Transforming School Culture at Clare High School

Clare High School, in the Clare and Gilbert Valley, is home to around 500 Year 7–12 students, many from agricultural and viticulture backgrounds. With a strong curriculum, inclusive culture, and focus on respect, growth, and academic excellence, the school is a natural fit for Youth Opportunities’ Personal Development Programs, supporting students to develop leadership, resilience, and practical skills that last well beyond the classroom. 

Assistant Principal Katie Liebelt highlights the program’s impact: “We go to graduation and watch parents cry, be proud, connect, and reflect… because they hear their child share their learning journey, their growth, and their commitment to having better relationships.”

Students Finding Their Voice

For Year 10 student Emily, the program has been transformative. “Before joining Youth Ops I was anxious, I didn’t have many close friends… even reading aloud in class made my heart race,’ said Year 10 program graduate, Emily. “Now, I’ve gained confidence in public speaking. One of the most helpful tools has been the 5-minute challenge. At first, I thought, five minutes won’t make a difference. But it does… just saying I’ll work for five minutes is easy, and once I get going, I usually keep going. That small step has helped me break the cycle of stress and procrastination.”

Classmate Gus has redefined how he sees himself: “I used to leave things until the last minute, then beat myself up when my work wasn’t good enough… Youth Ops gave me tools to stop that cycle… I feel more comfortable being who I am, without changing to meet other people’s standards.”

Lexi describes how managing self-talk and focus has changed her school experience: “Learning to manage my self-talk has been huge… I’ve started using focus blocks… I stay more focused in class, complete work on time… it’s given me a real sense of progress and achievement.”

And for Chloe, the biggest win has been motivation and connection: “Before Youth Ops, even getting to school felt hard. Now I’ve found purpose. I go every day… I feel like I’m moving forward.”

Strengthening School Culture

Clare High’s values of inclusion, respect, wellbeing, and broad opportunities make it an ideal environment for this program. Katie notes, “Students are taking more responsibility for their actions, reconnecting with teachers, and being more respectful to both themselves and others,” reflects Katie. “The effects aren’t limited to the students in the program: others are noticing the shift, asking how to make relationships better and how to adopt similar habits.

A Bright Path Forward

Pasha Shoghi, Youth Opportunities Programs & Services Delivery Lead, adds: “We’re proud to support such a bright, dynamic cohort of students. They’re gaining resilience, agency, and belief in their ability to steer their own paths. Youth Opportunities provides tools, but it’s the students who are making the change real.”

Clare High students are demonstrating that with the right support, they can step into leadership, take ownership of their learning, and positively influence their community.

Want to bring this impact to your school? Contact the Youth Opportunities team here to find out how your students can get involved.

Want to bring this impact to your school? Contact us today to find out how your students can get involved.