Emerald Secondary College on Wednesday 11 October won a Group Action Award for its innovative, student-led actions to increase understanding of diversity within their school and community.
Victorian Minister for Education, James Merlino, presented the award to the students as part of the annual VicSRC Recognition Awards, which recognises students, teachers and schools that demonstrate exceptional leadership in education.
The college has developed numerous staged strategies to respond to social inclusion and human diversity.
These include holding a community information night, Diversity Week activities, wheelchair basketball, blind soccer, a deaf disco and an LGBTIQ 40-hour diversity challenge.
VicSRC Executive Officer, Nina Laitala, congratulated the school.
“Students are positioned in these nominations as partners in education; they are taking action to investigate issues and initiate change,” she said.
“As the peak body representing students in Victoria, we are thrilled to celebrate best practice in student voice, student-led action and student participation.”
They even wrote and published a song, with the support of students from Furlong Park School for the Deaf.
They raised more than $10,000 to build an all-access car park and outdoor classroom/amphitheatre.
With the $1800 prizemoney, Emerald Secondary College plans to create a sensory garden to continue to promote inclusion and acceptance at their school.
