LEADERSHIP IN A THRIVING BOARDING COMMUNITY

With 300 boarders, the boarding community at Nudgee College has never been stronger. Given the bustling community, the College Leadership Team felt that it was imperative to provide additional voice to the boarding community through student leadership.

The introduction of Boarding Prefects and a renewed focus of the Student Committee in the Bathersby Boarding Village is the way of the future to integrate the boarders’ voice into larger scale decision-making. Traditionally, Senior boarding staff would be the dominant voice and make many of the decisions when it came to the Boarding Village. However, there has been a shift to accommodate a more prominent student input.

In 2021, the implementation of the boarding leadership group is a strategic focus within the community, striving to help boys feel more involved and connected to the Boarding Village. Acting Dean of Boarding Mr Sean Toovey said the Prefects and committee with boarders ranging from Years 9 to 12 help to bridge the gap between the staff members and supervisors, bring together younger years and senior students as well as striving for a more united student body.

Student Committee. Front row (left to right): George Coorey , Oska Boyd, Kenjin Sato, Charlie Dezius, Basil Nolan, Aidan Dohnalek, Cam Reppell, Bill Banks, Liam McBride. Back row (left to right): Des Cowley, Jamie Knight, Harry Coventry, Darcy Turner, Rodin Martin, Atticus Johnston, Jack Hallett.

Mr Toovey said they are interconnected in the boarding community. “It is all of our homes. We feel our job as staff is to facilitate that home environment for the boys. They need to have that voice, as much as a 17-year-old boy would need to have a say at home in those formative years of adolescence. There are aspects that are nonnegotiable and we work through with the boys to understand those. But where there is flexibility and we want some of that student voice, we want to provide that environment where they are open in talking to us.”

The Prefects and committee go through a particular selection process, including cover letters, CVs, formal interviews and voting by not only the staff but the boarders as well. While these boys are representatives of their boarding village, they are also role models for their fellow boarders. “They’re present, they’re active, they’re involved and they’re community driven. They are boys that other students thought would bring value to the group.”

Leading the boys as Chair of the Student Committee and Vice-Captain of Boarding is Basil Nolan. Basil is a third-generation boarder from Gladfield in Queensland and picked for this role for his natural leadership, humility and presence within his cohort. Basil and his fellow committee members meet periodically to discuss aspects of their boarding experience, no matter how small the problem. The boys come from various backgrounds and Year levels to create a more diverse and balanced student presence.

Student Boarding House Prefects. Front row (left to right): Oska Boyd, Jamie Knight, Basil Nolan, Aidan Dohnalek, Atticus Johnston. Back row (left to right): George Coorey , Harry Coventry, Rodin Martin, Liam McBride.

Mr Toovey said the key aspect in any leadership structure is to create that voice. “Obviously, we have the staff that are controlling the daily program, but we need the boys to provide that feedback to them. Anything from food, activities and study sessions, we welcome the boys’ feedback.”

Since the beginning of the year the boys have initiated the inaugural Bathersby Cup, an inter-dorm competition with a wide array of events. These men are also working on how a mentoring program, linked to positive mental health could positively work within our community. While simple initiatives, activities like this bring the boys together and continue to build that family bond.

Whilst leadership in the boarding school has always been present, it is wonderful to see these young men and the important work that they do acknowledged at a whole school level.

Written by Marketing and Publications Manager, Ms Kate McGrath Burgess