Across the state, schools are giving young people the freedom, guidance, and resources to think boldly, experiment without fear, and express themselves in ways that go far beyond the classroom.
In this feature, we highlight programs that nurture imagination, collaboration, and problem-solving, reminding us that the most important lessons are often the ones that spark curiosity and let young minds run free.
Following the Creative Thread
At Seymour, creativity doesn’t just sit in one line of a timetable. It lives in the way students think, create, test ideas and follow their instincts. The College’s approach is to provide students with the tools, guidance and space, then encourage them to turn their ideas into something genuinely their own.
You could see this firsthand at Woe is Me, a surrealist ball that transformed the College’s Centre for Performing Arts with cabaret, film, dance, fashion, digital art and theatre. It was imaginative, a little strange and entirely student-led, which made it compelling.
It’s this spirit that drives many of the student-led initiatives. Prickle, the newly launched student magazine, began with a small group of Year 11s and grew into a vibrant publication full of art, design and storytelling that reflects the team’s personality and vision. Tartan Tales, the student-created podcast, gives students a platform to hold honest conversations with teachers, Old Collegians and wider community members.
Beyond these projects, Seymour offers creative opportunities and the space to explore them. From SACE Creative Arts subjects and co-curricular programs to musicals, choirs, rehearsal spaces and studios, students are encouraged to experiment and express themselves.
Across every year level, Seymour College invests in creativity and keeps opening doors for it to grow.
Seymour College
546 Portrush Rd, Glen Osmond
seymour.sa.edu.au
Creative Leadership
At Good Shepherd Lutheran School Para Vista, creativity extends beyond the arts. It’s embedded in the ways students connect, collaborate, and care for one another.
The school’s Friend-O Leaders program is a prime example of how imaginative thinking and student leadership create a culture where every child feels seen and supported.
As part of Good Shepherd’s commitment to their whole-school relationships strategy utilising URSTRONG’s resources, senior primary students are trained as peer mentors, learning practical ways to help younger children build positive relationships. Friend-O Leaders are easily recognised in the yard, wearing high-visibility vests and carrying small utility bags with tissues, band aids and paper towels; they’re equipped and ready to help younger students.
Under direct staff guidance, these young leaders develop confidence, empathy, and communication skills while supporting peers in navigating friendship and playground challenges. The program reflects the school’s belief that leadership begins with kindness and students thrive when they feel a sense of belonging.
Through programs like Friend-O Leaders, Good Shepherd continues to demonstrate leadership in early childhood and primary education across Adelaide’s north-east. By empowering students to actively contribute to their community, the school nurtures young people who think boldly, care deeply, and are equipped to make a positive impact on the world around them.
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
388 Montague Rd, Para Vista
gspv.sa.edu.au
Sparking Creativity in our Youngest Learners
At the Walford Early Learning Centre, art and creativity are woven into everyday experiences, nurturing each child’s curiosity, confidence and sense of wonder.
Guided by Walford’s commitment to educating the whole child, the creative programs provide rich opportunities for children to explore, imagine and express themselves in meaningful ways.
Through drawing, painting, constructing, music and movement, children are encouraged to experiment with materials, develop fine motor skills and communicate ideas in ways that feel authentic to them. The thoughtfully designed learning spaces invite creativity to unfold naturally, offering open-ended resources that inspire inquiry, problem solving and collaboration.
Creativity is also deeply connected to wellbeing and learning. As children engage in artistic experiences, they build resilience, concentration and self-belief. They learn to take risks, embrace and overcome mistakes, and celebrate individual perspectives. Educators work alongside children as co-learners, listening carefully, asking purposeful questions and extending thinking in ways that are responsive and respectful.
We invite you to experience the Walford ELC by joining us for our free playgroup on Fridays from 9.00am to 10.15am during the school term.
Walford Anglican School for Girls
316 Unley Rd, Hyde Park
walford.sa.edu.au
Expanding Minds Through Connection and Country
At Tatachilla Lutheran College, deep learning happens not only in classrooms, but in the red heart of Australia. Eleven of our senior students recently travelled more than 4,500 kilometres to the remote Alyawarre community of Ampilatwatja for a transformative 13-day service-learning experience; one that invited them to step beyond their own lived experience and engage meaningfully with First Nations Elders, families and young people.
Living and working in community, students learned through story, language, bush medicine, art, food and music. They supported the local school, coached the girls’ football team, shared cooking and conversation, and spent nights camping under vast desert skies. In these shared moments, they discovered that genuine understanding grows through attentive listening, relationship-building and seeing the world through another lens.
