Traditional student leadership structures often limit opportunities to senior students or specific year levels, titles and roles. In this presentation, I will explore and reflect on how the Student Empowerment Team at Sacred Heart College researched, designed, and implemented a new Student Leadership Structure that selects leaders based on skills, passions, and drive rather than age or title—better reflecting real-world leadership.
This innovative, student-driven model fosters a network model approach to leadership, where students across different year levels mentor, collaborate, and learn from one another, rather than being confined to hierarchical roles.
Throughout this informative and reflective session we will provide key insights from our five-year journey of implementing our skills-based, goal oriented leadership structure. We will share:
- How we designed and implemented the new model- shifting from traditional leadership roles to a flexible, student-driven framework.
- Barriers and challenges faced - and how we navigated resistance, logistical hurdles, and cultural shifts.
- Learnings, benefits, and successes - including the impact on student engagement, leadership development, and school culture.
-The role of student data - illustrating how student voice has informed decision-making, and agency.

With the implementation of our new structure, our student leaders have played a key role in shaping major school transitions and changes over the past 5 years , including implementing a vertical homeroom structure, a new daily timetable, and data-driven student advocacy initiatives.

This session will provide practical strategies for educators and school leaders looking to break away from traditional leadership models and create a more inclusive, skills-based, and student-driven leadership culture and is ideal for those wanting to foster greater collaboration, agency and voice within their school student leadership teams.