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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-02-15 Daily Xml
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East Para Primary School

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:12): On Thursday 9 February, I had the pleasure of showing Parliament House to a group of students from East Para Primary School, led by their teacher, assistant principal, Mr Aaron McPherson. I met ministers Ryan Trandafil, Emmy Murphy, Amy Mykytyschyn, Howra Alyasiri, Taylor Baker, Paige Del Vescovo, Chloe Hutchens and Jenny Sanchez. They spent part of their morning with me looking around this place, where we have the honour of representing our communities. This is not the first time I have had the pleasure of mentioning East Para Primary School, for they are champions in their Australian International Pedal Prix class, another wonderful achievement of this exceptional local public school.

At the end of last year, students at the school, prospective 2017 school captains, delivered their speeches to the staff and students of their respective houses. All the candidates, I am told, did an amazing job and represented themselves with confidence and pride. All the students then voted and, as in previous years, the captains were announced at the first assembly this year.

Last year's year 6s had another student leadership opportunity through the children's parliament model of student government. The nominated year 6s wrote their applications for the role of minister within this model.

There are eight ministers at East Para Primary School to lead the eight ministries, providing support and leading improvements across the school community. This model of student governance links very well with the civics and citizenship topic in the Australian curriculum. The only other school I know where this model is in place is Alberton Primary School, where I am reliably informed the Premier's own daughters attend. Alberton has experienced great success in building a student voice within their community with this model.

At East Para Primary School, the idea is to help make decisions that will benefit the school community. They tell me their visit to Parliament House and the information we shared gave them a better understanding of the processes involved in decision-making within a democratic society and community. This is an important concept, especially for me, one that drives me to continue to energetically represent my constituents. They also said something that resonated with all of them was when we spoke about the role of an MP—that it was to listen to and value everyone's ideas and contributions and that negotiation and compromise are integral to equitable decision-making.

This is particularly relevant to me lately, because my voice—that of a kindy mum who became a community activist and eventually an MP—is only one of the 69 who make laws in South Australia. It is diversity, not only in the origin of candidates, that makes our democracy robust and relevant to people. Imagine if only one professional point of view dominated here, or if, by whatever means, one, or two, or a minority of people, for instance, managed to control policy outcomes or candidate selection.

The East Para Primary School group understood the importance of this concept and the trust that has been placed in them. They said they know their positions are ones of responsibility and that by representing their classes and fellow students with integrity, they know they will gain respect. As they begin their journeys as ministers, they are very excited about what they can achieve—something that I know real ministers must surely feel when they have that opportunity. One can only hope their experience will hold them in good stead and that the compromises they may have to make will not see them have to move too far from their beliefs or values as they learn valuable lessons in life.

I commend Mr McPherson and the staff of East Para Primary School for providing this rich and nurturing learning environment and wish the student ministers the very best for their year of service.

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