Two recent initiatives reminded me of a 2025 Radio National Future Tense program which discussed existential hope and existential fear.
The discussion identified a number of potential threats to humanity, including an uninhabitable planet or AI-induced apocalypse, and said we can’t expect superheroes or quick fixes to solve these challenges.
Rather, the solution to these challenges was said to lie in the hands of us all, suggesting that we can all make a difference. Hence the concept of existential hope.
Our Year 12 leaders of the Eco-Warriors group have launched a weekly competition to highlight a Wurundjeri Wildlife Personality of the week to raise awareness of local wildlife. Each week a new personality is profiled and canteen muffin/coffee voucher given to the first student who finds where an image of the personality has been hidden in Senior School. This is one of many of the group’s activities. The Eco-Warriors encourage students to join their meetings to ‘help us change the world’.
Last week the Equality Alliance Group met for the first time. The group is open to all Year 10, 11 and 12 students. The group is a new leadership and student-focussed group which will spotlight topics including gender equity, intersectionality, equality for all genders, social justice and inclusive education approaches.
These groups are examples of existential hope. Students are working together to make a positive difference and show that we can be optimistic despite the uncertainty and range of challenges that may seem like a fixture of current life.
Graeme Young
Acting Head of Senior School
