STUDENT ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Student Organising Committee?
The Student Organising Committee is the creative team of local students who work together for several months to organise and host the forum.
How are the schools selected to be on the SOC?
Each SOC is comprised of four to six local secondary schools representing a diverse range of students and schools in the geographical area.
How many students can each school select to be members of the SOC?
A selected school nominates three to four senior (or junior, as applicable) students to be members of the SOC. In addition, each school committee nominates one teacher to support and attend all SOC meetings.
How often does the SOC meet to organise the forum?
The aim is for the SOC to meet at least two times leading up to each forum.
Will my participation on the SOC affect any commitments at school?
Your participation as a member of the SOC will not have any direct effect on your school, sporting or work commitments. As all of the work of the committee is done at the two meetings and via email between meetings.
What does the SOC do before the forum?
Before the forum, the SOC will:
- Nominate and contact potential speakers
- Develop a marketing plan to gain local support by making presentations to the local press, TV, radio stations, council, businesses and other related organisations
- Marketing the forum in their schools. SOC members may choose to make presentations to other local schools in their school assemblies, SRC meetings and/or year meetings
- The successful event management of the forum on the day.
What will the SOC members do at the forum?
Each SOC member will have an active role on the day of the forum:
- One SOC member will be invited to introduce the forum, to start the day. This speech is usually around [3] minutes.
- Two SOC members take responsibility for each speaker on the day. This includes introducing them on stage, running their question/answer session, and thanking them at the end of their presentation
The other SOC members will be asked to do the key production roles, including:
- Floor manager
- Audio visual assistants
- Vox pop reporters
- Digital camera operator
- Event co-ordinating assistants
- Entertainment/activities.
What do the students learn from being members of a SOC?
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving skills
- Negotiation skills
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Group decision-making skills
- Sense of community spirit and togetherness.
How does the Step to the Future Foundation support the SOC?
Students are mentored throughout the entire process by the professional staff of the Foundation.