Congress is VicSRC's flagship student-led experience, bringing together secondary students from across Victoria to unpack ideas, share lived experiences, and solve challenges in the education system.
Each Congress centres student voice in action. The top ideas, as voted by students, shape VicSRC's advocacy priorities for the following 12 months, led by the VicSRC Student Executive Advisory Committee.
20 Years of Congress - Taking Student Voice on the Road
2025 marked the 20th Anniversary of VicSRC Congress, celebrating two decades of student-led impact across Victoria. To celebrate this milestone, Congress is hitting the road.
Across 2025-2026, VicSRC is visiting regions across the state to hear directly from students about their education experiences and priorities for change.
CONGRESS
WHAT TO EXPECT
Hear the roar
of student voice
A dynamic, one-day, in-person experience designed and led by students.
Pitch ideas to improve education and vote on the priorities that matter most to students.
Speak up,
spark change
Work in Action Teams to explore challenges and design real solutions for change.
We don't make change alone
REGIONAL CONGRESS EVENTS
Gippsland Congress
Gippsland Tech School
2 March 2026
Wangaratta Congress
Wangaratta High School
25 March 2026
Geelong Congress
Geelong Tech School
8 May 2026
Swan Hill Congress
Swan Hill College
3 June 2026
TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING (PD)
Alongside Congress, VicSRC offers Teacher Professional Learning focused on student voice practice.
This PD supports educators to:
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Strengthen student voice, agency and leadership in their school
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Build practical skills for authentic student partnership
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Learn directly from VicSRC's student voice model and experience
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Connect with other educators committed to student-led change
Teacher PD can be attended alongside Congress and is ideal for teachers, school leaders, and staff responsible for student voice, wellbeing, or leadership programs.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
VicSRC Congress is made possible through strong partnerships with organisations who believe in the power of student voice.
Sponsorship supports:
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Access for regional and rural students
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High quality student leadership experiences
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Statewide student consultation and advocacy
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The ongoing impact of student voice in education policy
Learn more about partnership opportunities and join us in supporting student-led advocacy in education!
How VicSRC Congress Creates Change
Student Priorities Shape the Work
Students identify the biggest issues facing education. These priorities shape VicSRC Action Teams and focus areas.
Deep Dive at Congress
At Congress, students work in Action Teams to explore challenges and develop solutions grounded in student experience.
Student Voices Become Evidence
After Congress, VicSRC student leaders develop the annual Congress Report, capturing student challenges, priorities, and recommendations.
Evidence Drives Advocacy
The Congress Report informs VicSRC's advocacy goals and the change we push for across the education system.
Student Leaders Drive Change
VicSRC, led by the Student Executive Advisory Committee, works directly with decision-makers to implement student-led solutions.
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FAQs
Any student currently enrolled in recognised secondary education in Victoria!
As Congress is one of the only student-led events in Victoria, we ask that teachers do not participate in Congress alongside students.
We do however, have a separate teacher professional development session running alongside Congress. Teachers who choose to attend the PD session will be present for the initial Congress presentations, but will not be present during the Action Team working groups.
The size of each venue limits how many people can attend Congress each year. For some venues, there is no limit on how many students can attend Congress from the same school, for other venues, there may be limits of up to 5 students.
For more information about ticket caps, please refer to the ticketing page.
Nope! Everyone has a voice, and everyone should be heard. If you are a Victorian secondary student, you can participate.
Nope! Schools can register their students but you can also register as an individual student.
We also often have sponsored tickets available, so make sure you put in an Expression of Interest or email Natalie Paffard at natalie@vicsrc.org.au for more information.
2024 was the first year where teachers had the opportunity to attend a separate teacher professional development session run by VicSRC while students attend Congress. Because of all the positive feedback we received, this is now a permanent feature of the day.
Congress is one of the only events for students, by students, so we ask that educators do not accompany their students to the event if they have not booked a ticket for the teacher PD.
The price to attend Congress in 2026 is $70 for a student and $150 for a teacher. Students and teachers from a VicSRC Partner School receive a 20% discount on ticket prices.
If you are an individual student who can't cover the cost of tickets, you may apply for a sponsored ticket. Sponsored tickets are limited, so get in quick to avoid disappointment.
Yes! We recognise school experiences can change over the months. Just like how a student can attend Congress two years in a row, a student from East Gippsland, Geelong, Swan Hill, Wangaratta or other surrounding areas can attend a Congress event near them and a metropolitan Congress.
Couldn’t make it to Congress? Become a Student Member for free to stay up to date on news and opportunities!
Want to become a Congress Facilitator? You can submit an Expression of Interest form here.
CHILD SAFETY
VicSRC is a child safe organisation. You can read our Child Safety Policy here, our Child Safe Code of Conduct here and our Child Safety Reporting Procedure here.
Congress is facilitated by our Student Executive Advisory Committee members, with VicSRC adult staff and volunteers supporting them and coordinating the event logistics.
Our staff and volunteers are trained in child safety and have current Working with Children Checks and National Police Checks.
