At Donvale Primary School, we believe students learn best when they feel heard, valued and empowered. Donvale Democracy is our school-wide approach to student voice and leadership, providing students with meaningful opportunities to contribute to decisions that shape their school experience.
This initiative reflects our strong commitment to listening to students and working together to continually improve our school.
Donvale Democracy is a student-led model of leadership and civic participation, inspired by real democratic processes. It provides a structured and authentic way for students to:
share ideas and feedback
represent their peers
collaborate to improve school life
develop leadership, confidence and responsibility
Through Donvale Democracy, student voice is not symbolic — it is active, visible and impactful.
Students from Prep to Year 6 participate in Donvale Democracy in age-appropriate ways.
Each semester:
students elect Student Voice Leaders to represent their class
classes hold regular Class Meetings, where students discuss what is working well and what could be improved
ideas are shared, refined and brought forward by Student Voice Leaders
This ensures a large number of students have opportunities to contribute ideas and take part in leadership.
Students in Years 5 and 6 take on additional leadership responsibilities through School and House Captain roles, selected through a formal application and interview process.
Student Voice Leaders from across the school come together to represent their peers, share feedback and work collaboratively on ideas for improvement. Older students support younger students to contribute ideas, ensuring all voices are heard.
A key feature of Donvale Democracy is Donvale Parliament, where student ideas are formally presented, discussed and voted on.
Students work together to:
identify an area for improvement
develop and present a proposal
explain their reasoning and respond to questions
Through this process, students learn about:
democratic decision-making
respectful debate and discussion
collaboration and compromise
the responsibilities that come with leadership
Successful proposals are shared with school leadership and School Council, allowing students to see how their ideas can lead to real change.
Donvale Democracy brings Civics and Citizenship learning to life. Rather than learning about democracy only through textbooks, students experience it firsthand.
Through participation, students develop:
confidence to share ideas
understanding of rights and responsibilities
empathy and respect for others’ perspectives
a sense of pride and ownership in their school
Student Voice Leaders are encouraged to consider key aspects of school life, including:
wellbeing
learning environments
school grounds
uniforms
learning times and routines
This focus helps students think critically about their school and contribute thoughtfully to its ongoing development.
Donvale Democracy reflects our belief that students are capable contributors to their school community. By creating clear structures for student voice, we foster a culture where ideas are valued, leadership is nurtured and improvement is driven collaboratively.
Families are encouraged to talk with their children about their involvement in Donvale Democracy and the ideas they are helping to shape. We value the role families play in supporting student confidence, leadership and voice.
