When Student Voice Drives Action: The Power of Student Leadership in Anti-Bullying Initiatives

At The Stand-Up Project, we know that meaningful school change doesn’t happen when students are simply told what to do. It happens when they’re given the tools, the space, and the confidence to lead that change themselves. This term, a group of SUP Student Leaders from Ivanhoe East Primary School gave us a powerful reminder of what student voice and leadership really look like.

During a check-in session, the students raised a light-hearted but important point: 'We love being SUP Leaders,' they told us, 'but we need more merch!' Their message was clear, they were proud of their role and wanted that pride to be visible across the school.

Before we could even respond with suggestions, we received an email. The students had not only designed their own SUP T-shirts, they’d ordered them, along with extras for our facilitators to wear as well. It was a small act, but it spoke volumes. These students weren’t waiting to be told what leadership looked like. They were showing us.

This is the essence of student voice in action. Real empowerment means giving young people the freedom to express ideas, take initiative, and create change, without waiting for adult permission. It’s not just about listening to students, it’s about acting on their insights and letting their leadership drive the culture we’re all working toward.

SUP’s student leadership training doesn’t end when students are chosen as leaders—it begins there. Through interactive training sessions, scenario-based learning, and collaborative planning, students gain not only the skills but the confidence to own their role. They explore concepts like the bystander effect, the Four D’s of Upstanding (Direct, Distract, Delegate, Delay), and the impact of social norms. But beyond these frameworks, they also learn that leadership isn’t about waiting. It’s about stepping up.

In schools where bullying and exclusion are often addressed reactively, SUP’s anti-bullying training for students takes a proactive, peer-led approach. Students learn how to recognise bullying behaviours, but more importantly, they learn what to do about it, and how to influence their peers to do the same. When students design posters, lead assemblies, deliver classroom lessons, or, in this case, create and wear leadership-branded shirts, they send a powerful message: being an Upstander is something to be proud of.

This story from Ivanhoe East highlights why upstander training matters. It’s not just about stepping in when bullying occurs. It’s about building a school culture where kindness, inclusion, and courage are visible, and where students feel ownership of that culture. When student leaders actively shape the identity of the program, they inspire others to join them.

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Empowering Students to Tackle Racism at Truganina College

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How The Stand-Up Project Aligns with MACS' Vision for Engagement