The trip also enabled students to contribute in tangible ways: assisting teachers, running sports clinics and donating essential items through Tatachilla’s Challenge 4 Charity campaign.
At the heart of Tatachilla’s service learning, from Reception to Year 12, is a commitment to learning with others. In Ampilatwatja, students developed empathy, cultural insight and critical thinking; evidence that some of the most profound learning occurs far beyond familiar settings, in the places and communities that invite us to grow.
Tatachilla Lutheran College
211 Tatachilla Rd, Tatachilla
tatachilla.sa.edu.au
Where Creativity Flourishes
At Mercedes College, we embrace and encourage creative thinking and learning. We intentionally engage students in creative learning experiences from Reception through to Year 12, as we know creativity sits alongside curiosity and independent thinking.
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, we see this approach come to life as our students grow into creative and critical thinkers throughout their time with us.
When young brains are engaged in creative activities, their development is strengthened. Creative tasks such as drawing, music, imaginative play, storytelling, and problem-based projects activate multiple areas of the brain at once; an essential process for growing minds.
When our students are asked to imagine, experiment, or find multiple solutions, their brains learn to adapt rather than rely on fixed patterns. This flexibility supports executive functions such as planning, decision-making, and self-regulation. Over time, our students become better at managing challenges and thinking independently; all important life skills.
Creativity and problem-solving also enhance neural connectivity, helping children build stronger pathways between their cognitive, emotional, and motor functions. These connections are fundamental in shaping grounded, well-rounded young people of strong character, the hallmarks of a Mercedes College graduate.
Come on a College Tour to find out how creativity sits at the heart of all we do.
Mercedes College
540 Fullarton Road, Springfield
mercedes.catholic.edu.au
Non-Routine Problem Solving in Action
At Prince Alfred College, we believe creativity is as important in mathematics as it is in the arts. Our boys embrace non-routine problem solving with tasks that go beyond memorising basic facts, challenging them to think critically, collaborate, and communicate ideas.
In the Preparatory School, problem solving begins early. From Reception onwards, boys are encouraged to explore patterns, test ideas, and find multiple solutions to a question. These experiences build confidence and curiosity, laying strong foundations across every subject.
By Year 6, boys tackle complex challenges that require reasoning and teamwork. They learn that mathematics is not just about getting the right answer, but about explaining how they got there. This approach nurtures creative thinking and persistence, qualities essential for success in a rapidly changing world.
When boys learn to approach unfamiliar problems with creativity and persistence, they’re learning to adapt, think independently, and collaborate effectively; skills that will serve them in every stage of life.
Our commitment to non-routine problem solving continues into the Middle and Senior Years, where students participate in state and national competitions, and our exciting ‘Maths Battles’ program. Co-Curricular Mathematics is also offered in the Secondary School.
PAC offers more than academic excellence. We provide an environment where boys learn to think deeply, work together, and embrace challenge with confidence.
Prince Alfred College
23 Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town
pac.edu.au
Nurturing Creative Minds
At St Aloysius College, the first years of school are shaped with clear intention and a commitment to nurturing creative minds from the very beginning. Students are encouraged to explore ideas, express themselves and build confidence through hands-on learning, creative play and rich classroom experiences. This gentle, well supported start helps students develop curiosity and a strong sense of independence as they begin their learning journey.
Interactive activities, both digital and traditional, are thoughtfully woven into the everyday program to strengthen important foundational skills. Building on this approach, our junior students take part in a dynamic robot workshop organised by Robogals, a student-run global organisation, where creativity meets hands-on engineering challenges. It is always wonderful to see SAC old scholars supporting these sessions, many of whom are now passionate advocates for women in engineering. The workshop invites young minds to explore STEM while strengthening their coding, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Most importantly, students are encouraged to think boldly, collaborate with their peers, and engage with learning in ways that spark imagination.
Through our balanced and purposeful learning journey, SAC cultivates an environment where young learners feel confident to explore, create and grow as they develop the mindset of true creative minds.
St Aloysius College
53 Wakefield Street, Adelaide
sac.sa.edu.au
Living the Arts
At Sacred Heart College, the Arts are not an addition to learning; they are central to who we are. Across two campuses for Years 7 to 12, the Arts shape identity, ignite imagination and give students powerful ways to express their voice. Through music, drama, dance, media and visual arts, students are encouraged to think boldly, create fearlessly and engage with the world around them.
