Introduction

Mount Gambier High School supports the use of a Student Representative Council (SRC) in order to promote 'Student Voice'. Students are elected to these Councils democratically in ways that model wider Australian democratic processes. The role of SRCs is to promote the views and interests of students within the school and to offer opportunity for students to become actively involved in leadership at their school and in their wider community. Student Voice programmes acknowledge that these goals require students to develop specific skills and offer opportunity for students to develop appropriate understandings, skills and attitudes of leadership and action in order to realise them.

At Mount Gambier High School, there exists a tradition of Student Council activity and involvement and support for the Councils come from both students and staff alike. Involvement in Student Council activities is seen in many contexts: fundraising, information gathering although perhaps most publicly in the November SSC Elections in which the whole school enters into the spirit of the cause.

Structure

Mount Gambier High School's Student Representative Council is structured around two separate Councils: the Junior School Council (years 8-10) and the Senior School Council (years 11-12). These two Councils meet the goals and outcomes of Student Voice by targeting programmes to the age and developmental levels of students involved. Each Council is supported by staff mentors, governed by its own Constitution and is overseen by the Executive under the management of the Student Voice Coordinator.

Composition

Senior School Council (12 members)

• 1 Male School Captain
• 1 Female School Captain
• 4 Year 12 representatives
• 6 Year 11 representatives

Junior School Council (18 members)

• 6 Year 10 representatives
• 6 Year 9 representatives
• 6 Year 8 representatives

Nominating for School Captain/SSC

Nomination Procedures

Executive

In order to plan, monitor and review the yearly progress of the Councils and address any difficulties that may arise throughout, the Executive of the Councils should meet periodically throughout the year. Any member may initiate a meeting of the Executive.

• Student Voice Coordinator - Mr Graham Roulstone
• Deputy Principal - Ms Mary Anne Fenwick
• SSC Mentors Teachers - Jo White
• JSC Mentors Teachers - Kristen Tunbridge
• School Captains - Steph Newton, Perry Hill
• JSC President
• JSC Secretary

Goals and Outcomes

Goals

Student Voice seeks to:

• Liase and promote the views and interests of students with the school.
• Develop appropriate understandings, skills and attitudes of leadership and action amongst Council Members.

Outcomes

Students will liaise and promote the views and interests of students within the school when they:

• Participate in Council activities that identify the views and interests of students.
• Participate in decision making bodies within the school and wider community.
• Demonstrate outcomes that meet or reconcile the interests of students with the school.

Students will show appropriate understandings, skills and attitudes of leadership and action when they:

• Demonstrate an understanding of active and responsible leadership and problem solving.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and adherence to, appropriate democratic decision making processes.
• Demonstrate a willingness to accept individual responsibility in communal activities.
• Demonstrate an ability to work inclusively in a group.
• Demonstrate an ability to organise, implement and reflect on group activities.