Student Leadership

Year 9 School of Student Leadership

This year we were lucky enough to send four exceptional developing Year 9 leaders to the School of Student Leadership (formally known as ‘The Alpine School’). Below is the report after the six weeks at the western campus. If successful with our application for 2027, any Year 8 students reading this, be sure to apply for a position!

The School for Student Leadership (SSL) was an unforgettable six-week opportunity to gain life skills, build lifelong friendships, and grow into a close-knit second family. While it was initially daunting to face worries like homesickness and living without a phone, the supportive community and packed schedule made it easy to adjust, step out of reality, and focus on the future. Daily life perfectly balanced on-campus learning with incredible outdoor adventures. Between classes, campus life was filled with sports like football, netball, and table tennis, as well as relaxing activities like reading, crafts, and emailing family back home. 

On campus, our classes targeted SSL’s 9 core concepts: Empathy, Identity, Respectful Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, Environments, Resilience, Collaboration, Learning Strategies, and Emotional Management. Through these, we mastered practical skills like public speaking, peer and coworker support, first aid, and CPR. Everyone joined at least two student committees to improve the school environment, such as planting trees with the Nature Ninjas or running major initiatives. These included our Community Learning Project (CLP), where we designed local fundraisers or primary school programs to implement back home, and the Local Leadership Project (LLP), where we organised a full activity day complete with timetables, name tags, certificates, and buddies for Year 4 students from Timboon P-12. 

The off-campus expeditions were the absolute highlight, providing an exciting break from campus routines. We challenged ourselves with caving, surfing, bridge building, high ropes treetops courses, mountain biking, tandem riding, and a major two-night canoeing expedition. We also engaged in community service, took part in a cultural visit to Tower Hill, and toured iconic regional sights like Mt Sturgeon, Mt Noorat, and the 12 Apostles. Missing SSL greatly already, this experience truly helped me discover who I am. I strongly encourage all Year 7 and 8 students to take the leap and apply; it is an adventure you will instantly wish you could relive all over again. 

Alysha Oravec Year 9 Captain

DON’T lose your Voice!!!

Have Your Say with the VoiceBox!

Have you noticed something around the school that could be improved? Got an idea that would make Berwick College an even better place? The VoiceBox is your chance to make it happen!

The VoiceBox gives every student the opportunity to share ideas, suggestions and concerns that can help improve our school. Whether it's something small or something bigger, we want to hear it. Student voice is an important part of making positive change, and many of the initiatives we're currently exploring have come directly from student feedback.

The best part? Your ideas don't just disappear. Every submission is read, discussed and considered by our Student Leadership Team and College Leadership Team. While not every idea can be implemented straight away, each one helps shape the direction of our school.

Some of the projects and improvements we're currently working on include:

• Outdoor basketball courts: Students have asked for new basketball nets on the outdoor rings, and we're looking to replace these as soon as possible.
• Study spaces: We're looking at ways to maximise study areas in the Library so more students have access to quiet spaces to work during breaks.
• Lunchtime clubs: We're exploring how we can expand the range of clubs on offer so there's something for everyone to get involved in.
• More sport at lunch: Following the success of the Buroinjin competition during NAIDOC Week, we're committed to running more lunchtime sports and house-based competitions throughout the term. Soccer is already on its way, with plenty more ideas in the pipeline. We're investigating the construction of an outdoor volleyball pit, along with installing a permanent net to provide another active option during recess and lunchtime.
• School uniform: We know the uniform has been a popular topic in the VoiceBox. We're listening, and a process to consider the best ways in which to wear the Berwick College uniform.

These are just some of the ideas currently being explored, and they all started with students speaking up.

We're committed to making Berwick College the best it can be, but we can only do that by listening to the people who know it best—our students. So, if you've got an idea, don't keep it to yourself. Jump onto the online VoiceBox, submit your suggestion, and help shape the future of our school.

The 2026 Berwick Student VOICE-BOX – Fill out form

Your voice matters, and together we can continue to make Berwick College an even better!

Daniel Bowen

Leader of Student Leadership, Voice & Agency