Cardinia Leisure Hosts Student Leadership Conference to Empower the Next Generation of Leaders
Cardinia Leisure proudly hosted the Student Leadership Conference on Monday 16 February 2026, bringing together over 44 Grade 6 student leaders from 12 primary schools across Cardinia Shire for a powerful day of learning, connection and inspiration.
The conference was designed to equip young leaders with the skills, confidence and knowledge to role model positive, inclusive behaviours within their school communities and beyond.
The conference featured a strong lineup of community and health organisations, each delivering engaging and age-appropriate sessions focused on leadership, inclusion, equality, wellbeing and safety.
The day commenced with an Acknowledgement of Country and Indigenous storytelling session delivered by the Korin Gamadji Institute, grounding students in First Peoples culture, belonging and leadership. Through their “I Belong. I Grow. I Lead.” framework, students explored diversity, inclusion and practical leadership tools.
Students then participated in an interactive workshop led by Women’s Health in the South East, focusing on leading with equality and respect. Using engaging activities and simple, accessible language, students explored concepts such as equality versus equity, intersectionality, power and privilege, and identified practical actions they can take as leaders in their classrooms and communities.
The Monash Health, Health Promotional Team shared key messages around nutrition and healthy choices, and how eating well can support positive behaviours. They used a fun & engaging superpower concept, relating it back to good food and nutrition, explaining the benefits from eating well and how it can make you feel. This was well received with lots of interaction and conversations had with the students.
After lunch, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation delivered an engaging digital safety session centred on eSmart’s “4 Cs” of online safety, Contact, Content, Conduct & Compulsion. Students had the opportunity to co-design and create the ideal internet. This had them looking at what was wrong and lacking with the way the internet currently is and coming up with wonderful ideas as a collective group, showing how well they could all work together. This activity empowered them to speak up about online risks and contribute ideas to future digital safety resources.
The afternoon also included a short presentation from Cardinia Youth Services, introducing students to the My Place Youth Centre and the services available to them as they transition into their teenage years.
Cardinia Leisure’s Community Development Coordinator, Kerry Carlyon said “This event reflects Cardinia Leisure’s and our partner organisations, ongoing commitment to support positive behaviour development in our youth, and inclusion and wellbeing across the wider community.
By investing in young leaders early, we are helping to build respectful, inclusive and confident communities for the future. The Student Leadership Conference provided students with practical tools and new ways of thinking that they can take back to their schools and share with their peers.”
The Student Leader’s Conference could not have been a success without our amazing partnering organisations who we thank, and look forward to continuing our work with them.
- Korin Gamadji Institute
- Women’s Health in the South East
- Monash Health
- Alannah and Madeline Foundation
- Cardinia Youth Services
We would also like to extend our thanks to all the participating schools and students for making the event such a success.
