Our Year 11s began Term 3 on a different type of campus: the tertiary kind!
The Matthew Flinders Anglican College Year 11 leadership retreat was held over four days (14 to 17 July) at The Women’s College, University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, giving students a taste of life as a college resident and an opportunity to strengthen their bond as a cohort.
The 143 students engaged in workshops, activities, challenges and evening events guided by the school’s RAMP framework under the collective theme “Shaping Your Legacy”.
Head of Senior School Mr Sam Huckstep said the experience was focused on laying the essential groundwork for the students’ final year as school leaders of the Secondary School in 2027.
“Our 2026 Year 11 Retreat was grounded in Self-Determination Theory, which informs the Flinders RAMP (Relationships, Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose) framework,” Mr Huckstep said. “For the students, it’s really about exploring the type of character and confidence they each want to build and carry beyond graduation.
“By reflecting on their growth across the RAMP pillars, they were able to define their personal leadership goals and consider the culture and legacy they want to build at Flinders.”
The RAMP framework serves as a central pillar for senior students transitioning into school, focusing on four distinct areas:
- Relationships: Building strong connections, fostering belonging and learning from authentic role models.
- Autonomy: Taking ownership of choices and developing personal agency as senior students and beyond.
- Mastery: Pursuing competence and developing skills to meet complex academic and social challenges.
- Purpose: Connecting individual effort to a broader vision and creating a positive, lasting contribution.
The retreat experience included a keynote presentation from Principal Michelle Carroll on the power of character during an inspiring networking evening with nine Flinders alumni (Old Flinderians).
Students also tackled a transport challenge requiring homeroom teams to collaborate while navigating Brisbane City, and attended UQ lectures to get a feel for tertiary life. Additionally, they gained insights on resilience and delegation from the four Year 12 College Captains and engaged in a practical workshop on respectful relationships with guest speaker Ben Russell from Empowerment Ed.
Mr Huckstep noted that the retreat opened with a timeliness reminder from entrepreneur Mary Kay Ash: ‘No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important.’
“Our students embodied this spirit throughout the week,” Mr Huckstep said. “Whether expressing genuine gratitude to returning alumni, committing to cohort unity or uniting all 143 voices in a heartfelt rendition of “Valerie” to thank Ben Russell, these were the moments that filled them with pride, both individually and collectively.
“As a staff, we were immensely proud of our Year 11s for the thoughtfulness, maturity and energy they displayed. We look forward to watching them lead our school community with purpose and character in the year ahead.”
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
Matt G:
“I am so thankful for the Year 11 retreat, as it challenged and inspired me to not only grow as a leader but also as a person. My personal highlight was when the external speaker Ben came and encouraged us to handwrite a message recognising someone for the positive impact they've had on our lives. It was such a special moment because it allowed our whole cohort to step outside our comfort zones and genuinely appreciate one another for the good we do. Seeing people encourage and uplift each other created an atmosphere of gratitude and connection, and it reinforced for me that we should be remembered not for our achievements but for how we made others feel.”
Ella G:
“Year 11 retreat was an absolutely amazing experience! Our activities focused on leadership development, uniting our cohort and confidence building. Some personal highlights of retreat for me were the semi-formal night (aka the Christmas in July Dinner) and the Brisbane Transport Challenge, where each homeroom had to collectively race through Brisbane with a list of places to go and objects to buy.”
Jules P:
“The retreat was an amazing experience that genuinely helped me grow connections within the grade that I wouldn't have made otherwise; it also gave me great perspective into how life at UQ could be for me in the next few years. It is an awesome program to continue for the Year 11s at our school to develop their leadership journey and grow relationships as a cohort.”
