Student opportunities and activities

Student Representative Council (SRC)

What is the Student Representative Council?

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is a student based group designed to help promote leadership among students and our school values of success, responsibility and respect. They promote a positive school environment through the various events they organise. Students participating in the SRC maintain a high standard of personal conduct. SRC members demonstrate leadership qualities by serving as good examples of behaviour through their words and actions. The SRC consists of students from Year 8-12, including our school leadership team.

As well as being a voice for the student body, the SRC organise, coordinate and participate in a variety of leadership activities throughout the year including:

• Supporting school events such as Information Evening, Parent Teacher Night, Alumni Evening and Orientation Day
• Organising Multicultural Day, Valentines Day, International Women’s Day, World Teacher’s Day and supporting events such as RUOK Day and NAIDOC week
• James Martin Children’s Walk
• Prefect Afternoon Tea - hosting students from other schools for a networking event
• Attending leadership conferences
• Fundraising events
• Community events such as youth consultation with Parramatta Council

Goals of the SRC

To be a voice of the student body and to speak on behalf of the school as a representative

To provide a forum for student opinions

To develop leadership skills of members

To promote school spirit and improvement of student experience within the school

Responsibilities of SRC Members

Required to attend regular meetings.

To participate and support school events and activities as a collective.

To initiate, plan, organise and deliver a variety of school-based activities that fulfil the goals of the SRC.

Participate in leadership opportunities both within school and in the wider community.

Participate and organise a variety of fundraising events for SRC projects.

Support school assemblies and programs that run within the school.

Embody the STRIVE values of APHS as a role model.

Take pride in the school and wear your uniform correctly at all times

Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at Arthur Phillip High School

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a globally recognised framework for non-formal education that inspires young people to set ambitious goals, celebrate personal milestones, and make a meaningful impact in their communities. By building practical and transferable skills, improving physical fitness, embracing adventure, and volunteering, participants discover their passion, purpose, and place in the world—ultimately becoming ready to have a full, exciting life!

Why Arthur Phillip High School Offers the Duke of Ed

At Arthur Phillip High School, we are proud to offer the Duke of Ed program as it reflects our core values of Respect, Responsibility, and Engagement. The Award challenges students to step beyond their comfort zones, embrace growth through new experiences, and develop resilience. It is not about competing with others, but about taking on a personal journey of self-improvement. Each student has the opportunity to shape their own unique experience based on their interests, skills, and passions.

Participation is entirely voluntary and designed to be flexible, allowing students to work individually while also collaborating with peers. This balance fosters self-confidence and teamwork as students pursue goals in an encouraging and supportive environment.

Building Skills for Life

The Duke of Ed promotes meaningful social, emotional, and behavioural development through collaborative projects and community service. These experiences help strengthen relationships within the school and broader community, while nurturing key life skills such as empathy, communication, and perseverance.

Students engage in activities that demand dedication, teamwork, and self-reflection, helping them become more capable of managing real-world challenges both independently and as part of a group.

Empowering Student Voice and Leadership

The Award empowers students to take ownership of their learning and decision-making. It encourages them to set personal goals and take initiative in their development. Participants also have opportunities to lead and inspire others, taking on roles that promote responsibility and influence within the school community.

Through these experiences, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award supports the growth of confident, compassionate, and future-ready leaders who are committed to making a positive difference.

Award Levels

The Duke of Ed is offered at three progressive levels:

• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold

Each level provides a deeper, more challenging experience, building on the skills and achievements gained at the previous stage.

Public speaking

At APHS we offer students experiences in Public Speaking through in school competitions and where possible across different school networks through departmental Public Speaking competitions.

Through Public Speaking we wish to develop oral language and communication skills of students in Years 7-10. Public Speaking develops students’ self-confidence in presenting their ideas in front of an audience at class, stage, school, network and grand final level.

Debating

At APHS we explore debating through class experiences and school based inter-class debates. Debating offers students an opportunity to develop essential skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, research, teamwork and active listening.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

At APHS the school Library offers a wide selection of the books from the Reading Lists for each year group from Yr 7- 9. Students are encouraged to participate in the competition each year.

Peer Support Leaders program

Leadership program in Yr 9 for students to facilitate the Peer Support program in the following year with incoming Yr 7 students. In their Year 10 year, students strengthen and extend leadership skills by mentoring a group of Year 7 students to settle into high school, navigate friendships, set goals, and become more resilient.

Haka Warriors

Pasifika cultural mentors run a 20 week program to engage Pacific Islander students in culture to help them develop positive self-identity, engagement, and leadership in their learning to perform a Haka and other cultural dances and performances. Celebration of culture event with other schools takes place at the end of the program.

Drumming with Evan Yako

Therapeutic music program to heal after exposure to trauma. Typically used with students from a refugee background.

Glow Lab/Cosmetic Chemistry

Practical and scientific workshop that teaches female students how to make their own natural, organic cosmetics. Discussions around connection, empowerment, positive body image and self esteem take place during sessions.

Creating Chances (Perfect Presence)

Perfect Presence is a funded initiative to provide for programs that re-engage at risk teenagers. Creating Chances run this using sports coaching as a motivator. Students in Years 8, 9 and 10 can participate if they meet Department set criteria around attendance and engagement.

Study Without Stress

Small group program to teach Year 11 and 12 students with above expected levels of stress to cope with examination pressure.

Life Ready / Love Bites

Customised program of events tailored to the needs of Year 11 and 12 students to prepare for life after school. Love Bites Respectful Relationships education is used as the central focus of the 2-day program, which focuses on consent and respect. Other workshops include mental health resiliency, sex education, and drug and alcohol awareness.