Students as partners: Embedding agency in everyday practice

This roundtable session builds on research conducted at The Lakes College and published in ReConnectEd (The Australian Council for Student Voice): First Steps Matter: A case study for schools beginning their journey towards Student Voice and Partnership. In this roundtable, participants will engage directly with the study’s key insights through collaborative discussion and applied activities. Together, we will examine what students identify as the enablers of meaningful partnership, analyse real examples from The Lakes College’s partnership framework, and explore practical strategies for moving from consultation to co-creation. Attendees will also co-develop actionable next steps tailored to their own school contexts. The session concludes by synthesising the first steps that matter most, the common pitfalls that stall momentum, and the organisational conditions that enable student agency and partnership to become embedded, consistent, and resilient rather than episodic.