Good Shepherd College, Hamilton is set on a hundred-acre farm not far from The Grampians. It is a beautiful setting but in 2025 the students came to then Principal, Sharon Kotzur, with a plan to further enhance the campus.
Good Shepherd has a well-established practice of authentically engaging students in College activities. Student leaders organise and run school assemblies; they are actively involved in Open days, and they are encouraged to raise issues with school leadership. This was particularly evident last year when a courtyard was completely redeveloped at the instigation of students.
Members of the SRC wanted to redevelop a bleak under-utilised courtyard into a more inviting space. They initially identified a need for more student seating around the school, and this idea grew into a complete redevelopment. This involved removing an existing lunchroom which was blocking the space and identifying a new position for the room.
As the idea developed, students became more involved. They were aware of the need to keep to a budget and embarked on a range of fund-raising projects, such as organising a pizza day and school barbecues, to help financially subsidise their idea. The overall cost was estimated at $15,000 - $20,000 and they managed to reach their goal.
Once a landscape architect was contracted, students participated in a four-week consultation process to identify what the student body wanted. Discussions took place in Pastoral Care Groups as well as student leadership meetings. The architect drew up plans to meet the student brief and work finally began.
A highlight of the process was the removal of the lunchroom to its new position by crane. The whole school came to a standstill to watch. During terms 3 and 4 the courtyard gradually took shape, and final touches were added at the beginning of the 2026 year. The new courtyard not only lifts what was previously an uninviting space but also stands as an example of authentic student achievement.
This has empowered students to identify other areas of the College with plans to stage further ideas, such as the construction of four-square courts, providing more seating areas and building structures for students.
Current school captain, Archer Schulz, and cultural captain, Evie Pfeiffer, were both involved in the redevelopment project last year. They appreciate opportunities for student voices to heard and look forward to ongoing student involvement in decision making.
Dianne Eckermann
Acting Principal
