The University of Melbourne recently surveyed over 4,000 Year 12 students across Australia about their school experiences. The findings paint an interesting picture: most students (60%) feel satisfied with their education, yet nearly all agree that improvements could be made to better serve student needs.
The research reveals that strong relationships with teachers, a positive school environment, and feeling connected to the school community are the biggest factors in student satisfaction. Students consistently praised teachers who genuinely cared about their success and schools that offered diverse opportunities through sports, arts, and leadership programs.
However, students also identified areas where schools could evolve. Many felt their education didn’t fully prepare them for adult life. Students wanted more practical skills like financial literacy, job application processes, and life management alongside traditional subjects. Students also reported feeling stressed by academic pressure and wished for more input on decisions that affected their daily school experience. These are areas you can address as a student leader.
How YOU can bridge these gaps:
Strengthen school connections. The research shows that students value feeling part of their school community. You can organize fun events that bring different year groups together, or create peer-mentoring programs. When students feel more connected, satisfaction for school life improves.
Advocate for student input. Many students felt their perspectives weren’t sought when schools made decisions about policies, programs, or even learning approaches. You can work with your teachers to establish student voice and suggestions. The goal isn’t to complain, but to empower students to offer constructive input on how things could work better.
Support practical learning initiatives. If students want more life skills education, student leaders can propose workshops, guest speaker programs, or even peer-to-peer teaching sessions. You might organize financial literacy sessions during lunch, resume writing workshops, or presentations from recent graduates about navigating post-school transitions.
Create mental health awareness. The research highlighted that mental health concerns affect many students. Student leaders can help normalize conversations about wellbeing, promote existing support services, create a reset classroom within the school, and work with school counsellors to identify what additional support students need. Sometimes just knowing that others face similar challenges can reduce feelings of isolation.
Focus on solutions, not just problems. Rather than simply identifying issues, you can present realistic solutions to school administration. If assessment stress is high, perhaps suggest study skills workshops or better communication about assignment schedules across subjects. If students want more voice, propose specific ways to make that happen.
Your voice carries weight, you can offer practical insights that teachers might not get to see. When you work collaboratively with your school, real improvements become possible.
Citation: Fu, J., Cook, J., & Wyn, J. (2025). What do young people say about their education? Voices of school leavers in Australia. Youth Research Collective, Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne.
