A Southern River teenager recognised in the 2026 Young Achiever Awards says she wants students from all backgrounds to have the same opportunities to succeed.
Year 12 student and School Captain Willow O’Beirne, from Kelmscott Senior High School, has been nominated in the Awards Australia Outstanding School Student Award category.
The award recognises students who show commitment and achievement through education, leadership, community involvement and personal interests.
Willow said she was shocked when she found out she had been nominated.
“I definitely felt shocked, but also incredibly excited that I would have the opportunity to represent my community,” she said.
“My first reaction was definitely shock; I was in disbelief that I’d been nominated for something like this.
“The first thing I did was call up my mum to tell her, so she could share my shock and excitement.”
Alongside her studies, Willow has been involved in debating, Youth Parliament, martial arts, agriculture programs and leadership initiatives.
She also created “Lead the Lesson” a project focused on giving students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds more input into education discussions.
Willow has also represented Southern River in Youth Parliament and recently completed an internship with federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh, experiences she said helped her better understand how community concerns can be raised with decision-makers.
The teenager said her own experiences at school highlighted the challenges some students face.
“When I was in year 10 and choosing subject courses, I remember listening to some of my friend’s perspectives who weren’t going into ATAR and realising the way the education system had failed them due to lack of opportunities,” she said.
She said some students struggled to afford textbooks, while others were limited by subject availability.
“I truly believe that education is the universal key, which can open many doors, for many people, irrespective of their pathway; and, therefore, something worth fighting for,” she said.
The response to her Lead the Lesson project reinforced the importance of giving students a voice.
“I remember being contacted by a participant emphasising how excited they were to be interviewed and finally get the chance to have their voice heard,” Willow said.
She said one of the biggest moments for her came while speaking at the Future Female Leaders gala.
“It was a phenomenal opportunity for me to take the needs of my community and represent them on the big stage,” she said.
Despite the pressures of Year 12, Willow said helping others kept her motivated.
“My biggest motivation is being able to give something back to my community, especially in the realms of education and opportunity, to allow other young people like me to flourish,” she said.
In the future, Willow hopes to continue advocating for better access to educational opportunities across different communities.
The student also said she hoped to eventually expand Lead the Lesson into free tutoring and workshop programs for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
“I hope to bridge the gap between low and high socioeconomic education — standardising opportunities across the system, now and in the future,” she said.
