Two Willetton Senior High School students have returned from Canberra with greater confidence and an even stronger interest in politics after representing Western Australia at the 31st Annual National Schools Constitutional Convention.
Year 12 students Jenna Bass and Wafa Talib were among just 15 students selected to represent WA at the convention, which brought together 120 students from across Australia at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Old Parliament House.
This year’s convention focused on whether Section 53 of the Australian Constitution should be amended to stop the Senate from blocking supply. Students heard from constitutional experts, took part in discussions and debates, and voted in a mock referendum. The result was included in a communiqué presented to Senate President Sue Lines.
Jenna said she was surprised and excited when she learned she had been selected.
“When I found out I had been selected to represent Western Australia I was honestly a bit shocked at first, and obviously very excited at the opportunity,” she said.
“As only 15 students from the state were selected to be a part of the WA delegation I was extremely proud to have been chosen.”
The pair first attended the Western Australian Constitutional Convention before applying for the national event.
Jenna and Wafa said one of the biggest lessons from the convention was realising there were many young people across Australia who shared their passion for Australia’s democracy.
“Coming from a public school, we were at first a bit intimidated by the prestige some of the students from private schools claimed, but we quickly came to realise that no matter who we were our voices all became equal when speaking up on the national stage,” they said.
One of the highlights was meeting Governor-General Sam Mostyn during an afternoon tea at Government House.
The students said they valued the opportunity to speak with the Governor-General, who encouraged them to pursue their ambitions and reminded them that attending a public school should never limit their confidence or aspirations.
Watching Question Time at Parliament House was another memorable experience.
“We spend so much time learning about it and other accountability mechanisms in class, so to see it in action was a very satisfying experience,” they said.
“We even got to see some MPs get sent out of the House for not following standing orders, so Question Time certainly lived up to its theatrical reputation.”
The trip also gave the students the chance to meet politicians and public leaders. The experience strengthened both students’ career goals.
Jenna said the convention confirmed her ambition to study law and international relations at university.
“It opened my eyes to the broad range of pathways within the Australian political system,” she said.
“It has given me the confidence to take on a career in politics and law.”
Wafa said meeting politicians and hearing about their different career journeys showed there was no single path into public service.
“It was eye-opening to hear about all the different pathways people took,” she said.
“This experience taught me that if you want to pursue politics in the future, following your passion will not box you in or limit your opportunities, but rather do the opposite.”
Politics and Law teacher Andrew Rollin, who coordinates the program at Willetton Senior High School, said having two students selected to represent Western Australia was a proud achievement for the school.
“It is a huge honour for the school,” he said.
“It shows the commitment and dedication of our students to be informed and active with regards to the world around them and to be willing to be involved in change.”
Mr Rollin said Jenna and Wafa stood out because they had a genuine interest in understanding the world around them and were willing to share their views while engaging respectfully with others.
He said the school encourages students to keep up with current affairs through classroom discussions, debates and opportunities such as visits to Parliament, the courts and educational trips to Sydney and Canberra.
Mr Rollin said programs such as the National Schools Constitutional Convention helped young people see they could make a difference.
“It shows how individual people can be active and help shape the society they live in,” he said.
Mr Rollin said Jenna had continued to demonstrate leadership as a Year 12 school counsellor, creating opportunities for other students in her year group.
He encouraged other students with an interest in politics and law to apply for the convention in future.
“Go for it,” he said. “It is a wonderful opportunity to help raise vital issues that shape the way our country is run. It also helps develop subject knowledge and understanding along with developing skills that are vital to the subject.”
Jenna and Wafa said they would encourage other Willetton Senior High School Politics and Law students to attend the State Convention and apply for the national program. They described it as a unique opportunity to build their knowledge, meet like-minded students from across Australia and gain a better understanding of the country’s political and legal system.
