Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Universal education is the pillar upon which society rests. I recently visited two exceptional government schools in the suburb of Cranbourne in my electorate, Cranbourne Secondary College and Courtenay Gardens Primary School. During both visits, I was fortunate to satisfy the curiosity of the students in learning about my new role. Their enthusiasm to know more about our lawmaking processes and the government's plan to deliver a better future for them and their families was incredible. As long as we have pupils passionate about understanding how policymaking affects all of us, our country's future is in good hands.

Among my favourite parts of these visits was speaking to English-as-a-second-language students at Cranbourne Secondary College. As a former ESL student, I know the difficulty of learning a new language in a new country. But their fluency in English made it seem like a breeze.

I commend the teachers and student leaders of Cranbourne Secondary College and Courtenay Gardens Primary School for encouraging such a positive atmosphere. I thank the principals, David Caughey and Marc de Ley, for inviting me.