Program Overview
Our Leadership Program enables students to step into pivotal leadership roles – such as School Captains and Specialist Captains – where they gain valuable experience within the school and broader community. Students develop essential skills through representing the student cohort in their key responsibilities. Leaders are elected by vote and panel interview.
The ELTHAM Approach to Leadership
We aim to empower young people to use their voices, uplift their community, and lead with integrity. ELTHAM provides embedded leadership opportunities for our future leaders, fostering a whole-of-school community culture, while encouraging independence and responsibility. We emphasise the importance of student-led initiatives, giving leaders a chance to hone their leadership skills in a real-world setting.
Our student leaders learn how to build a successful school culture, how to motivate others, teamwork, planning, the ‘how to’s’ of leadership, and how to embody the College values and role model positive behaviours. The skills they acquire can be utilised post-graduation, including public speaking, event planning and coordination, and mentoring.
Qualities of an ELTHAM Student Leader
Students in leadership positions represent the College and its students, displaying a passion for the development of ELTHAM College.
They demonstrate an interest in and ability to be assertive and work effectively with the College Executive, formulating and offering opinions on issues and policies that affect the Student Body and the school as a whole.
ELTHAM student leaders possess high communication skills, a strong capacity to listen and to take action, and show the capacity to work effectively within a team. They will be well organised, enthusiastic, and have a willingness to embrace extra commitments.
Key Information
College Leadership Positions
- 2 School Captains and 4 Vice Captains
- 8 House Leaders – Year 11
- 8 House Captains – Year 12
- 2 Junior School Captains
- Senior School Specialist Captain and Leaders for: Internationalism, Debating, Theatre Productions, STEM, Music, Digital Media and Design, Visual Arts, Environment, Wilderness, Sport, LOTE, Sports
- Junior School Specialist Captains
- Year 10 Outdoor Education Leaders
- ELTHAM in Action School Tour Student Guides
Key Responsibilities
- Participating in decision making over issues concerning the welfare and success of ELTHAM and the College as a whole
- Organising student events and activities
- Representing the College and student body at official functions and occasions
- Involvement in playground issues
- Attending regular meetings with Leadership, Principal, Executive board and staff, and speaking to the student body about relevant matters
- Organising and addressing College Assemblies and Presentations.
Involvement and Activities
College Captains are given responsibility for overseeing parts of the school program, such as working with the Junior School, coordinating with the House Leaders to produce the House program, and working with the Director of Senior School to organise school assemblies and other events. Captains have the opportunity to address a full school assembly and will also be able to host/MC other events such as International Women’s Day and the ANZAC Day Assembly.
Leaders are fully responsible for running their student activities, from event management to promotions. These include, but are not limited to, House Volleyball, House Table Tennis, House Karaoke, House Family Feud, the Future Leaders Program, and the House Music Program.
Selection and Election Process
Student Leaders and House Captain roles are obtained in 3 steps:
- Online application
- Staff and student vote
- Interview with a panel
Inside the Leadership Program
Hear from ELTHAM College Year 10 student Tristan, a leader in the Cosmos Club who developed his confidence by following his passion for astronomy. Lesley Moulin, Director of Senior School, shares ELTHAM’s various leadership roles offered at the school, and Tristan’s father, Gerard, expresses his views on the opportunities made available to his son.
Explore ELTHAM Through Real Stories
At ELTHAM College, every student’s journey is unique. Hear directly from our students and program coordinators as they share their experiences in the program.
"ELTHAM’s leadership programs are intentional ecosystems, whereby younger students learn from and aspire to those more senior to them — in turn becoming role models for the next generation of students as they grow."
Lesley Moulin, Director of Senior School
ELTHAM College takes them everywhere.
Wherever their future in leadership unfolds….
Their everywhere starts here.