South Australian Student Representative Council
What is it?
The Commissioner has repeatedly heard from young South Australians that they are feeling frustrated and side-lined as they continue to be denied opportunities to participate in decision making because of a perceived lack of knowledge and experience, and that their opinions are therefore not valid.
South Australian teenagers having a growing appetite for mechanisms that are representative of young people and which deliver on their own agendas – not those of adults, which they see as being slow and ill-informed when it comes to knowing the complexities of the lives and experiences of today’s young people.
The South Australian Student Representative Council (SA SRC) has been devised to address this shortfall by offering school students in Years 10, 11, and 12 a model of representation that will ensure they have a voice in policy and decision making that is led by young people themselves.
An initiative of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) and supported by Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) the SA SRC is a body consisting of 150 members in Years 10, 11, and 12 from across the state, working together to create genuine, student-led change within their own communities. 105 members of the SA SRC met in March to begin working on their campaigns. Scroll down for an overview of this year’s campaigns.
Crucial to the SA SRC’s success has been attracting young people from regional and rural locations to represent their communities at local, state, and national levels. The SA SRC brings together passionate young people who are unwilling to accept the status quo, harnessing their energy and ideas to create a better future, not only for themselves, but for future generations of young South Australians. Council members will be equipped with the resources, skills, and confidence they’ll need to enact the change they want to see.
The SA SRC is about having an opportunity to meet other passionate like-minded young people, identify issues, and build skills and knowledge that lead to action in the areas young people care about most. The SA SRC is an inclusive, action orientated body of young people.
In the words of one young South Australian, “If we are able to empower the youth of SA then they will believe them themselves and create a snowball effect and make the world a better place.”
Below is the list of current issues prioritised by student members of the 2024 SA SRC Summit held in March this year. Campaign groups are working together on actions that will bring positive change in relation to these issues.
2024 SA SRC Campaigns
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The problem:
While there are existing fare subsidies available to students, the cost of transportation is still disproportionately putting pressure on low-income families, those experiencing homelessness, and young people who live independently.
Every young person deserves the right to affordable and unrestricted travel in order to access necessities like health clinics, school, work or social activities. These activities are essential to their wellbeing and empower them for the future.
Unfortunately for many young people, the cost of transport is prohibitive.
Overarching vision:
Public transport is free for all high school students in South Australia.
Goals for 2024:
Poll peers to understand their thoughts and experiences on the issue (achieved – 912 responses).
Develop a campaign position brief based on poll results (achieved).
Petition the South Australian Government to fund free public transport for high school students (achieved – petition available here).
Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (in progress).
Obtain media coverage for the campaign (achieved).
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The problem:
Young people deserve the right to have a say in the decisions that impact their lives and futures, and a crucial way to do this – which young people are currently excluded from – is at the ballot box.
Lowering the voting age is an opportunity to make democracy fairer, improve civics education, recognise young people’s rights and strengthen young people’s participation in issues affecting them.
Overarching vision:
The local government voting age is lowered to 16 in South Australia.
Goals for 2024:
Poll peers to understand their thoughts and experiences on the issue (achieved – 769 responses).
Develop a campaign position brief based on poll results (achieved).
Petition the South Australian Government to lower the local government voting age to 16 (achieved – petition available here).
Make a submission to the Local Government Participation and Elections Review (achieved).
Make a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Inquiry into Civics Education, Engagement and Participation in Australia (achieved – students invited to appear as witnesses at the public hearing).
Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (in progress).
Obtain media coverage for the campaign (achieved).
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The problem:
Organic waste includes common forms of waste from school canteens. When organic waste goes into landfill it rots instead of breaking down properly, generating the harmful greenhouse gas methane.
Schools can play a leading role in helping to reduce the volume of food and organic waste being sent to landfill.
Students want to be part of the change towards a greener future.
Overarching vision:
School canteens across South Australia have environmentally sustainable products and practices.
Goals for 2024:
Poll peers to understand their thoughts and experiences on the issue (achieved – 1398 responses).
Develop a campaign position brief based on poll results (achieved).
Petition the South Australian Government to provide organic waste bins in all South Australian high schools (achieved – petition available here).
Film a video for Jane Goodall and Deputy Premier and Minister for the Environment Susan Close MP to watch at the Jane Goodall Youth Voice Event in collaboration with Green Adelaide (achieved).
Make a submission to the Independent Review of the Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020 (in progress).
Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (in progress).
Obtain media coverage for the campaign (achieved).
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The problem:
For many young people, the cost of regularly attending facilities such as pools, gyms and fitness classes is prohibitive.
We know that there are proven links between physical activity, social connection, and good mental health.
Getting active and interacting with others helps young people to maintain good mental health and manage mental illnesses, particularly depression and anxiety, which are becoming more prevalent amongst young people.
Overarching vision:
All high school students have free access to gyms, pools, leisure centres, and fitness classes to support their mental wellbeing.
Goals for 2024:
Poll peers to understand their thoughts and experiences on the issue (achieved – 617 responses).
Develop a campaign position brief based on poll results (achieved).
Petition the South Australian Government to give high school students free access to pools, gyms, leisure centres and fitness classes to support their mental wellbeing (achieved – petition available here).
Develop a directory of existing free fitness opportunities around South Australia (achieved – available here).
Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (in progress – meeting with the Hon Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Sports, Recreation and Racing in November).
Obtain media coverage for the campaign (achieved).
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The problem:
The South Australian community is comprised of people of many nationalities, disabilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions and backgrounds. This diversity strengthens our state and makes our schools better places to learn.
Many young people, however, do not see themselves in the texts they study or the holidays their school celebrates. Neither do they have access to the facilities and social supports that they need. Consequently, they are not fully supported to be – or celebrated as – their authentic selves.
Many schools are doing their best, but they just don’t have the tools they need to assess the scope of the situation, or know what steps to take to improve student inclusion.
Overarching vision:
The widespread use of a diversity review tool is embedded in schools.
Goals for 2024:
Poll peers to understand their thoughts and experiences on the issue (achieved – 751 responses).
Develop a campaign position brief based on poll results (achieved).
Petition the South Australian Government to support all South Australian schools to regularly undertake an audit of their policies, curriculum, co-curricular groups and staff to ensure they embrace diversity and inclusiveness (achieved – petition available here).
Develop a diversity review tool for schools (in progress).
Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (in progress).
Obtain media coverage for the campaign (achieved).