Our Story
What we stand for.
Since 1970, Australia has seen attempts to establish a national body whose role is to advocate for student voice. In 2019, a group of passionate advocates brought the Student Voice, Agency, and Participation International Conference (SVCMelbourne) to Australia. Recognising the need for an ongoing national presence and for the continual sharing of knowledge, the Australian Council for Student Voice (ACSV) was born.
The ACSV is uniquely positioned ‘across the divides’. We are not just for students—we are for everyone committed to embedding student voice, agency, advocacy, and partnerships in education, including students, educators, school leaders, researchers, policymakers, and industry partners.
We exist to champion student voice, not by speaking on behalf of students, but by empowering them to advocate for themselves. Through events, training, and knowledge-sharing, we support individuals and communities to drive meaningful change. Our vision is an education system where student voice is not just heard, but valued, embedded, and actioned. In 2019 we committed to a body that will facilitate events, share knowledge, and develop leading practice to achieve this goal - and that is what we’re doing.
As an independent national body, we are committed to fostering partnerships, building capacity, and ensuring that young people have the tools, networks, and support to shape the decisions that affect them.
Our Commitment to Child Safety
The Australian Council for Student Voice is deeply committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. Our role as a national peak body advocating for student voice, agency, and participation is built upon a foundation of creating inclusive, equitable, and empowering environments where all students feel safe, valued, and respected.
Drawing from our Australian Framework for Student Empowerment, we affirm that child safety must be approached with authenticity, cultural responsiveness, and equity. Our commitment is to establish systems and practices that not only safeguard children but also empower them to actively contribute to decisions that impact their lives.
We affirm our zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and are dedicated to actively preventing harm. This includes embedding child safety in our policies, practices, and culture, ensuring that all children—regardless of their background, abilities, or identity—feel valued and supported. We strive to uphold the rights of children as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and align our efforts with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
As an independent and democratic body, the ACSV stands across divides to connect students, educators, school leaders, academics, policy makers, and industry. Our work fosters collaboration and learning to ensure that the voices of children and young people are not just heard but meaningfully acted upon.
Our commitment to child safety reflects our broader mission to create an education system where student voice thrives, and students are empowered to lead meaningful change in their communities.
Our Values
We’re independent
We are independent – we aren’t funded by government, but by our community’s contributions and involvement.
We’re democratic
We are democratic –all members of our community have the chance to be involved in the governance and the decision-making of the ACSV, to have a say on decisions that affect them.
We value collaboration and learning
We value collaboration and learning – taking an active role in the future, through building real connections with our community and sharing valuable knowledge.
We value integrity and inclusion
We value integrity and inclusion – we act with purpose and are accountable for our actions, including to hear from the unheard voices, and sharing practice across the divides.
Our History
Our history is shaped by generations of students who have worked to ensure their voices are heard and acted upon in education policy and practice, alongside dedicated educators, researchers, and advocates who have supported, mentored, and championed student leadership.
Read more about Where We’ve Come From
We’re proud to be an official supporter of the National Strategy for Volunteering
We recognise that we all have a part to play in ensuring that volunteering has a bright future in Australia. The National Strategy is a ten-year roadmap for how we can collectively build this future and our organisation is committed to this journey.
We embrace, celebrate and uplift members of LGBTIQA+ communities
We are committed to embracing, celebrating, and uplifting members of LGBTIQA+ communities. Grounded in our values of integrity and inclusion, we strive to create a space where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered. We actively work to break down barriers, foster genuine connections, and ensure that LGBTIQA+ students and advocates have a meaningful role in shaping the future of education.
