CELEBRATING FIRST NATIONS CULTURE 

If I Were Prime Minister for the Day

Two of our students, studying on scholarships from the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF), entered a video speech competition titled, “If I were Prime Minister..." in Term 4 last year

Zeljko Warrior in Year 9 and JJ Parsgaard in Year 10, joined other AIEF students from all over Australia who entered the competition. Unfortunately, neither of our entrants won, they were, however, deemed by the competition judging panel as "highly commended finalists". As a result, Zeljko and JJ will travel to Canberra at the end of this term to celebrate AIEF: 15 Years of Impact. It will be their first visit to the national capital. Joining us there will be Kirtisha Foster, a Year 11 student from St Monica’s College, who was also "highly commended".

The event in Canberra is a celebration of the more than 1200 young Indigenous Australians who have received a quality education through the generosity of the AIEF Scholarship. Politicians from across the political spectrum will attend the event.

For links to their video recordings, send a request to me at bcarswell@cns.catholic.edu.au, and you can read a transcript of their speeches by clicking below:

The two competition winners were Aroha Richardson, a boarder from Groote Eylandt  in Year 10 at St Monica’s College, and Reuben Simpson from Marist College Ashgrove, Brisbane. Both students travelled to Canberra and met the PM and other members of parliament. Congratulations to both on excellent speeches.

Here is a LINK to an article in The Australian newspaper.

Here is a LINK to an interview about the great opportunity with Kieran Gilbert on Sky News Australia. 

Congratulations to all the students for their amazing and courageous effort in entering this competition. It is not easy articulating your thoughts, giving a speech and talking in front of a camera. Thank you to their teachers for supporting them and thanks to our TV and Film Department for the camera equipment.

Saints has been in partnership with AIEF since 2011 and we are grateful for the support that the foundation has extended to our college, its students and their families. AIEF has supported over 40 full-time Indigenous boarding students to Year 12 graduation in this time.