School children from across NSW walked into the Legislative Council on Wednesday for a date with the Education Minister.<\/p>\n
They sat down with Sarah Mitchell before the inaugural Minister\u2019s Student Council to discuss an agenda that included mobile phones in schools, consent education, improving equity and resources for low-socioeconomic schools, and behaviour management.<\/p>\n
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NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell listens to members of the Minister\u2019s Student Council inside the Legislative Council on Wednesday. <\/span>Credit:<\/span>Kate Geraghty<\/cite><\/p>\n The newly formed council, also known as DOVES (Department of Student Voices in Education and Schools), comprises 24 students \u2013 three from each of the eight regions across NSW to reflect the diversity of the state.<\/p>\n Nirvana Prasad, 16, from Girraween High School in western Sydney wants to foster \u201cmore kindness in schooling\u201d through peer support groups.<\/p>\n \u201cIn kindergarten, we\u2019re taught sharing is caring, but as we grow up that kind of fades away,\u201d Nirvana said. \u201cWe\u2019re taught how to make a living but not how to live.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the younger members of the council.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Kate Geraghty<\/cite><\/p>\n Amelia Whyman, 13, attends Wilcannia Central School, in the state\u2019s far west, and she wants First Nations voices from the country to be heard.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes where I live we get blocked out, and they don\u2019t listen to us,\u201d Amelia, who gave an acknowledgement of country in Barkindji language, said.<\/p>\n That message was echoed by Rehannah Russell, 15, from Brewarrina Central School: \u201cYou don\u2019t really get a say all the way out in the country. In this opportunity we do.\u201d<\/p>\n Sixteen-year-old Sydney Secondary College student Ned Graham wants to improve behaviour management so his peers don\u2019t fall through the cracks.<\/p>\n Ms Mitchell said the council was the first of its kind in Australia. <\/span>Credit:<\/span>Kate Geraghty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cWhere I\u2019m from, you\u2019ve got kids from really well-off families rebelling and falling into these holes. They\u2019re struggling to get out because support systems aren\u2019t there [when they are] continually getting suspended,\u201d Ned said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy main goal is getting the kids who need to be in school, in school. And making sure the behaviour management systems are getting in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Charli Grant, 15, from Brisbane Water Secondary College on the Central Coast wants educators to focus on low-socioeconomic areas.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving the resources for kids, no matter where they are, is really important,\u201d Charli said.<\/p>\n The youngest council member, 11-year-old Tavish Kelly from Rutherford Public School in the Hunter, admits to feeling \u201cpretty intimidated\u201d surrounded by older peers. But he\u2019s not shy to speak up.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the main things I want to talk about is inequity across different schools,\u201d Tavish said. \u201cMy brother\u2019s school is only a few kilometres away from mine [but] has a vast difference of different technology.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Mitchell said she was thrilled with how the council has progressed, claiming it was the first initiative of its kind in Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cI meet very regularly with our teachers\u2019 federation [and] with the principals\u2019 organisations in NSW and they\u2019re really good sources of advice \u2026 but we\u2019ve never had that student representative group in the same way,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere we\u2019ve landed with this group of 24 is just beyond my expectations. I think they\u2019re fabulous.\u201d<\/p>\n The council will meet virtually twice a term with Ms Mitchell joining the final term meeting. Members will sit for a two-year term, with half the council re-appointed each year, so there are always students with some experience.<\/p>\n Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Get it delivered to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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