Yeronga State High School: Student voice program reduces suspensions and empowers students

At the start of each year, students at Yeronga State High School are asked what’s wrong.

As part of the school’s student voice program – now in its fifth year – students hold regular summits to work out what could be done better.

“We wanted to make sure that [for] things that were bubbling up, instead of it turning into a negative thing, we would get on the front foot,” middle school head of department Holly Haswell-Smith said.

“Especially in the past five years, global events have really played out at the local level, and we wanted to support students and make sure their voice was heard in a way that was really productive.”

Haswell-Smith said from those first student summits, follow-up meetings could re-evaluate school policy, launch new programs, or see external experts brought in to