Our philosophy is grounded in belonging. Whether stepping onto the stage for the first time or refining their craft, every learner is supported to grow in confidence, skill and self-belief.
Productions such as arts festivals and the biennial musical are celebrations of collaboration, bringing every facet of the Arts together on and off the stage. From performers to students behind the scenes in set design, costumes, lighting and sound, each production becomes a living classroom of creativity and teamwork.
With opportunities extending beyond the gates, music students perform at iconic venues across Adelaide, while Stage 1 Drama students devise original theatre works for the Flinders University Young Theatre Makers’ Award, winning in 2023 and achieving outstanding results since.
Sacred Heart’s commitment to the Performing Arts is unwavering, grounded in the belief that an education without the Arts is incomplete. Here, the Arts are lived, celebrated, and shaping the creative minds of future generations.
Sacred Heart College
Champagnat Campus (Years 7–9): 28 Percy Avenue, Mitchell Park
Marcellin Campus (Years 10–12): 195 Brighton Road, Somerton Park
shc.sa.edu.au
Creativity Matters More Than Ever
Walk into any art room, technology workshop, film studio, poetry group or game design session, and you’ll find more than tools of the trade. You’ll find ideas; big ones, tiny ones, weird ones, brilliant ones. The final product is only part of the story. Central to it all is a quest to understand what it means to be human.Right now, creativity matters more than ever.
We live in a world buzzing with automation and artificial intelligence: machines that can answer questions, clean floors, recognise faces, or even write stories. But machines can’t imagine. They can’t dream, innovate, or think in the wild ways young people do.
That’s why creativity is no longer just “nice to have”; it’s essential. The OECD’s global PISA assessment measured creative thinking in 15-year-olds for the first time. The results were a wake-up call: only about half of students could come up with original ideas when solving problems.
But there is good news for Australia. Ranked fourth-highest, our students are learning to imagine possibilities, be curious, and see problems differently. At Endeavour College, students are practising the thinking the future needs: problem-solving, experimenting, failing, trying again, and discovering something new.
They’re learning to think creatively. And the world needs that.
Endeavour College
85 Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes
endeavour.sa.edu.au
Discovering a Creative Voice
At Westminster, we believe creativity is an essential part of every child’s education. All Year 3 students begin this journey through our musical strings program, building strong foundations in music and performance from an early age.
Learning an instrument or participating in ensemble work is about more than performance. Research shows that early engagement in music supports brain development, strengthening neural pathways linked to memory, language and emotional regulation. These benefits extend well beyond the music room, enriching learning across all areas of school life.
Music and performance foster confidence, collaboration and creative problem solving. Early experiences create clear pathways into Senior School, where students can further develop their interests through curriculum and co-curricular opportunities in music, drama, dance and technical production. Many students continue into arts related pathways or draw on these skills across a wide range of professions.
The arts play an integral part in a well-rounded Westminster education. Guided by passionate and experienced staff and supported by exceptional facilities, students are nurtured from the beginning to grow as confident creative thinkers and well-rounded learners, prepared to contribute meaningfully within school and beyond.
Westminster School
1/23 Alison Ave, Marion
westminster.sa.edu.au
Igniting Creativity with Authors and Illustrators
Create Inspire Day at St Dominic’s Priory College invites Year 9 students to see themselves as writers, artists, illustrators, and storytellers. This dedicated day gives students the chance to immerse themselves in the world of story creation with a range of published authors and illustrators.
Through interactive workshops, students develop practical skills in crafting engaging narratives and creating characters that resonate with readers. They also discover how illustrations work alongside text to shape meaning, mood and audience connection. Across the day, presenters unpack the journey of a storybook from first idea through to publication, giving students a realistic understanding of the creative process.
The program encourages students to extend their creative abilities, ask thoughtful questions and experiment with new techniques. Learning directly from visiting professionals, they gain insight into the discipline, collaboration and imagination that sit behind every finished book. Create Inspire Day leaves students with fresh confidence in their own creative voice and a clearer sense of how stories can capture hearts and minds.
St Dominic’s Priory College
139 Molesworth Street, North Adelaide
stdominics.sa.edu.au
Creativity, Far From Soft!
