Student Leadership Initiatives

Our Leadership Program starts a lifelong conversation about citizenship, social responsibility and community-mindedness.

Leadership in the Senior Years

In Year 11, boys build on their earlier leadership roles and formally prepare to take over from the current senior student leaders. Those boys selected to attend the Year 7 camp as senior leaders never forget the opportunity to proudly introduce the young students to the Newington community.

For boys who are ready and have serious leadership aspirations for the future, the College offers the chance to participate in the Rising Generation Leadership Program and to attend the National Leadership Camp.

After completing five years in High School at the College, we believe that all our boys are leaders in their own right. For this reason, at the end of Year 11 in the model of ‘participative leadership’ all students are automatically made into House Prefects. Under this System, all Year 12 students are required to contribute to the daily operation of the school through House Prefect duties and to offer themselves as an example for all younger boys to follow.

From the Year 12 student body one boy is chosen to lead the school as Senior Prefect, acting as a dynamic exemplar for the whole school to look to and emulate. Two Deputy Senior Prefects are also appointed as well as one Captain and two Vice Captains for each of the School’s eight houses. Together, these young men form the exceptional team that guides and unites the school’s student body.

Senior Prefect Leadership Motto

When the Year 12 leadership team of Jack Jacobs (Senior Prefect), Jeremi Campese and Alexander Barrat (Deputy Senior Prefects) addressed the College community for the first time they boldly introduced their new motto and vision for 2016: “Value you, Support him, Stand with her.”

A thousand New men have got your back

Jack Jacobs said, “Not only does this motto embody the values of our College, it identifies those actions we need to take to become better men. This motto gives each one of us a sense of direction, and three clear steps to work towards. A personal commitment to these goals will benefit our community and wider society.”

With the new motto as a starting point, the Senior Prefects urged the College community to “Stand with her” in the lead up to White Ribbon Day. “All men should take the oath against violence against women,” Jack said, “We have to realise that domestic violence is a men’s issue as much as it is a woman’s issue.” In true Newington fashion, the Black and White community banded together and participated in a series of initiatives over the course of the week to stand up and speak out about one of Australia’s most pressing human rights issues – violence against women.

White Ribbon Day Walk

On Wednesday 25 November, Newington boys were among the thousands who marched from Randwick to Coogee in the White Ribbon Day Walk. During assembly later that day, the boys took the White Ribbon pledge to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women before they flocked to the table outside Founders Building to sign the White Ribbon banner.

White Ribbon on Johnson Oval

In a final show of their solidarity with women, boys gathered at lunchtime on the Johnson Oval and formed a White Ribbon as a symbolic demonstration of their commitment to ending violence against women.

“I once met a girl who said, this is not a man’s world or a woman’s world. This is our world, our choice.”

- Elizabeth Broderick AO

Standing with Her

On the eve of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2016, Newington College hosted former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Ms Elizabeth Broderick AO and 2016 Australian of the Year and former Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison AO for a panel discussion on gender equality. Facilitated by Year 12 Senior Prefect Jack Jacobs, the Q&A was held during an assembly in Centenary Hall and focused on the need for men to step up beside women and work collectively to advance gender equality in Australia and around the world.

Over the past decade, Ms Broderick and General Morrison have been instrumental in promoting gender equality in Australia through their advocacy of women’s rights. They have both placed a particular emphasis on preventing violence against women, promoting women in leadership roles, supporting women’s economic security, strengthening gender equality laws and creating more diverse, inclusive and productive workplaces.

The panel discussion was organised to help students consider the 2016 student leadership team’s motto, “Value you, Support him, Stand with her.” Chairing the discussion, Jack Jacobs asked the guest speakers some incisive questions about why gender equality matters and what changes the young men at Newington can make in their own lives as brothers, sons and boyfriends to make sure they truly do ‘Stand with her.’

Ms Broderick reminded us that although Australian women have recently made significant strides towards gender equality, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to make sure all women are given a fair go. She pointed out that current statistics show that at least one woman a week is killed in Australia at the hands of her intimate partner. Whilst in the home women do the majority of the caring work, in the workforce the average woman is paid between 18–19% less than her male counterpart for doing equal or comparable work. If compared over a 45 year career, women will earn on average $700,000 less than men.

So how can the young men at Newington do their part to “stand with her” and promote gender equality?

Ms Broderick said, “We need good men, standing beside women. Not speaking for them, not trying to rescue them, but stepping up beside them to create a more gender equal Australia.”