The Rising Leaders Program is now well underway at Kolbe for our third year running, and it is shaping up to be another year of great success. The program was developed to address the need for more opportunities for our students to build confidence in their leadership potential and learn the skills to put their dreams into action. With the support of our wonderful families and the generosity of the P&F, the program has grown from strength to strength each year, and 2025 is no exception with the biggest number of applicants to date!
Each year, we invite students in Years 8 and 9 to apply for the Rising Leaders program, while encouraging our experienced Year 11 students to take on the role of mentors. With a number of interactive sessions and workshops throughout Terms 2 and 3, as well as guest speakers and a fun team-building excursion, students are given the opportunity to identify their individual strengths and develop key leadership skills—such as communication, initiative, and teamwork—that prepare them to contribute meaningfully to the school community and beyond. For our Year 11 mentors, these experiences also build a strong foundation for taking on senior Captain roles in Year 12, ensuring the leadership of our student body is in very capable hands.
Following the growth and success of the program over the last two years it is with great excitement that we can share that the Rising Leaders program has been recognised as an Excellence Awardee for Best Co-Curricular Program at the 2025 Australian Education Awards. It’s an incredible honour for our College, and one that reflects the passion our students bring to the program, the support from our dedicated staff, and the strong sense of community we’re so proud of. We’re incredibly grateful for the recognition—and even more so for the chance to keep growing young leaders who speak up, inspire change, and make a difference.
