Each year, QAHS students step into the world of local government through the Gold Coast Junior Council program - an experience that sharpens leadership skills, amplifies student voices, and, connects them with equally as enthusiastic peers from across the city.
Last week, the first Council meeting of 2025 unfolded at HOTA and the Gold Coast Council Chambers, where the outgoing Executive Committee was celebrated for its sterling contributions, and the newly appointed 2025 team was welcomed into the fold.
A special mention goes to Year 12 QAHS students, 2024 Deputy Junior Mayor Rihanna Patel , and Executive Committee Member Yanyan Zhang, whose dedication over the past two years has been nothing short of remarkable. Their work has left an indelible mark on the Junior Council.
This year, we're delighted to introduce our freshly elected Year 10 representatives, Sienna Earwicker and Timothy Wissa, who join our seasoned Year 11 members, Mattias Steljic and Matilda Duhig, in taking up the mantle of student leadership.
Please enjoy these student reflections on the first meeting.
The Gold Coast Junior Council program has been, and will continue to be, an incredible initiative - one I'm proud to be part of. It connects students with like-minded leaders across the Gold Coast and provides opportunities to grow through workshops, seminars, and events. Being part of the first meeting of 2025 was a fantastic experience, from reconnecting with old friends and welcoming new members to engaging in activities at HOTA. It was a great start to the year, and I'm excited for what's to come in the Junior Council program - I can't wait for the next meeting!
Mattias Steljic, Year 11 QAHS Gold Coast Junior Council representative
Last week the Gold Coast Junior Council had its first meeting of 2025, and I had the honour of attending as a Year 10 Junior Councillor representing QAHS. The meeting was so enjoyable and there were many highlights, including networking that allowed me to speak to councillors from schools across the Gold Coast. During this meeting we farewelled the 2024 Executive Committee and watched the new Executive Committee get sworn in, which was exciting as QAHS had the prestigious honour of having two of our Junior Councillors for 2024 on the Executive Committee. This is something that I look forward to applying for at the end of this year. Throughout the day, we engaged in leadership workshops where we learnt how to effectively set and work towards our goals. I learnt many things from this workshop, most importantly that a positive mindset is essential to achieve your goals. I learnt that it's not just about the talent or effort, but it's also about the mindset and feeling like you can achieve your goals. I highly recommend this opportunity to next year's Year 10 cohort and look I forward to more opportunities with the Gold Coast Junior Council as the year progresses.
Timothy Wissa, Year 10 QAHS Gold Coast Junior Council representative
I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity. It is a privilege to be able to work together, with peers from other schools as well as our school councillors, to grow as a community and as leaders through our shared Gold Coast Junior Council journey. The energy at our first meeting, held at our city's beautiful cultural precinct HOTA, was both exciting and inspiring. I found our first leadership presentation, focusing on four different types of leadership, to be insightful and very engaging. Whether you are a 'connector', a 'dreamer', a 'problem solver' or a 'doer', we can all be leaders!
Sienna Earwicker, Year 10 QAHS Gold Coast Junior Council representative
Marnie Chetter
Student Leadership Co-ordinator