South Australian Student Representative Council
(SA SRC)

 

Are you a young South Australian who wants to participate in decision-making?  If you’re a student going into, or already in Years 10, 11 or 12 at school, you can apply to be a member of the South Australian Student Representative Council. This statewide SRC operates a little differently from most school SRCs in that it is wholly student led. This means young people who want to work with other likeminded young people to bring about the changes in society they wish to see, can be part of a council whose focus is just that! Young people set the agendas and deliver on the changes they believe are needed to improve the lives of all young South Australians.

The SA SRC ensures young people have a voice in policy and decision making on those issues and areas which matter to you most.

An initiative of South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly, with support from the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) the SA SRC is a body consisting of approximately 150 members selected annually. Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 from across the state, work together throughout the school year to create genuine, student-led change within their own communities.

An annual SA SRC Summit, held in Adelaide each year, determines which issues will be the focus of advocacy campaigns for the coming year. It is an opportunity for new and returning members to meet in-person and start work on determining the course of actions their campaigns will take over the year ahead.

Campaign groups then meet regularly online throughout the year to discuss the impact of the actions they’ve prioritised and adjust these as and where needed, with guidance and support from the Commissioner’s team.

Applications for membership open in November each year.
For more information about applying click here.

“It’s means being heard and sharing the voices of all my peers and my community and making sure that all our feelings and passions are understood.” – 2024 SA SRC Member

SA SRC issues prioritised for action

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.

Free Fares For Our Future

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 (in progress).
  • Petition the South Australian Government to fund free public transport for high school students (in progress – petition available here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/free-fares-for-our-future).
  • Run a poster campaign (mid-late 2024).
  • Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (late 2024).

Our Future Our Vote

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 (in progress).
  • Petition the South Australian Government to lower the local government voting age to 16 (in progress – petition available here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/our-future-our-vote-lower-the-council-voting-age-to-16).
  • 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).
  • Create social media resources on civics education (mid-late 2024).
  • Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (late 2024).

Greening Our Canteens

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 (in progress).
  • Petition the South Australian Government to provide organic waste bins in all South Australian high schools (in progress – petition available here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/greening-our-canteens-sustainability-starts-in-schools/).
  • 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).
  • Undertake a range of actions, decided on a school-by-school basis (mid-late 2024):
    • Work with canteen managers to assess what foods are left over and order less of them to reduce food waste.
    • Add signs onto bins with diagrams indicating what can go in them (first step is to develop signs).
    • Put up infographics around school about reducing food waste and using the correct bins (first step is to develop infographics).
    • Speak at assembly about how to reduce food waste and use the correct bins.
    • Meet with principal about introducing recycling, 10c recycling, and/or organic waste bins.
    • Work with KESAB to do a Bin Systems Assessment or Bin Usage Audit.
  • Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (late 2024).

Fitness for Free

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 2023:

  • Poll peers to understand their thoughts and experiences on the issue (achieved – 617 responses).
  • Develop a campaign position brief based on poll results (in progress).
  • 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 (in progress – petition available here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/fitnessforfree).
  • Develop a directory of existing free fitness opportunities around South Australia (in progress).
  • Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (late 2024).

Seeing Ourselves

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 audit tool is embedded in schools.

Goals for 2023:

  • Poll peers to understand their thoughts and experiences on the issue (achieved – 751 responses).
  • Develop a campaign position brief based on poll results (in progress).
  • 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 (in progress – petition available here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/seeing-ourselves-a-tool-to-support-diversity-and-inclusion-in-schools).
  • Develop a diversity audit tool for schools (in progress).
  • Meet with relevant Members of Parliament to present the petition and campaign position brief (late 2024).