Numbers

“What is contained in this letter is the number of my
psychology study score [it] shows the effort that i have put in to achieve.”

“This number impacts my ATAR which is the so-called
determinant number that allows to me get into the course I want, to finally
study or do something that I am truly passionate about that isn’t just filler
subjects to just fill the requirement.”

“Children/students these days do truly worry about these
numbers … teachers want you to do the best that you can … but when we are so
fixated on these numbers and so worried about them do we really peak or do the
best?”

Photographer: Sahnly Phan ChanThis
photograph featured in the Youth Booth
exhibition showcasing the work of 10 Victorian young people produced over the
2019-2020 Australian summer. Their work captures their collective experience:
being digitally savvy, the stress of study, influence of social media, climate
change and the impact of poor mental health. These perspectives, along with our
video series produced alongside this, allow us to see the complex situations
that impact the youth experience of education.

For
schools, teachers, parents and policy-makers it highlights the importance of
listening and collaboration with young people, particularly when developing
policies and implementing practice to build more inclusive communities. For
researchers, we hope this exhibition highlights one way to use participatory
visual research methods to support and strengthen the voice of youth.

The
exhibition adopts a rights-based perspective which emphasises the importance
not only of listening to youth, but actively and authentically collaborating on
matters that directly affect them.

The
study was conducted by researchers Dr Christine Grove and Louisa Trainer in
2019-2020 at Monash University and is funded by the Monash Education Small
Grant Award.This
photograph featured in the Youth Booth
exhibition showcasing the work of 10 Victorian young people produced over the
2019-2020 Australian summer. Their work captures their collective experience:
being digitally savvy, the stress of study, influence of social media, climate
change and the impact of poor mental health. These perspectives, along with our
video series produced alongside this, allow us to see the complex situations
that impact the youth experience of education.

For
schools, teachers, parents and policy-makers it highlights the importance of
listening and collaboration with young people, particularly when developing
policies and implementing practice to build more inclusive communities. For
researchers, we hope this exhibition highlights one way to use participatory
visual research methods to support and strengthen the voice of youth.

The
exhibition adopts a rights-based perspective which emphasises the importance
not only of listening to youth, but actively and authentically collaborating on
matters that directly affect them.

The
study was conducted by researchers Dr Christine Grove and Louisa Trainer in
2019-2020 at Monash University and is funded by the Monash Education Small
Grant Award.