Wellbeing and Engagement
Student Action Teams: Building Student Voice and Leadership at Great Ryrie
We’re thrilled to share the latest updates from our Student Action Teams program at Great Ryrie Primary School! Over the past few weeks, our future student leaders have participated in two dynamic half-day training workshops with Kate Wilde from The Human Development Workshop, alongside Miss Atkinson and Mrs Maxwell.
This program continues our strong commitment to strengthening student voice, agency and leadership at Great Ryrie. It empowers students to identify real issues, share their perspectives, and take meaningful action to create positive change in our school community.
What Are Student Action Teams?
Student Action Teams are built on the belief that:
- Students can make important decisions about issues that matter to them.
- Students have the skills, expertise and knowledge to improve their school and community.
- Meaningful action can be part of everyday learning.
Through this process, students develop teamwork, communication, problem-solving and leadership skills, all while planning and implementing practical projects that make a real difference.
Training Workshops and Team Projects
During the first workshop, students explored what it means to be a leader, practised teamwork, and brainstormed issues they care deeply about at school. In the second session, they refined their ideas, developed action plans, and decided on their focus areas for 2025.
We are proud to announce that our Student Action Teams have chosen to focus their projects on:
- Mean-on-purpose behaviour – promoting kindness and respect across the school.
- Litter in the yard – encouraging everyone to take responsibility for keeping our school environment clean.
- Education around sensory equipment – helping students understand how and why sensory tools support learning and wellbeing.
- Equity on the basketball courts – ensuring fair and inclusive use of play spaces for both boys and girls.
Each team has now set goals, assigned roles, and begun planning the actions they’ll take to make Great Ryrie an even better place for everyone.
Why It Matters
Programs like Student Action Teams empower young people to recognise that their voices and actions matter. When students are given genuine opportunities to lead, they become more engaged, confident, and connected to their school community.
We are incredibly proud of the initiative, creativity and empathy our students have shown so far. Their passion for making Great Ryrie a welcoming, inclusive and positive place for all is truly inspiring.
We look forward to sharing more updates as our teams put their projects into action and continue to make a meaningful impact throughout the year.