Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week I was privileged to attend a number of year 12 farewells and presentations in the electorate. I was overwhelmed by the quality and the achievements of the young people who were present at these presentation nights. Each year, I award a prize at most of these schools, and the prize generally is for citizenship. This year at Whitebridge High School Shanara Stanek won the prize for citizenship. At Swansea High School it was Peter Wilson. At Hunter Sports High School it was Danielle Reading, and at Northlakes High School it was Luke James. Belmont High School was a little bit different. At Belmont High I give an award for science and technology, and that was won by Jed Dunning. Walvis Bay and Lake Munmorah also had presentations during the week and similarly demonstrated the achievements of their students.

It is phenomenal that we have young people finishing 13 years of education and going out into the workforce, into study, having achieved so much and having so much to offer our Australian community. We need to embrace them. We need to provide them with every opportunity possible so they can move from school to work and along the way develop the qualifications they need.

See this speech in context