Students from Hoppers Crossing Secondary College will take over Parliament in June.
A group of six students from years 10-12 will join about 100 other young people from across Victoria for the annual Youth Parliament event, which gives participants insights into how Parliament works.
Students will spend three days raising bills and debating issues that are important to them, with their final bills passed on to MPs for real consideration.
Year 12 student Jasmine, who is taking part in Youth Parliament for the second time, said the event was important because it gave young people a voice.
“We have to draft our own legislation and table it in Parliament House, so it is a chance for us to say what we want to see in the future,” she said.
“It is important for young people to have a say in what happens.
“Politicians will do what they want, when they want and how they want,” she said.
Fellow returning youth parliamentarian Toby said Youth Parliament also helped students to understand legislative processes. He says he feels it’s important to know what is going on with the government.
Prior to Youth Parliament, the students will attend a training weekend covering as relationship building, teamwork, public speaking and leadership.
Teacher Chloe Taylor said she was pleased Hoppers Crossing students had the chance to take part.
“I see it as imperative that this group of students from this school and this region get given a voice,” she said. “It’s a voice that needs to be heard. This is a large region of growth and it has different issues to other regions.”
