Law and Politics Week

For our first round of Law and Politics week, we had the privilege of having Sophie Wade and Liddy Clark as our guest speakers. Sophie Wade is currently the Nicholas Ward Councillor and the current Mayor of South Yarra. It was helpful to gain her insights into public life, especially as she works in an area very familiar to our school and students. Liddy Clark was a former Australian politician with the Labor Party in the Queensland Legislature who held the seat of Clayfield. It was amazing hearing her experiences in parliament and how women are represented and treated in government. Both speakers helped share ways, we as the new generation, can become more involved in government today.  

For our second round of speakers, we welcomed Monique Ryan and John Pesutto. Monique Ryan is the independent member for Kooyong, before she became a politician, she was the Director of Neurology at the Royal Children’s Hospital. John Pesutto is the Liberal candidate for Hawthorn in the next Victorian election. From 2014 to 2018, John was the Member for Hawthorn and Shadow Attorney General in the Victorian Parliament.  It was great to hear these two speakers’ experience in both Federal and State parliament and their views on the recent election.  

All the speakers answered student questions such as ‘What is one thing you would change about the current government or coalition?’ or ‘ What would you like the Australian government to be/look like 20 years from now?’, providing very forward-thinking answers.  

After the Q&A, students had the opportunity to ask their own questions on what topics and issues interested them. This opportunity allowed us as students to better understand our rights, our voice, and how to engage in current issues as young people and future voters!  

Humanities Captains 2022

Arwa Sharma, Talia Meiri, Phoebe Woolcock, Eloise Brown