Students from schools across the Upper Hunter attended the National Student Leadership Summit on Saturday, March 12, with the support of the Where There's A Will foundation.
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The students' attendance at the 2022 summit, held at St Peter's College in Adelaide, marks the sixth time Where There's A Will (WTAW) has provided funding for Upper Hunter students to attend.
WTAW said for months there was uncertainty over whether COVID restrictions would prevent the student leaders from getting to Adelaide, before the trip was nearly called off due to road closures caused by flooding in Singleton.
However, after several detours and a long day of travel, WTAW said the student leadership group arrived at their destination excited to take part in the summit.
Students from Scone and Muswellbrook High Schools, Merriwa Central School, St Joseph's Aberdeen and Scone Grammar School attended the conference, which WTAW said was "a unique opportunity for local kids to connect with student leaders from across Australia, and also to forge strong bonds between our Upper Hunter high schools".
Tim Browning, the headmaster of St Peter's College said the National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) was "designed to challenge, inspire and empower student leaders".
"The summit is centred around the pressing issues of our time, encouraging dialogue, critical thinking and creative problem solving to help students ignite change in their communities," Mr Browning said.
"The (NSLS) continues to grow each year with students from across Australia attending to share opinions, debate views and foster a shared partnership for the future.
"The summit provides a unique opportunity for student leaders across Independent, Catholic and public schools to connect."
WTAW said the Upper Hunter students who attended the summit will take what they learned in Adelaide and work together to develop and lead an Upper Hunter Student Leadership Summit for their peers, set to be held later this year.
The Upper Hunter students who attended the conference included:
- Scone High School: Abbey Parkinson, Isaac Masierowski, Ziggy Minter, Caitlin Coady and Marshall Hutchison.
- Muswellbrook High School: Rachel Barry, Jake Ballard, Phoebe Wolfgang, Miles Chapman. Merriwa Central: Josie Porter, Justin Caban.
- St Joseph's Aberdeen: Kyah Johnston, Niamh Bray, Lluka Moffitt, Finn Murphy, Isaac Edwards, Archie Brooker.
- Scone Grammar: Braedon Hails, Amy Redgate, Lexi Walsh, Hamish White.
The students were accompanied by WTAW student leadership co-ordinator Lindy Hunt and teachers including Jason Croucher from Scone Grammar, Samantha Smart from Scone High School and Trish Howard and Leanne Ward from Muswellbrook High School.
