Held for the first time last year, the congress was a success with pupils across the area creating activities to raise money for Peter’s Project.

Woolsthorpe, Koroit and District, St Patrick’s Koroit and Port Fairy, Hawkesdale P-12 College and Port Fairy Consolidated schools will all take part in the congress.

They will be among 28 schools across Moyne Shire and the Warrnambool region which will attend the event on February 27 at Deakin University.

“We are excited to be hosting this localised event and believe it is unique in Victoria, maybe Australia, involving a cross-sector partnership between schools, local council, Deakin, business and industry,” Mr Perry said.

“The Warrnambool Network of Government Schools are proud to be leading this project as we strive to provide a high-quality, relevant and challenging educational experiences for all our students.”

The Moyne Shire Council will join with Warrnambool City Council and the Department of Education as partners in bringing the congress to life.

Organisers are now working hard to find business support for the event which costs about $10,000.

Mr Perry said the aim of this year’s congress was to build the capacity of student leaders within local schools to become leaders in their communities.

“The aim is to foster and build localised partnerships between schools, business and other educational services.

“Students will host their own local student leaders’ workshops and events and implement real-life projects back at their schools.”

The congress will see pupils from each school take on a project and carry it out back in their school and community.