Geelong schoolgirls’ Be Bold Be Heard program goes statewide

A GEELONG high school’s empowerment initiative has been rolled out statewide following success across the region.

First run by North Geelong High School, Be Bold Be Heard empowers girls to build leadership skills and tools to confidently speak up and shape their school environments.

Oberon High School participants met with local politicians and Victorian Minister for Education, Ben Carroll, to discuss the program’s expansion last week.

They were joined by Be Bold Be Heard creator, North Geelong Secondary College assistant principal Brad Headlam and program alumni Annabell Lane.

Year 11 students Kobi Dalton, Ruby Clarke and Evie Kent said the program will benefit students across the state.

The program not only encourages students to have ideas, but teaches them how to create the change and improvements they want to see in their school communities.

Working within the program the girls helped create a mentorship program for students transitioning into high school.

The cohort is currently working on a proposal to present to school leadership in the hopes of creating a zen zone, a space for students to regulate their emotions.

The trio said being in the Be Bold Be Heard program has helped their confidence in and outside of school.

Kobi said the program has made her more confident to step into leadership roles while helping create better connections across year levels.

For Ruby, knowing that students have a voice that can enact change with is no small feat.

“I think it’s really just good for the girls at the schools to see they have a voice and that they can use it,” she said.

“School is a really big issue with some people so having a chance to actually have the voice to make school better for you is important.”

Working collaboratively with teachers, students in Be Bold Be Heard programs have helped bring uniform and policy changes to increase female participation in school activities.

Evie said having the minister sit down with them to hear how they have been implementing the program was an important recognition of the work they are doing.

She is pleased to see the regional Victorian program get the recognition it deserves.

“The acknowledgement is important, it makes it feel more real, that this stuff is helping the community and it’s actually getting recognised,” she said.

Carroll said the program’s expansion across the state is a reflection on the importance of listening to students and what they are asking for.

He said empowering students to make changes can benefit their peers and teachers alike.

“Some of those initiatives that they’ve rolled out whether it’s the students meeting with the staff after hours to talk about some of the tweaks that might help with the way sport is done or curriculum is done, these are little changes that can have a big impact on the child’s education, but also the teacher delivering the education as well,” Carroll said.

The Be Bold Be Heard program will be rolled out to public high schools across Victoria.