On Thursday, 19 February, a group of 32 enthusiastic Year 10 boys attended the GRIP Leadership Conference at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. The day provided a dynamic and engaging opportunity for our emerging leaders to explore what it means to lead with character, integrity, and initiative.

Throughout the conference, students participated in a range of interactive sessions focused on teamwork, responsibility, and developing practical leadership skills they can apply within our school community. They were encouraged to think creatively, collaborate with peers from other schools, and reflect on the positive impact they can make in their own roles.

Here’s what some boys said:

My experience at the GRIP leadership day was something to remember, there was so many great engaging activities and challenges we had to face throughout the day. We started the day energetic going into break and we had just experienced a load of new things, such as the challenge, which was a social game where we had 4 questions of “Would you rather…?” and at the end we had to go around the room and see if anyone had the same 4 answers as you did. This was both interactive and enjoyable because for our answers we had to draw them instead of writing them and also, we got to interact with students from other schools and meet new people. Then we had a talk about the challenges at our school, we learnt about the 4 P’s, Progress, Popular, Persist, Park. This activity was fun and engaging through puzzles and discussions. The two breaks were enjoyable because we got to relax, meet new people from other schools and there was an info/freebies table run by members of the ECU university, I was given a giant highlighter which was cool. My favourite part about the conference was the three sessions throughout the day called Loud Noises. Where volunteers were picked to play games with consisted of dancing, guessing music and audience participation. Overall, the day was a great learning experience because we talked to new people and learnt new tips to take back to school and put into action. Toby Heron

GRIP Leadership Day was a fun and meaningful experience. Throughout the day, we took part in different activities that helped us strengthen our leadership skills. We learned how to run school events more effectively and how to show initiative and lead with confidence. We also met new people and worked together as a team. Overall, it was a great opportunity to grow as leaders. Zak Mollica

The GRIP Leadership conference was an interesting yet interactive session from the start to the very end, while talking about topics that are important for all school leaders. From topics like common school challenges and breaking them down into ways we can respond to them, to talking about school events and even meeting new people across many different schools and year groups! This conference focused on the key parts of being a leader and emphasising the things we can still do in our school. One main takeaway was to always show integrity, to start small and to build things up overtime, whilst being positive about it. Overall, it was a great day, with many laughs and lots of advice for upcoming school leaders! Alden Behin

Attending the GRIP Leadership Conference was a great experience that helped me grow as a leader. I learned that leadership isn’t about being in charge, but about setting a good example, supporting others and communicating clearly. The speakers talked about teamwork, resilience and stepping outside your comfort zone to improve. I also learned practical ways to set goals and build positive relationships within my school community. Overall, GRIP gave me more confidence and useful skills that I can apply in everyday situations. Max sambrailo

Attending the GRIP Leadership Conference made me think a lot about the kind of leader I want to be. I realised that leadership isn’t about having a badge or being the loudest person in the room. For me, it’s more about the small choices I make every day and the way I influence the people around me through my actions. One thing that really stood out was how important integrity is. It made me look at myself and consider whether I’m someone others can rely on. I started thinking about things like keeping my promises, staying consistent, and treating people with respect, because those habits shape how others see me.

The activities also made me more aware of how I communicate. I noticed that I sometimes rush ahead or assume I know what others mean. It reminded me to slow down, listen properly, and make sure everyone feels included when I’m working with them.

Overall, the conference encouraged me to step up more often and be intentional about the impact I have on others. I left feeling motivated to be more proactive, responsible, and supportive within my school community, not because I have to, but because I want to make a positive difference. Carlson Leo