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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 4 Hansard (11 April) . . Page.. 1046 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

I attended the first student network meeting for this year and was impressed with the range of knowledge and confidence of these young people. I again appreciate and value the input they have made. Their unique perspective on their own schools and schools across the system is useful to the government in its policy-making.

Another way we publicly recognise young people is by holding a public ceremony for year 12 students and their families at the end of each school year. We recognise at this ceremony those students who have achieved excellence in academic results as well as young people who have been chosen by their schools to be recognised for their achievements in service to the community, vocational studies and the performing or visual arts.

The government seeks to recognise the role of young people in our community in a variety of ways. In May students will be participating in the Student Participation Active Citizenship Conference at Parliament House as part of the ACT Discovery Democracy program. In March they also hosted a dinner for young people from all over Australia who were attending the 2002 National Schools Constitutional Convention. The confidence and knowledge of these young people would impress all members in this place and make a few of us worry about our future prospects.

Later this year the Legislative Assembly, in cooperation with my department, will be hosting the ACT Schools Constitutional Convention. ACT representatives to the 2003 National Schools Constitutional Convention will be selected at this meeting.

These are just some of the events that demonstrate our continuing commitment to youth, and importantly the promotion and encouragement of the values of civics and citizenship.

As well as supporting and recognising all these young people, funding support is available to language other than English students in the ACT for overseas school excursions. The participation of students on these excursions promotes useful intercultural learning and provides insights into other cultures.

Another very good example of how we value and recognise young people in Canberra is in the year 9 exhibitions program that is a key part of the new generation high schools project. Students are engaged in real-life research, which promotes learning and increases students' self-esteem. The year 9 exhibitions program values young people through:

• units of work that are built around the issues that are confronting and interesting to them;
• units that recognise and encourage diversity among the student body in ways of learning, interests, expertise and values; and
• development of roundtables where students are able in a public forum to demonstrate and celebrate their skills.

Some of the units from last year were a group house looking at lifestyle choices and their impact; volunteer work in a community with a disability; researching salinity in the environment; and researching nutrition and youth lifestyles.

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