William Vidler Joins the Minister’s Students Council

Farrer student William Vidler was appointed to the Minister’s Student Council (DOVES) and attended the Council’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Parramatta during the final week of Term 1. The 2.5-day program focused on developing leadership, public speaking and speech-writing skills, exploring key priorities and the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Premier at Parliament House to be formally sworn in as a council member.

Reflecting on his experience, Will shared:

"As a new member of the Minister’s Student Council, I was required to attend the 2026 Annual General Meeting alongside my Chaperone, Toby.Our journey began early as we departed Tamworth Airport at 6:30am on Monday before meeting the rest of the council in Parramatta. Over the following days, we participated in a range of workshops and sessions at the NSW Department of Education Headquarters, all focused on strengthening our skills as student leaders and advocates.

Throughout the AGM, we collaborated with other students on key issues such as respectful relationships and wellbeing in schools. On Wednesday, 1 April, I was one of 3 students selected to attend a specialised conference session with department representatives. During this session, we shared our perspectives and responded to questions about safety in schools, providing valuable student insight to the department DELs.The highlights of the AGM were meeting the Secretary of the DoE, Murat Dizdar and the Deputy Secretary for public schools, Deb Summerhayes.

The experience concluded at NSW Parliament House, where we were officially sworn in during a ceremony with the Deputy Premier of NSW, Prue Car. This was a memorable moment and marked the beginning of our role in the 2026 council.

Overall, the AGM was an excellent experience, allowing us to connect with students from across the state, build leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful discussions that will help shape the future of education".