Three Year 6 leaders, Mariya, Saanvi, and Amelie from Harrisdale Primary School are making a creative influence with their remarkable new podcast, Step Up and Shine. The podcast discusses the challenges of the transition to high school from primary school life and offers lived-experience advice, helping others to feel less isolated and more supported.
Initially, the students had a dilemma to conquer, what do they talk about on the podcast? These student leaders had an others-focussed solution. To make sure they were covering the issues that mattered most to the students, the team surveyed their classmates for input on podcast topics.
Mariya’s inspiration for the podcast is derived from her sister’s experience with bullying after their family moved to Australia from India. Mariya states: ‘It was really tough watching my sister go through that… I wanted to create something that would help other students feel prepared and supported as they face similar challenges.’
With teacher guidance, Mariya, Saanvi, and Amelie dedicated weeks of hard work to bring the project from an idea to reality. ‘They’ve shown incredible dedication, embracing feedback and refining their ideas along the way,’ said the Deputy Principal. He also comments on their extraordinary teamwork throughout the creative podcast. During filming Saanvi co-hosted, Amelie managed the tech, and Mariya lead the topic writing and discussion.
“I enjoy knowing that I’m doing something to help my classmates and everyone in my cohort,” Mariya said. “When the podcast was published, instead of judging me, people appreciated and respected what I created.”
With a successful launch behind them, these leaders are planning to record even more episodes on issues such as overcoming fears, motivational stories, and the impact of overused social media platforms.
Check out their most recent podcast, ‘Fearless Transitions’, here!
