Unleash The Fun

The Grade 6 Leadership Team at Iramoo Primary School left the 2026 Dream and Lead Conference in Melbourne with a question: what could make students feel more connected at Iramoo?

They didn’t wait long to find out. Within 48 hours of returning to school, they were already asking their peers what mattered most. The feedback was clear: wellbeing, connection and positive school culture.

Their focus landed on something specific. Students feeling lonely or left out during playtime. The cause? Exclusion and a lack of confidence.

So instead of just identifying the problem, they decided to Unleash The Fun.

Through YLAA’s 10-Week LeaderUp Challenge, the team developed a dedicated space running three days a week where students from Prep to Year 6 could meet new people, discover shared interests and feel like they belonged. A friend finder. Show up, find someone who likes the same things, try something new and maybe leave with a new friend.

Making it happen wasn’t without its challenges. The team had to find a space outside the usual year-level play areas and work around teacher workloads. But they kept going. They created activity videos, posters and flyers, made assembly announcements complete with a flash mob, and got the message home to families.

Then came launch day. The Grade 6s led the way, inviting other students to be brave, give it a go and have fun.

YLAA’s team and Youth Advisory Board reviewed every submission in the LeaderUp Challenge. Iramoo’s stood out. The quality, passion and purpose behind Unleash The Fun earned them the $2,000 major prize.

The prize money is already going to work. The team is planning a community mural on the brick wall in the Unleash The Fun area, a lasting reminder of what they built together.

Iramoo didn’t just spot a problem. They listened, acted, won, and kept going.