Principal's Message

College Prefects

Our Year 11 students have recently been invited to consider applying for the role of College Prefect.  Under the direction of Head of Year, Mr Peter Oliver, our Year 11 boys have been led through a period of real discernment about leadership, its various forms, and the ability of every person to influence for the good of others. Such a focus on leadership also encouraged each student to examine their own sense of leadership and influence. 

It was most pleasing to see the overwhelming response by so many of our students to the invitation of being of service to others. A large number of our Year 11 cohort decided to apply for the formal position of College Prefect, while many others pledged their willingness to show genuine leadership as senior students and assist Mr Oliver and the College in less formal ways. This was a wonderful indication of their commitment to their school and their support for each other.

The process for the election of our 16 College Prefects has been long and very comprehensive. It had several steps in the process and considered a range of factors including a formal application which included a brief synopsis of their participation and achievements, the analysis of student reports with a focus on student work attributes and achieving a benchmark score related to the Attribute Point Average (APA), an examination of previous leadership involvement throughout their school journey, a series of short speeches, and finally, the Year 11 student vote and the staff vote. This was followed by a short-listing process and then several meetings and open discussions between key College leadership staff to finalise the formal election of the College Prefects for next year. 

Our Year 11 cohort are an exceptional group of talented young men who, in so many ways, have already demonstrated leadership in many aspects of their life, both within our Trinity College community and in the wider community. In reading the respective Prefect applications, I felt very humbled to learn of their ongoing commitment to serve and to appreciate the particular context from which their leadership has emerged. Such a thorough process certainly confirmed that so many of our students are very capable of assuming the role of College Prefect and the task of arriving at the final group of Prefects for next year was very humbling and somewhat difficult.

At a Year 11 Assembly today, we were delighted to announce the names of the newly elected Prefects for 2023. It was wonderful to see the manner in which they were acknowledged by their peers.  While the Prefects will be formally presented to the College community at our upcoming Presentation Night, I take this opportunity to congratulate them as listed below:

We look forward to the 2023 College Prefects working with key College staff in continuing to enhance their own leadership, and promote engagement, responsibility, commitment and a positive culture amongst our boys.  Importantly, the Prefects are asked to provide a positive example to the College community through their authentic service to others and by upholding the values of Trinity. It is a wonderfully challenging role that benefits the College, supports their peers and promotes their own personal formation. We trust they will be a Spirit of Excellence within our Trinity community.

As a College, we are very blessed to have an extraordinary number of mature, generous and committed young men who have led, and will continue to lead, through the example they set and through their service to others.  In congratulating our 2023 Prefects, I also wish to acknowledge those Year 11 students who were not successful in gaining such a formal leadership position. While acknowledging the very real disappointment that can come with missing out on a role that one aspires to, it is also important to appreciate that true leadership is not necessarily defined by a title or badge.  Rather, leadership is determined by authenticity in service, support for others and the strength of character that resilience builds.  It is also a reminder that leadership comes in many forms; some formal, some informal – all very important! 

Once again, we congratulate our newly elected College Prefects. Well done gentlemen.

Live Jesus in our hearts