My question is to the Minister for Education, and it is shaped by my work experience student Greta Schumacher in year 10 at Thornbury High. How is the Victorian government supporting schools in my electorate to not only listen to student perspectives but embed student voices in school decisions and curriculum design? In schools across the inner north students are actively contributing ideas to improve their learning and wellbeing. They are leading sustainability projects, designing elective subjects, delivering professional learning to teachers, conceiving new peer-mentoring programs and more. Greta herself has shared with me the fantastic benefits when students are given voice – more confidence, more engagement, a stronger sense of belonging and shared responsibility, deeper collaboration and better educational outcomes. In Victoria we rightly emphasise student voice as a key enabler and provide resources to support this. Yet in practice it is inconsistent. On behalf of all students and what they have to offer, I look forward to hearing how our government is empowering them to shape their education.
