This week, our QAHS Gold Coast Junior Council representatives headed to the Broadbeach Cultural Precinct for the third council meeting of 2025 - a day that managed to blend leadership, social issues, connection, and student voice in equal measure. It was, in short, a reminder that young people don't just inherit the future; they can shape it.
In the fortnight leading up to the event, QAHS staff and students rallied to collect grocery items for Gold Coast Youth Service. Our haul of donations was handed over on the day, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed - you've made a tangible difference.
The meeting shone a spotlight on a sobering issue: youth homelessness. Guest speaker Belinda Tessieri from Gold Coast Youth Service put the numbers on the table – 322 young people on the Gold Coast are homeless, with just seven beds available each night. Gold Coast youth make up 6.67% of Queensland's homeless young population. There are 0 affordable rental properties in Australia for someone on Youth Allowance. Belinda's documentary A Place to Call Home gave those statistics a voice, with young people sharing their lived experience. One huge takeaway was that talking matters. Conversations about hard issues can be the first domino in a line of change.
We also participated in the Tone from the Top workshop, where Hayden and Shaan from Be There nudged us to examine how we can dismantle negative cultures, build trust, and create environments where people feel safe to be themselves. Their session on Bystander Awareness pushed us to confront the question: how can we all show up as decent humans? And more importantly - how do we get more people to push past those roadblocks to build genuine inclusivity?
Our students came away inspired, more informed, and with a sharper sense of the role they can play in leading change. Because, as the day made clear, leadership isn't all about a microphone - it's just as much about listening, noticing, and knowing when to speak up.
Enjoy the following reflections from our Year 10 Gold Coast Junior Council representatives.
The theme for this term's Junior Council meeting was VOICE. Throughout the day, we participated in a range of engaging activities that encouraged networking, leadership, and teamwork. These experiences helped us understand how to use our voices for good and equipped us with important skills, including how to be an active bystander.
In addition to the fun and learning, the day was also an opportunity to support young people in need. A food donation drive was held in support of the Gold Coast Youth Service. We were privileged to hear from Belinda, from the organisation, who spoke powerfully about youth homelessness. One key message was that being homeless doesn't always mean being without a roof. She emphasised the importance of advocacy and reminded us that to create real change, we must be the change we wish to see.
One of the main highlights was the "Be There Bystander Workshop," where we learned the true impact of being an active bystander, supporting and standing up for others. We were introduced to a practical four-step model (presented as a "toolbox") to help guide us through bystander situations: be there now; be there later; be the switch; and be the champion. We applied these steps to real-life scenarios, which helped solidify our understanding of how powerful our voices can be when used to support others.
To finish off the day, we took part in a debate on the topic: "There should be a cableway built over Springbrook National Park." Each table group was assigned a different stakeholder perspective. Our group took on the role of city planners and argued against the proposal. We believed that building the cableway would cause significant environmental damage and was ultimately unnecessary and expensive. We also engaged in rebuttals, learning how to critically evaluate arguments while maintaining respect for differing opinions.
Overall, it was an incredible experience filled with opportunities to make new friends, hear diverse viewpoints, and further develop our leadership and communication skills!
Timothy Wissa, Year 10 Gold Coast Junior Council representative
The start of our third Gold Coast Junior Council meeting was very inspiring; it was amazing to see the donations to Gold Coast Youth Service coming together from all the different schools as we all arrived. We were filled with pride as our own QAHS donations contributed significantly and I thank our school community for actively contributing to this incredibly important initiative. Our participation in this initiative will make a meaningful difference to homeless youth in need, within our Gold Coast community. During our meeting, we heard from a representative of Gold Coast Youth Service, who further shone a light on the difficult circumstances and need for solutions to support the many young people suffering from homelessness. It was particularly interesting for me to learn that homelessness is not just about 'rooflessness', rather it is about not having a safe, stable place to call home. Additionally, I enjoyed taking part in a workshop during which we learnt about the role of bystanders and the importance of becoming an active bystander. My key takeaway from this workshop was that anyone can offer support to those involved in confrontation, whether it is immediate support or support at a later time. Overall, our meeting was a valuable experience, facilitating meaningful discussions about powerful issues which are increasingly relevant for young people today.
Sienna Earwicker, Year 10 Gold Coast Junior Council representative
Marnie Chetter
Teacher of English & Student Leadership Coordinator