Those aged 18-25 that are interested in how Australia is governed still have time to apply to join the Wyndham Youth Civic Participation Project.
Designed for Wyndham’s aspiring lawyers and policy makers, the program will include a three-day trip to Canberra in September and experience the workings of the local and state governments.
In Canberra, participants will get to visit Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the High Court of Australia and the Australian War Museum.
Following that, they can spend a full day at Parliament House Victoria and visit Wyndham council.
Participants will have the opportunity to speak with councillors, senior public servants and council staff about their responsibilities.
Hoppers Crossing law student Maddison Roberts-Castano, 19, went along last year and is urging other young people to give it a shot.
“It was one of the best programs I’ve ever done and I feel like the main thing I took away from it was just a good sense of what it’s like to actually be around politics,” Ms Roberts-Castano said.
“Meeting with [Lalor MP] Joanne Ryan was my favourite part of the experience as she is one of my heroes.”
For Ms Roberts-Castano, seeing democracy in an action is an important step in participating in it.
“Young people have a choice of who is actually there in Canberra, so it would be better to make an informed decision rather than a random decision and not be happy with the results,” she said.
Applications will close on Monday, May 26.
Details: tinyurl.com/y33em3yd
