Youth Parliament
During the July school holidays, Lincoln
Aspinall (11He) attended the Western
Australian Youth Parliament, which is a
program that places young people in the
roles of Youth Members of Parliament,
guiding them to work with peers and
their communities to develop a piece of
Youth Legislation. The Legislation that the
students create is then debated by the
Youth Parliament at the Western Australian
Parliament House. The program provides
a great personal development opportunity
for young people who are interested in
youth issues, politics, policy, debating and/
or advocacy.
Lincoln first participated in the Youth
Parliament when he was in Year 10 last
year. He was encouraged to sign up for the
program by his Politics and Law teacher,
Mr Graham, because it would combine
his interests in politics, law, debating and
having a say on issues that are relevant to
society. Lincoln chose to participate in the
Youth Parliament again this year because
he enjoys the negotiation, working in group
situations, building on his public speaking
skills and the opportunity to get better in
the field and gain more experience.
Each student who participates in the
Youth Parliament is assigned to a specific
committee which meets over a two
month period to debate, create and pass
a Bill. After attending a training day,
introductions and voting for parliamentary
positions, Lincoln was voted in as the
Member for Bassendean and was a part of
the Community Development committee.
His committee worked on reducing drug
use in the community and providing an
environment for drug users where there is
reduced stigma and resources available for
rehabilitation, counselling and information.
A wide range of topics were debated during
the Youth Parliament and related to modern
issues that face society today including: drug
use, female equality in organisational pay
rates and environmental pedestrian safety.
Lincoln has found his participation in the
Youth Parliament for the last two years a
very beneficial experience and because the
program is only available to students for
two years, he is keen to take up a role as
a volunteer task manager for the Youth
Parliament next year. As well as participating
in the Youth Parliament, Lincoln is actively
involved in the United Nations Youth
Programs as well as an upcoming British
Parliamentary Debate Competition next
month. All of this has deepened Lincoln’s
interest in the subject of Politics and Law
and has enriched his ambitions for studying
politics, international processes and law at
university when he finishes school.
The Prefect Sleep-out
Cold, hungry, pillow-less, only relying on the warmth of a sleeping bag
and one another, the Prefects faced the many toils, snares, dangers and
mysteries of the outside world, away from the comfort and safety of our
own homes. On a Tuesday night after a day at school, the Prefects didn’t
return home to the safety of their own homes. Rather we gave up the
everyday luxuries we take for granted, such as a bed to sleep in with a
roof over our heads, and we put ourselves in the shoes of the homeless,
in order to raise awareness for those less fortunate than ourselves.
The night was certainly interesting and we could see how it would
be challenging for those experiencing this on a daily basis, facing the
uncertainties of what the night or even the next day might hold.
Although homelessness is often talked about as an issue in society,
experiencing it first-hand gave us a whole new perspective and the
Prefects hope that through our experience, we were able to raise
awareness not only in the Guildford Grammar School community, but
also the much wider community.
2014 Prefects
20
Jack Kalotas and Paul Harcus.