Shaping the Future Together: Sunshine Coast Hosts Assistant Minister for International Education
A 31 percent increase in leadership confidence is not a headline number. It is a shift in how young people see themselves.
In 2025, 100 Sunshine Coast students in Years 8 to 10 participated in the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Masterclass at Sunshine Coast City Hall. After completing the program, students reported a 31 percent increase in self-rated leadership confidence.
Great results matters at this age. For many students, leadership still feels reserved for captains, extroverts or high achievers. The Masterclass challenged that assumption. It positioned leadership as a skill set. Something observable. Something learnable.
Facilitated by Lachie Smart, students worked through the VESPA framework to clarify their values, define personal goals and test their thinking in real time. They collaborated with peers from 17 different schools. They articulated ideas. They received feedback. They reflected.
The shift was visible.
“Leadership is about the team, not the person. SMART goals showed me how to make that real.” – Lincoln, Year 10
“Pay homage to your values. I can do anything and I can do hard things.” – Louisa, Year 10
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli observed the change firsthand.
“They grew in confidence, they grew in skills they didn’t even know they had, which is just wonderful,” Mayor Natoli said.
Confidence at 14 or 15 shapes decisions. Subject choices. Willingness to take risks. Whether a student volunteers an idea or holds it back. A 31 percent lift is not cosmetic. It compounds.
In 2026, the Masterclass Series expands into a two-part pathway. The first workshop, Future Entrepreneurial Leaders, focuses on mindset and foundations. The second, Future Leaders: IMPACT, builds applied capability in influence and decision-making.
Expressions of Interest are now open for Sunshine Coast students in Years 8 to 10.
Find out more here: https://www.studysunshinecoast.com.au/program/mayorsmasterclass/