The Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development’s Student Congress has met this month, bringing together 120 local students at the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching in Stirling.
Led by a student executive group elected by their peers, the Congress is a forum where students can share their ideas and provide advice to the Minister.
In a statement, the Education Directorate said the executive facilitated the Congress which was held twice a year.
“Past Congresses have had a positive impact on the direction of education in the ACT by discussing the issues that are important to students,” the Directorate said.
“This Congress was no different, as students across ACT public schools focused on the issue of bullying.”
It said students engaged in a range of activities designed to stimulate discussion, thoughts and ideas on bullying.
“This included discussions on students’ awareness and knowledge of bullying, what students can do to take action against or prevent bullying behaviour, as well as sharing their thoughts on what makes a school friendly and welcoming,” it said.
“A report on the outcomes of the congress will be generated by the student executive and shared with the Minister.”
The Directorate said the discussions demonstrated that students had a high level of awareness around what bullying meant, as well as an understanding of the difference between being a bystander and an upstander — a person who takes action in a safe way to stop bullying.