“The term soft skill has never sat comfortably with me. The description ‘soft’ denotes skills that are less important, substandard, or second class. Yet, creativity is the main ingredient in shaping advancements and solving problems. In every high-impact industry, creativity is the engine that moves innovations from concept to breakthrough. Tech giants like Apple and Tesla didn’t succeed because they followed instructions; they succeeded because they redefined them. Creative thinking fuelled devices that changed how we live and vehicles that disrupted entire sectors. That isn’t softness, it’s strategic muscle!
Education cannot afford to treat creativity as optional. When subject choices and curriculum decisions are influenced by the outdated notion that creativity is sub-par, we limit how students learn and the skills they develop. In a fast-moving, opportunity-rich world, creativity is not a bonus trait; it must be core business. Harnessing creativity is essential for producing bold thinkers, effective leaders, and problem-solvers who can navigate complexity with confidence.
When we recognise how creativity drives growth, sharpens strategy, and enables new solutions, it belongs at the forefront of learning. Creativity isn’t a decorative extra. It’s a decisive advantage – practical, powerful, and essential for real progress.”
Kylie McCullah
Principal, Loreto College Marryatville
Loreto College
316 Portrush Road, Marryatville
loreto.sa.edu.au
Inspiring Young Artists and Creative Minds
Each year, Wilderness School welcomes a South Australian artist to lead its long-running Artist in Residence Program. The program gives girls from ELC to Year 12 the opportunity to learn directly from a practising creative and experience life as an artist.
In 2025, the program welcomed Tess Bartholomew, a local artist known for her expressive landscape paintings and imaginative use of colour. Across three weeks of hands-on workshops, students explored Tess’s artistic process in depth. They sketched ideas, experimented with composition, mixed colours and created vibrant paintings inspired by the natural world.
Drawing on their surroundings, the girls reimagined familiar landscapes through unexpected colour, texture and atmosphere. Each student produced a unique artwork connected to a place of personal significance. Along the way, technical skills were strengthened and creative confidence continued to grow.
The Artist in Residence Program reflects Wilderness School’s commitment to a holistic education that values curiosity, creativity and self-expression. In purpose-built learning spaces, including the Maker’s Space for younger students and the character-filled Senior School art studios, girls are encouraged to experiment, take risks and think like artists. Working closely with a practising artist also provides valuable insight into creative careers and the realities of professional artistic practice.
Wilderness School
30 Hawkers Road, Medindie SA 5081
wilderness.com.au
Compose with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
At the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, we believe creativity grows strongest when students are trusted with big ideas. Compose with ASO is a free program designed specifically for regional South Australian schools, giving students a rare opportunity to step into the world of orchestral composition.
Working alongside a professional composer, students collaborate as a class to create their own original orchestral work. They explore musical ideas, experiment with sound, and make creative decisions together, learning firsthand that composition is as much about listening and teamwork as it is about imagination.
The experience doesn’t stop on the page. Students then watch the ASO rehearse their piece via live stream, hearing their ideas brought to life by a full professional orchestra. With feedback from the musicians and composer, they refine and adjust their work, gaining insight into the creative process at a professional level.
The journey culminates with an unforgettable visit to Grainger Studio, where students hear their composition performed live alongside much-loved classical repertoire. Seeing a classroom’s shared idea transformed into living sound is powerful, and a reminder of what’s possible when young creative minds are given space to create fearlessly.
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Grainger Studio, 91 Hindley St, Adelaide
aso.com.au
Ethical Thinking on the Global Stage
At St Mary’s College, creative and ethical thinking is woven into everyday learning. From Junior School through to Senior years, students are encouraged to ask big questions, challenge assumptions and explore what fairness, justice and kindness look like in today’s world.
This culture shines through in the College’s success in the Ethics Olympiad, where students dive into real ethical dilemmas; think digital rights, youth curfews, celebrity culture and more. Weekly sessions and lunchtime discussions help them sharpen their reasoning, listen deeply and build thoughtful, respectful collaborations.
In 2025, St Mary’s reached an exciting milestone. After winning the South Australian State division, the Senior School team qualified for the International Ethics Olympiad in July, joining the other 52 finalists from across the globe for a full day of rigorous discussion and collaborative problem-solving.
Their result? 12th place internationally, and the highest-ranked school in South Australia.
But for St Mary’s, the result is only part of the story. The program reflects a learning community where curiosity is encouraged, big ideas are welcomed and young people are trusted to engage with complex issues. Ethical thinking is becoming an essential skill for future leaders, and St Mary’s College is proudly helping students build it from the very beginning.
St Mary’s College
253 Franklin St, Adelaide
stmarys.sa.edu.au
