Leadership resources

An introduction to design thinking, emphasising its benefits in educational settings.

Service learning blends community engagement with hands-on learning, offering students powerful opportunities to grow as leaders and citizens. In this article, Lauren Hichaaba outlines five compelling reasons to embed service learning into your school program, ranging from boosting student agency and empathy to building community connections and creating real-world impact. With thoughtful design, service learning doesn’t just benefit students, it enriches the broader community too. A valuable read for educators seeking to make learning more purposeful and people-focused.

Leadership isn’t something young people learn all at once, it’s something they grow into with the right support. In this blog post, Michael Walter explores how scaffolding can help students develop real leadership skills over time. Drawing on personal stories and experience running camps and programs, he shares strategies like providing regular feedback, gradually increasing responsibility, and using templates to reduce overwhelm. A great read for educators, youth workers, or mentors looking to guide students through the ups and downs of leading.

A hub of tools, strategies and case studies for schools to elevate student voice in class and beyond. Includes practice guides and planning templates.

Provides insights into international and Australian trends in applied learning, useful for curriculum development.

This engaging TED-style talk by Jenny Hoyos breaks down a simple, practical framework for telling powerful stories in under 60 seconds, ideal for student leaders learning to communicate with impact. Using humour, real-life examples, and viral storytelling techniques, Hoyos shows how to craft compelling messages by starting with a question, building tension through conflict, and delivering a satisfying resolution. It's a great resource for helping students improve their public speaking, presentation skills, and confidence when sharing their ideas with an audience.

This guide from VicSRC, Getting Started with Student Voice, is a practical starting point for schools looking to build meaningful student leadership. It outlines clear steps for creating a culture where students are genuinely heard and involved in decision-making. With simple language and actionable strategies, the guide helps educators and students work together to shift from tokenism to authentic leadership, making it an ideal resource for schools beginning their student voice journey.

Provides tools to ensure diverse student voices are heard, promoting equity and inclusion.

In this reflective post, Michael Walter shares how he redesigned a school service learning program supporting people experiencing homelessness. Drawing on human-centred design principles, he outlines how the experience was restructured to be person-centred, safe, educational, and sustainable. The blog offers a behind-the-scenes look at stakeholder engagement, risk planning, and student preparation, making it a valuable resource for educators designing their own service learning projects. A thoughtful and practical read, especially for those working with vulnerable communities.

Need to refocus a noisy group without yelling? This quick and practical blog shares six effective strategies to get your students' attention in a fun and respectful way. From using music or call-and-response cues to hand-raising and playful games like “Do as I say, not as I do,” Felicity Neeson offers tools that are easy to implement and help maintain a calm, engaging environment. A handy resource for teachers and facilitators working with student groups of any size.