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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-03 Daily Xml
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KIDS TEACHING KIDS CONFERENCE

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:44): My question is to the Minister for Water. Can the minister advise the house about the initiative which the government is supporting to inspire future environmental leaders and increase the awareness of young South Australians about natural environments, river systems, resources and Indigenous cultures?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (15:45): I thank the member for Reynell for her question and certainly acknowledge her keen interest in all matters that relate to the education and advancement of young South Australians. I am delighted to announce that the government has been successful in its bid for Adelaide to host a major international youth water conference this year.

The international Kids Teaching Kids conference will help young South Australians to enhance their confidence and to connect better with the environment by providing them with the chance to learn more about sustainable uses of river, land, coastal and terrestrial environments. I anticipate that the conference will inspire our future environmental leaders.

The 2011 conference will be held in Adelaide at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 23 to 25 October, with the state government providing sponsorship support of $50,000. More than 650 students and teachers from across Australia and overseas will attend the conference, including 150 students from South Australia. An additional 1,500 free places will be made available to South Australian schools to attend the official opening session and expert panel 'game show', which will focus on river health and climate change.

The benefits of Adelaide hosting this conference are significant. Not only will it enable South Australian students to forge contacts with others from across the world but it will also offer opportunities for South Australia to showcase itself as an environmental leader. The conference also complements the government's work in ensuring that we maintain sufficient and sustainable water supplies in South Australia in order to meet our health, economic, environmental and lifestyle requirements.

The government's sponsorship of the conference aligns with objectives in our state's Strategic Plan relating to growing prosperity, attaining sustainability and expanding opportunity, as well as a number of actions identified in Water for Good, including increasing awareness of water issues, expanding water education and developing resources for primary and middle school students.

This conference is the flagship international version of the Australian Kids Teaching Kids program, which aims to inspire future environmental leaders by increasing awareness and knowledge about their natural environments, river systems, our resources and, indeed, our Indigenous cultures. The South Australian government was a major sponsor in the 2010 Kids Teaching Kids conference in Adelaide and has supported this event in various ways for more than a decade.

I am told that the Australian conference is rated very highly within the South Australian education sector, and I expect our state's reputation for smart water management will be boosted on a local, national and international scale by hosting this prestigious event.

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