Alumni Spotlight

Firstly, thank you for inviting me to contribute to this latest Preshil Alumni Newsletter in such a special year as we celebrate Preshil’s 90th Anniversary.

I recently graduated at the end of 2022, having been at Preshil for a little over 16 years, from 3 year old kinder to year 12. I have now just completed my first year of university at the University of Canberra where I am undertaking a double degree studying a Bachelor of Politics and International Relations, majoring in government and policy and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Culture and Heritage.

Preshil has been many things for me but one thing I value is the courage it gave me to follow my passions and believe in myself but also to take the time to listen and care for others. During my time at Preshil I had the privilege to be part of many community service opportunities including being a member of the National Gallery of Victoria Teen Council, The Heide Youth Advisory Council and a member of the Victorian Youth Parliament team.

Since graduating I have had the opportunity to speak about my experiences in the Youth Parliament at the Rural Youth Ambassadors Program and more recently gave a speech to the Canberra Rotary Club about my vision for a Federal Youth Parliament. I’ll write more about that a bit further on. I am also currently a member of the United States Embassy’s Youth Advisory Council.

Earlier this year in May I was given the honour and the privilege to have been elected as the 37th Deputy Youth Premier of Victoria as part of my third year in the Victorian Youth Parliament. This is a position which I will proudly hold until May next year 2024, where I will reach my term limit of three years as a Member. In time-limited roles such as these it’s critical to do as much good as possible in such a short period of time. And I am very proud to say we have done that. Over the last 37 Years, 60+ Bills have been passed into Legislation in Victoria which were drafted by the Victorian Youth Parliament. Examples of some such Bills include:

▪    Roadside Drug Testing for Drivers

▪    Mandatory Wearing of a bicycle helmet 

▪    Gun reformation laws, and

▪    Removal of glass from identified high-risk entertainment venues

Youth Parliament is a non-partisan program. Parties of any form have no influence of what happens in Youth Parliament and the Bills are drafted by young people ages 16-25 through stakeholder engagement meetings and discussions with young people in their communities.

This year the Victorian Youth Parliament has passed 20 state-changing Bills including:

Food Waste Awareness and Reduction Bill: This Bill was introduced for the environmental and social welfare of Victorians and aims to resolve systemic issues. In doing so, it will uphold the basic human right to adequate food, as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Textbook Reform in Secondary Schools Bill: This Bill was created to address the financial challenges faced by thousands of Victorian students and families when purchasing school textbooks.Increased Access to Living in Regional Victoria Bill which strives to create a sense of community among regional Victorians through increased opportunities for connection in regional and rural areas, as well as more access to stable housing, public transport, education opportunities and basic local support.

Disability Inclusion in Victorian Secondary Schools Bill: This Bill legislates the introduction of mandatory disability education for students and teachers. This is for the purpose of ensuring a greater understanding and appreciation of those who are living with a disability and what disability means in an educational and societal setting.

Limitation of Gambling Advertising in Victoria Bill: This Bill establishes limitations on gambling advertising through the establishment of the Gambling Advertising Board (GAB), which shall address the problematic nature of gambling by Victorians.

And that’s just naming some of our state-changing Bills passed this year. You can read more about these here on the YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament website.

Our Youth Premier, Kano Ravalji and I handed these Bills alongside the Youth Governor, Miora Trainer to Matthew Hilakari MP who was representing the Victorian Minister for Youth. We also presented Opposition Leader, John Pesutto MP copies of our Bills. We look forward to seeing these Bills implemented in some form over the coming years.

We are greatly appreciative of the Victorian Government’s commitment to the Victorian Youth Parliament with their $600,000 support over the next 4 years which came with bipartisan support.

The Youth Parliaments in the states and territories allow young people not only to have their voices heard at the highest levels of government but to present to our governments, Legislation made by young people between the ages of 16 to 25. The State Youth Parliaments are proven to work, as a non-partisan program which gets results.

Currently I am heavily advocating for a Federal Youth Parliament and this year I have been meeting with many Members of Federal Parliament to not only gain their support of the Federal Youth Parliament but also to make them aware that the Youth Parliaments exist. Because while the State Members are well aware of the work that the Youth Parliaments do. The majority of Federal Members are not. The majority were very receptive of the idea and were very happy to support it.

Imagine if young people were given the opportunity to present their Bill proposals Federally. The State Governments have proven that they are willing to listen and read the state Youth Parliaments’-proposals I think it’s finally time for us to do the same Federally.

I believe that it is beneficial for the Youth Members to become more actively engaged in the communities they represent. By having listening posts, going to schools and youth organisations and community groups to discuss what matters most to them.

Simulating the government ministries would provide young people with hands-on, practical experience in various fields such as finance, healthcare, education, and social services. This exposure helps them understand the inner workings of these sectors, giving them a realistic preview of potential career paths. It also helps young people understand the interconnectedness of various sectors. They learn how policies and decisions in one ministry can impact others.

Engaging in these scenarios hones critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills are invaluable in any career and empower young people to approach challenges methodically, a skill transferable in various occupations. Young people get a chance to explore unfamiliar roles and responsibilities in a controlled environment. This experience boosts their confidence in their ability to handle diverse job roles. In summary, simulating different government ministries for young people provides them with a multifaceted learning experience that not only prepares them for potential careers but also equips them with essential life skills and a broader understanding of the world around them.

Now that I have done the groundwork for the Federal Youth Parliament I have presented my meeting notes and discussions to the YMCA, I would like to point out that the idea of a Federal Youth Parliament is not a new one.

A common question I get asked regularly is “Shouldn’t our Members of Parliament already be representing the interests of young Australians?” And my answer to that is absolutely. I believe, generally speaking, the majority of members offices are open and would be happy to speak with young people. But that is not the purpose of Youth Parliament.

The Formation of a Federal Youth Parliament would ensure there is an opportunity for young people all around Australia to come together to raise concerns, share their perspective and have important issues they are experiencing represented to our key decision makers. Rather than just the opportunity to submit speeches through competitions like ‘My First Speech’ and ‘Raise our voices campaign’, a Federal Youth Parliament would further foster our youth being engaged in and learning about the parliamentary processes from a State level to a Federal level.

Youth Parliament fosters civic engagement by encouraging young people to actively participate in the democratic process. Understanding how government policies are formulated and implemented inspires them to engage in discussions. It is important that young people know how the system works, have opportunities to present to government and collaborate with future leaders of today and tomorrow.

Angelo von Möller

Preshil Alum

If you know of any members of our Alumni community that you feel we should shine our spotlight on, please let us know - alumni@preshil.vic.edu.au