EREA Charter Leadership Award for Justice and Solidarity - Silvia Baylie

EREA NSW and Waverley College celebrates the outstanding achievement of Silvia Baylie, recipient of the EREA Charter Leadership Award for Justice and Solidarity. Silvia is an Engineering, Physics and Science Educator and the Ecology Coordinator at Waverley College. Silvia’s leadership is defined by her unwavering commitment to action, collaboration, and the empowerment of young people. Through her visionary approach—most notably the co‑creation of the Students of the World Ecology Group, innovative curriculum design, and deep partnerships with community and First Nations leaders—she has transformed justice education into a lived, vibrant, and courageous expression of ethical citizenship. This award recognises not only Silvia’s professional excellence, but also her profound impact in shaping a generation of students who are inspired to advocate, lead, and create a more just and sustainable world.

Your leadership at Waverley College emphasises empowerment over authority. What inspires your approach to helping students become active advocates for justice and solidarity?

My approach is fuelled by the belief that justice education should never be a static lesson in a textbook; it must be a lived, vibrant, and courageous expression of ethical citizenship. I am inspired by the empowerment of young people and the idea that our role as educators is to provide the tools for them to lead. Seeing students transition from being passive observers to inspired advocates who seek to create a more just and sustainable world is what keeps me grounded in this work. It is about fostering a sense of "Justice and Solidarity" that is not just a title on an award, but a fundamental part of who they are as people.

The “Students of the World” Ecology Group has become a powerful platform for student voice. What have been some of the most meaningful outcomes or moments from this initiative so far?

One of the most profound outcomes has been the co-creation aspect of the Students of the World Ecology Group (SOTWEG). It wasn't built for the students, but with them, allowing it to become a powerful platform for student voice. The most meaningful moments occur when I witness the profound impact this group has on a student's confidence and their influence on the younger generation. Whether it is through innovative curriculum design or student-led initiatives, watching them take ownership of their unwavering commitment to action shows that we are successfully shaping a generation of leaders who are ready to advocate and lead.

You’ve helped build strong partnerships with government, climate advocates, educational institutions, and First Nations communities. How do these relationships enrich students’ understanding of justice and real‑world citizenship?

These deep partnerships are essential because they bridge the gap between the classroom and the "real-world". By engaging with First Nations leaders and climate advocates, students learn that solidarity is a collaborative effort. These relationships enrich students’ understanding by showing them that ethical citizenship requires listening and learning from those at the forefront of change. It transforms their education into a shared journey of action, collaboration, and mutual respect.

The 2024 Ecology Symposium and the cross‑curricular Year 9 Ecology course both model truth‑telling, action, and global citizenship. What impact have you seen these programs have on students’ willingness to confront systemic issues and lead change?

These programs serve as a visionary approach to tackling complex, global problems. By modelling truth-telling and global citizenship, we provide a safe yet challenging space for students to confront systemic issues. I have seen a remarkable shift in their willingness to lead change; they no longer see these issues as distant or unsolvable. Instead, they are inspired to advocate and recognise that their unwavering commitment is the key to dismantling the status quo and building a more equitable future.