Student Leadership
GRIP Student Leadership Conference
Below are some reports from two of our leaders regarding the GRIP student leadership conference which our members of the Student Representative Council attended.
On March 5th, I had the opportunity to attend the GRIP Leadership Conference at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The day was filled with keynote speakers who specialised in leadership, as well as interactive workshops designed to help us grow as leaders, enhance our school environment, and positively contribute to the broader community.
The sessions we participated in covered a range of topics including: how to make our school a more welcoming place for others, the responsibilities of a student leader, ways to support and uplift our peers, and strategies for organising school events that are inclusive and engaging for everyone. The conference concluded with a Q&A session with the hosts, where we had the chance to hear leadership related advice from the speakers.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the day was collaborating with students from different schools, exchanging ideas, and gaining new perspectives on leadership.
It was a great experience to connect with so many other like minded individuals who shared a passion for making a difference.
During our lunch break, we even had the chance to explore some nearby shops and relax with our school group. On top of that, the weather was beautiful, and looking out over the Yarra River was absolutely stunning. The biggest takeaway for me came from an activity where we had to engage with students outside our school and listen to their insights on leadership. One quote, in particular, really stuck with me:
"If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room."
This simple idea resonated with me. It reminded me that everyone brings their own unique knowledge and ideas to the table, and as leaders, it’s important to embrace different perspectives and continuously learn from others. Attending the GRIP Leadership Conference was a rewarding experience. I walked away feeling more motivated and equipped with the fundamentals of being a good leader not just in school, but in life.
Austin Borutta, Monash Captain
On the 5th of March, 2025, myself and the other members of the student representative council attended the GRIP leadership conference. At this conference the members of the GRIP team spoke to us about how we can be better leaders for our school and for our peers. Alongside other Melbourne schools we first learnt about what we can do to make our school a great place for others, we then had two choices to pick between based on the engagement of students in events or activities. I chose to attend the lesson on creating school events that everyone can connect with, and it was probably my favourite lesson of the whole day. The GRIP member who was leading my lesson talked about how to create an event that allows options for participation to all students. We played a few games at the conference but even though each game was fun it also had an educational meaning behind it, for example one game involved another Berwick College student and myself joining other students up on stage to sing party in the USA by Miley Cyrus to show that in every event there can be people who have fun by being the centre of attention and people who have fun by watching and celebrating. I had so much fun at this conference and it gave me a great insight on how to be a better leader.
This conference was a great opportunity to get to know the leaders I will be working with and I'm looking forward to using the lessons I learned to contribute to making our school a great place for everyone.
Torah Frost, Year 9 Captain
