Incursions & Excursions

October 2023

I came across the organisation We are Womxn through Instagram as I expanded my TCOW account. Having just completed my term in Youth Parliament, I was investigating workshops and programs that promote inclusive health classes and WAW appeared to cover everything I was advocating for. I pitched the idea to our principal and she agreed to supply funding for the workshops to occur! I got in touch with Kate Raston & Nicolette Beard, the co-founders of the organisation, and together we set a date for them to facilitate our workshops. WAW attended our school on the 25th of October and all the feedback from female and non-binary students that participated was really positive. We were encouraged to join in on collaborative activities including interactive scales, written brainstorms and discussions. The first half of our session was all ages and the second was just the older students and more of an open discussion. We covered topics including toxic traits, relationships, friendships, 'red and green flags', safe and unsafe sex, and consent. Hearing different opinions of values and how open and honest everyone spoke was really empowering. 

Usually, I would be concerned that the classes were separated by gender as this is one of the very aspects I have been trying to reform however, WAW directly links their 'brother organisation' Man-Up on their website and both groups are inclusive of diverse gender identities and have stated that the separate groups create a more supportive and open environment for tough conversations, especially with adolescents. 

I booked Man-Up for the same term and received positive responses from the boys and non-binary participants of those workshops too! Man-Up was slightly different in the fact that they had five-times the amount of facilitators so they could run the workshops in smaller groups. This seemed to work well with the students in creating intimate safe spaces for them to discuss harder topics. When discussing the workshop with my male friends, they relayed that though some of the information was pretty intense and head-on, they were also able to have a good laugh and realise others shared some of their experiences too.

I am proud that both groups of students participated enthusiastically and that the school was so supportive of the initiative!

"Man Up was a great experience that really broke down social norms." - MU year 11 student participant.

"It was super fun and interactive. Love love loved it." - WAW year 12 student participant.

Reflection & Communication

United Nations Youth WA: Referendum Young Leaders Summit 11th of September 2023

During term four, there was much discussion about the upcoming Voice Referendum. We covered some of the basics during humanities but most of our conversations just came up throughout the days. United Nations Youth Western Australia organised a Young Leaders Summit one day after school to educate student leaders on the referendum, what it stands for, the history behind an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, Indigenous Australian Rights and actions we can take though we can't vote yet. I collected a team of enthusiastic students and together we joined two advisors in the after-school event at the Constitutional Centre of Western Australia! 

Survey Responses