McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Secondary College is featured in the July edition of Glen Eira News for its involvement in the Fresh Take Initiative, a youth-led campaign tackling vaping. As part of a council-run program, students attended a creative workshop in May to plan, design and launch an anti-vaping campaign with support from professional designers. Year 11 student Anthe shares her reflection on the experience in the article.
This workshop was the first of two, where students researched, developed and planned ideas for a creative project that aims to prevent vaping in young people.
The students worked with creative mentors to learn about the facts and realities of vaping and then were guided through the creative process of designing a product. These products will be completed in the second workshop in August and will aim to not only prevent vaping in young people but also highlight the various supports in place for those trying to quit.
Ms Anna Bourke
Assistant Learning Area Manager for the Visual Arts
Here’s a reflection of the day from one of our Year 12 Art Captains, Radhe:
Attending the Fresh Take Design Project, I wasn't really expecting to feel moved whilst walking into Glen Eira Town Hall, but boy was I wrong. What I'd thought to be a simple youth focused design event, had progressively turned into something much much more: a showcase of raw talent, honest storytelling, and the kind of community connection we don’t often stop to notice nowadays.
Hosting a variety of schools, McKinnon Secondary College was one which were selected to attend, with a variety of Art, Visual Communication Design, and Health students. In attending the expo, we hoped to plan for a design idea that will promote good health and wellbeing in the VicHealth-funded project. The project ultimately encouraged students to develop and deliver creative campaigns to raise awareness and come up with solutions to educate and support their peers to reject vaping.
One moment that stuck with me was an anecdote about one of the host’s battles with rejecting vaping, and the struggles that it brought upon their life. This story of resilience allowed me and other students to recognise and de-stigmatise the battle of addiction and help promote wellbeing and healthy recovery for struggling individuals. Ultimately, the best part about the design expo was the feeling that every single voice within the room was welcome and heard. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about expression.
I personally really appreciated the experience. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, students from neighbouring schools and creative designers, all convening to address integral issues which impact us young people as a whole was extremely fulfilling. From Tie-Dying T-Shirts and munching on pizza and muffins, to designing and illustrating ideas for our design campaigns, the experience was able to support me greatly in understanding the creative design process.
The mentorship and the opportunities that this initiative by The City of Glen Eira and The City of Stonnington have opened up for students, have helped liberate not only me, but other students in progressing in their design journey, unveiling and uplifting the newest generation of Australia’s designers. This opportunity wasn’t just a design initiative for youth, it’s a reminder that young people within contemporary Australia still have something to say. And more importantly, that we’re finally being given the space to say it.
Radhe, Year 12
Senior Media Capta