A values-aligned partnership with Flying Fox
It started with student action. Wesley students advocated for involvement with Flying Fox so they could serve as buddies at camps for young people with disability. That advocacy sparked something remarkable.
What began as a handful of students volunteering at camps has grown into a comprehensive partnership. All our Senior School students now participate in Flying Fox's immersive education programs at school, learning what genuine inclusion looks like. These programs equip students with the skills and understanding to become buddies at Flying Fox camps, where they help address the social isolation many young people with disability experience.
The transformation is profound.
Students arrive with natural hesitation. But through activities that help them experience life through someone else's lens, they develop authentic empathy that changes how they move through the world.
‘Flying Fox helped us understand how to engage with people and help them feel included, no matter how they are communicating or expressing their emotions,’ said Tom (Year 12), reflecting on his camp experience.
Now, our first cohort has completed the Flying Fox education program, and the impact is clear:
‘Flying Fox is life changing. The compassion and curiosity to get to know people has changed the way I connect with my peers and with people with disability,’ said Lucy (Year 12).
Students are developing empathy – not theoretically, but through their lived experience. They're learning patience, problem-solving, and what it truly means to see the world through someone else's eyes.
‘I learned a lot of patience that I've been able to apply to different aspects of my life. Flying Fox taught me it's OK when things don't happen all at once,’ says Tom.
The proof? Our Year 12 students are already planning to continue their involvement with Flying Fox after graduation. Many, like Charlotte Belle Kuperholz (OW2024), return as facilitators themselves, delivering education sessions and becoming genuine advocates for inclusion.
‘Facilitating sessions through Flying Fox with Wesley students has impacted me in so many ways. Seeing students have lightbulb moments shows me that change starts with conversations like these. If students walk away understanding that their everyday actions can help build a more inclusive world, then I've done my job,’ she said.
This is Service Learning in action – preparing our students to be compassionate, informed global citizens who understand that disability doesn't define a person, and that we all have a role in creating a more inclusive world.
Find out more about Flying Fox and hear what our students have to say about their experiences:
