for the other executive leadership positions spoke to their year level cohorts.

The quality of these speeches was outstanding. Student aspiring to lead spoke passionately about their experiences, values, hopes for the future, and their commitment to our school community. Through this process, students were then able to vote to share with the Leadership Team which candidates they believed should be considered for these important positions. Student voice is invaluable and forms a significant part of our selection process. However, it is only one element of a broader and more rigorous approach that determines which students progress to the interview stage.

Those receiving the strongest support from their peers were invited to interview with a panel comprising staff and current student leaders. The interviews for College Captain candidates, in particular, were deeply impressive. Students spoke articulately about what they love about St Peter's College and, time and again, the themes of inclusivity, belonging and welcome emerged as defining strengths of our community. Their reflections were thoughtful, authentic and inspiring.

The process is undoubtedly challenging and, at times, exhausting. It requires students to place themselves in a position where they will be evaluated by others, to articulate what they believe in, and to publicly present the values they stand for. This takes courage. Each student who applied demonstrated exactly what our college motto, Be Not Afraid, calls us to embrace.

Importantly, the leadership selection process also provides students with valuable experience that will serve them well beyond school. Whether applying for employment,

scholarships, tertiary courses, leadership opportunities or positions of responsibility in the future, students develop skills in written applications, public speaking, interviewing and self-reflection that will benefit them throughout their lives.

On Monday, candidates will be informed of their success or otherwise in relation to College Captain and Executive Student Leadership positions. For some, the outcome will be affirming. For others, it may be disappointing. However, I want to acknowledge that every student who applied was an excellent candidate. As many of them themselves recognised, leadership is not dependent upon a badge, title or position. True leadership is demonstrated through actions, character and service to others. I am confident that every one of our applicants will continue to make a positive contribution and lead within our community next year.

The Student Leadership Investiture Ceremonies for both campuses will be held on Tuesday, 15 September, at 9:00am at the Cranbourne Campus and 10:45am at the Clyde North Campus. Parents and families are warmly invited to join us as we celebrate the achievements of these outstanding young people. We are deeply grateful for the encouragement, support and positive role modelling that families provide, helping our students grow into the leaders they are becoming.

The process of selecting our House Captains is also currently underway, with progress varying across campuses and Houses. In recognition of the increasing responsibilities associated with these roles as our Houses continue to grow, we will introduce a revised structure for 2027 consisting of two House Captains and one Vice Captain for each House. This change will help distribute leadership responsibilities more effectively while also creating opportunities for emerging leaders to develop their skills. The Vice Captain role will provide valuable leadership experience and may serve as a pathway to future House Captain or Executive Student Leadership positions. We believe this is an exciting and positive development that will further strengthen student leadership opportunities across the College.

Supporting Young People in the Digital Age

Recent proposed changes to government legislation regarding social media platforms represent a positive step forward in supporting the wellbeing of young people. The proposed reforms would require users to actively opt in to algorithm-driven content recommendations rather than having these features automatically enabled.

Algorithms are designed to continually present content that captures and retains attention. While this can create an engaging online experience, it can also contribute to excessive screen time, "doom scrolling", and habits that are difficult for young people to regulate independently.

Measures that place greater control in the hands of users and families have the potential to reduce some of the more addictive aspects of social media platforms while encouraging more purposeful and balanced online engagement. Such protections are particularly important for adolescents as they continue to develop healthy habits, strong social connections and positive approaches to learning.

At St Peter's College, we are supportive of initiatives that promote the wellbeing of young people and help create healthier digital environments. Alongside the important role played by parents and schools, sensible safeguards can assist young people to focus on their relationships, learning and personal growth, while reducing some of the negative impacts associated with excessive social media use. We believe these proposed changes represent a constructive step toward supporting the mental health, wellbeing and educational engagement of the next generation.

Mr David Hansen

Principal