Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Ella GEORGE (Lara) (13:30): Last week I met with some of the brightest young students in the Lara electorate who are taking part in a youth advocacy program. At Northern Bay College I met with Khan Qasimi, Besmillah Haidari, Muhammad Habib, Dilraj Singh, Ehler Yar, Shukria Husseini, Zeinab Husseini, Sataish Ismail, Nyedholi Luak, Abdullah Junaid and Abdul Aziz. These students pitched their ideas about how to reduce drug and alcohol harm in our community and also the importance of making community sport accessible for all families, including those who cannot afford expensive fees.

At North Geelong Secondary College I met with Chloe Sumayang, Da Eh Ku Wahku, Donat Bienfait, Ibrahim Mayondo, Origen Reeyar Gyi, Halima Shee, Suhail Jamshidi, Teemoo Ji, Faisal Haidari, Elizabeth Elizabeth, Nargis Hassani, Anna Beh, Ku Moh and Ehp’saw Dahdait. Students there also pitched ideas about community sport, including the need for more sporting facilities that support a wider range of sports, and ideas about how to improve access to mental health support for young people, particularly people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

These incredible students are all studying English as an additional language and many are from refugee backgrounds. The students all have their own story about their journey to Australia, the challenges they faced and the challenges they have overcome. They are proud of their journeys and their achievements. I am so immensely proud of them and the contribution they are making to their schools. A big thank you to Nestor Estampa from CatholicCare, who leads this program.