- About Us
- Our School
- Enrolment
- Faith & Service
- Learning
- Co-Curriculum
- Our Community
- Portal
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Article by Georgia Neicho
Hello,
If you are unaware of who I am, my name is Georgia Neicho and I'm one of the Year 12's at this school. Recently I've been given the opportunity to take part in the Youth Parliament program, being part of the team for Geelong. This program has run for 40's and teaches young people about how Victoria’s law-making system works, providing participants with the opportunity to prepare, debate and potentially pass bills that may eventually become law. It's an opportunity for young people to have a voice in the changes of our state, a voice that otherwise wouldn't be heard.
Every 2-3 weeks a group for 5 people between the ages of 16-25, which includes myself, meets. We look at issues in the state law that we think needs improvement and brainstorm ideas on how we could make it better. As a group we have decided to review swim safety legislation in Victoria, finding that the government isn't doing as much as we believe they should.
In July we as a team we'll present the bill we create regarding swim safety to another team from a different region and will then debate the bill. The team which we are paired with will then do the same. This will continue for a week until all teams which take part in this program have debated a bill and had their bill debated.
In this program more than 60 pieces of Victorian legislation have been developed from successful Youth Parliament bills, including laws about roadside drug testing, container deposit scheme (cash-for-cans/bottles), mandatory bicycle helmets and nightclub safety reform.
During this program we had the chance to meet member for Bellarine Alison Marchant to help get advice on writing and presenting a bill. Meeting her was lovely as she answered each of our questions and helped ease our nerves by noting that the worry we feel now is the worry she feels when she's speaking in parliament. She then provided us with tips and tricks we could use in July.
If you're wanting the chance to help make a change look at the YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament page and learn how you can get involved.
Feature
Events
Our News // 06 June 2025
Article by Georgia Neicho
Hello,
If you are unaware of who I am, my name is Georgia Neicho and I'm one of the Year 12's at this school. Recently I've been given the opportunity to take part in the Youth Parliament program, being part of the team for Geelong. This program has run for 40's and teaches young people about how Victoria’s law-making system works, providing participants with the opportunity to prepare, debate and potentially pass bills that may eventually become law. It's an opportunity for young people to have a voice in the changes of our state, a voice that otherwise wouldn't be heard.
Every 2-3 weeks a group for 5 people between the ages of 16-25, which includes myself, meets. We look at issues in the state law that we think needs improvement and brainstorm ideas on how we could make it better. As a group we have decided to review swim safety legislation in Victoria, finding that the government isn't doing as much as we believe they should.
In July we as a team we'll present the bill we create regarding swim safety to another team from a different region and will then debate the bill. The team which we are paired with will then do the same. This will continue for a week until all teams which take part in this program have debated a bill and had their bill debated.
In this program more than 60 pieces of Victorian legislation have been developed from successful Youth Parliament bills, including laws about roadside drug testing, container deposit scheme (cash-for-cans/bottles), mandatory bicycle helmets and nightclub safety reform.
During this program we had the chance to meet member for Bellarine Alison Marchant to help get advice on writing and presenting a bill. Meeting her was lovely as she answered each of our questions and helped ease our nerves by noting that the worry we feel now is the worry she feels when she's speaking in parliament. She then provided us with tips and tricks we could use in July.
If you're wanting the chance to help make a change look at the YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament page and learn how you can get involved.
