E-Safety Youth Council
In celebration of International Women’s Day, a whole school assembly was held to pay tribute to the outstanding accomplishments of women in our community and beyond. A panel of three extraordinary women were invited on stage to share with the school community their personal journeys and insights on how they aim to inspire others.
Guest Speakers
Our panel of guest speakers were Annabelle Henzell, Lizzie Henebery, and Year 4 student Claudia McMahon.
Annabelle Henzell shared her vibrant career journey in the energy and resources sector, where she utilised her expertise in Chemical Engineering, Finance, and CFA. Her roles spanned crude oil refining, hydrocarbon supply chain optimisation, mining industry procurement, and the recent venture into commercialising carbon capture and storage projects. Annabelle highlighted the challenges of balancing her professional career with raising three young sons while currently on parental leave.
Lizzie Henebery, an acclaimed marketing and communications professional, presented her extensive experience as the Director of Sunny Comms. Lizzie excels in brand and communication strategy, content writing, public relations, and social media. Her passion for community engagement is evident through her role in the executive committee of the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network, where she collaborates with businesses nationwide and supports charities through fundraising events.
Claudia McMahon, a dynamic Year 4 student, brought a youthful perspective to the event. Expressing her love for reading and spending time with family and friends, Claudia demonstrated a keen interest in questioning and exploring the world around her.
The panel discussion was led by Head of Senior School, Nathan Reynolds. Nathan initiated the conversation by delving into Claudia’s love for reading and her distinctive approach to learning.
Annabelle Henzell shared her personal journey in the realms of engineering and chemical sciences, emphasising the significance of following your passions, even if you are unsure of the path ahead.
Lizzie Henebery discussed how her passion for reading, writing and love for words led to a career that brings her enjoyment and purpose. She spoke about the importance of finding joy in what you do and finding a way to create a fulfilling career by leveraging your innate talents. Meaningful work can be attained by aligning personal passions with professional pursuits.
The speakers encouraged the audience not to be afraid of trying new things and to embrace the evolving landscape of career possibilities. They highlighted the significance of leaning into one’s strengths, even when faced with uncertainties about the future.
The guest speakers were asked who they look to for inspiration. For Claudia it is her mum and teacher Ms Bennett. Annabelle said she loved meeting new people and drew inspiration from everyday people in the community and that we can all learn from our peers. For Lizzie, it is the local heroes she meets through a podcast that she co-hosts the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network as well as her business partner.
When it came to perseverance and GRIT Claudia recounted a personal story of overcoming a challenging hike, showcasing the resilience necessary to overcome obstacles.
Claudia’s advice to tackling challenges and difficulties was to keep going and activate the “positivity switch.” Annabelle said when faced with difficulties it was important to simply show up and confronting challenges head-on, while Lizzie advocated for stepping forward with courage before gaining confidence. She highlighted the importance of trying, even when uncertain about success, as it leads to gaining confidence through the journey.
By Logan Marchington, Year 11
Earlier this month I attended the first face to face meeting of the national E-safety youth council in Sydney. Myself and other members of the council met with regional CEOs and representatives from TikTok, Microsoft, Meta, Google, snapchat and more. The E-safety commissioner and several federal ministers also attended the meeting. There we discussed major issues facing young people online today and how government, youth and private enterprise can work together to create a safer online world. It brings me great hope to see so many private companies engaging with youth and government and committing their effort and time to progress.
Later this year I will be presenting what I have learnt about electronic and online safety to my school and the wider community. I believe it is vital that we all understand how to protect ourselves and our families online.
About the eSafety Youth Council
The eSafety Youth Council gives young people the opportunity to share their insights and experiences about online safety with eSafety and Government.
As explained on the government website: ‘The eSafety Youth Council was appointed in 2022 and is made up of 24 young people from across Australia.
The Council gives young people an avenue to influence on issues that matter most to them by engaging in meaningful discussion and sharing their knowledge and experiences with eSafety. It also offers as an opportunity to share insights for policy and program design on online safety issues now and into the future.
Members are aged between 13 to 24 years. They have a range of experiences, come from various places across Australia and represent different genders and cultures.
The Council was informed by recommendations from the Western Sydney University Youth Engagement Report, commissioned by eSafety and co-designed with young people. The report explored the online experiences of Young Australians and their concerns and ideas for the future.’
More information can be found at eSafety Youth Council