Experiences of the Round Square Conferences
Expressions of Interest for the Round Square Conference at Ballarat Grammar (April 7-12 2026) can be completed here: Expressions of Interest – Round Square Conference Ballarat Grammar
Expressions of Interest for the Round Square Global Conference at Barker College (September 28-October 4 2026) can be completed here: Expressions of Interest – Round Square Global Conference Barker College
Bunbury
The Round Square trip to Perth earlier this year was a great adventure, where we got to experience school and community life at two other schools on the other side of Australia; Bunbury Cathedral College and Scotch College.
We attended along with hundreds of other students from schools around Australia and other parts of the world including Bangladesh, India and the USA, coming together like a melting pot of culture, fashion, values and accents.
We had the opportunity to learn from and participate in many enrichment, recreational and service-learning activities in mixed school groups. Activities included high ropes where we pushed ourselves outside of our comfort zones and supported our peers. This wasn’t always easy as many of us had a fear of heights so had to really work through moving past this fear.
We also participated in a service-learning activity where we gave back to the community by making sandwiches for children in the local region that were unable to provide a packed school lunch for themselves, often for varied reasons including financial hardship. This was something that resonated strongly with me. In fact, I would love the opportunity to bring this type of service-learning to Oxley College as it would be a great service initiative to help make simple lunches for those children that may need them in our community.
I learnt about different cultures as I was in a shared dorm with a student from Bangladesh who taught me about his culture, dietary requirements due to religion and what it’s like to live and attend school in Bangladesh. He explained that the environment is beautiful in many ways however it is polluted and very dirty on the streets, which is the opposite to our experience living in the Southern Highlands.
It made me realise how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful place and attend a great school. It also made me realise how big the world is, but how small it can be when we come together and connect with others that share similar values or seek similar opportunities for growth.
I learnt that I have more confidence than I give myself credit for. When placed in large groups with unfamiliar people, I found I was able to make friends and speak freely and comfortably rather than sitting back and observing, which is something that doesn’t come naturally.
I learnt that participation yields a better experience than observation, and sometimes when we feel uncomfortable approaching someone new, we just need to remember that the other person feels the same way that we do.
Round Square Perth taught me that we can all be great leaders when we work on the skills needed to lead ourselves, lead and support others and lead and contribute to the community, which formed the guiding basis of the activities of our trip.
Harry M, Year 7
The Round Square Perth trip was one I will never forget. Although it had its hardships, I came back a better and more resilient person. The trip pushed me out of my comfort zone, forcing me to build connections I would otherwise never have made with people I would never have met, from places like India, the United States and even Sydney.
One of the hardest challenges that I faced was sharing a room with strangers because my Oxley friends were in different groups. Although it felt scary at the time, I learned how to overcome my challenges and build long-lasting connections with people I thought I would never be friends with.
The trip encouraged me to be more friendly and open to new people. For example, the cabin I was in had no one I knew at all. Most of the people that I was in a cabin with were either from India or America. Only one person there knew where Bowral was.
The Perth trip taught me how to be brave even when it feels impossible.
Sophia B, Year 7
Oxford
Last April, myself, Flynn and Sophie ventured half-way across the world to Oxford University for the Round Square Big Baraza. Now I know everyone has heard about Round Square, but you only know the school and education part of it. During our time at Oxford, we were able to discover a whole new side of Round Square, one immersed with communication, culture and fun. The word ‘Baraza’ which was the theme of our experience, means “The coming together of different people” in Swahili. Barazas allow students to hold debates and free discussions where everyone’s opinion is valued equally. I was lucky enough to be a Baraza leader at the conference, where I lead a Baraza group of 15 students from different schools and countries. In our sessions, we discussed the problems facing young people, stemming from the Round Square IDEALS.
The slogan for this conference was ‘Inspiring Voices’, where we were encouraged to speak our mind without adult interference. This inspired the many keynote speakers we had the privilege of hearing from during the Conference and the many insightful ‘political style’ debates we were a part of whose topics ranged from climate activism to the United Nations Sustainable Development goals to the benefits of artificial intelligence. These debates were held at the historic oxford union, which has a debating history of over 170 years.
Flynn: Objection Mrs Speaker! In the true fashion of Oxford Union Debating, I choose to voice a question in the form of a Point of Interest. To the Honourable Lucy Anderson, I would like to ask how has your experience with Round Square impacted your daily life at Oxley?
Thank you for your Point of Interest. Whilst the round square experience was short, it had a massive impact on my life. Because of the discussions, debates and barazas, I was made more aware of the issues facing our generation today, such as poverty, hunger and climate change, and what potential solutions are available. These issues seem so much bigger than our life here at Oxley, but Round Square taught me that together, we can make a change.
Lucy A, Year 12 2026
