Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Youth) Share this | Hansard source

I've been visiting schools in Moncrieff to present students with leadership certificates and engage in very rich discussion about what leadership is and means. The electorate of Moncrieff, the heart of the Gold Coast, is home to 33 schools, almost half of which I've already had the privilege to visit this year. When visiting schools, I present each of the leaders with their congratulatory leadership certificates.

I've been delighted to sit down with senior class cohorts to discuss all things leadership and goal setting, along with of course their aspirations for life after school. Our young people continue to inspire me, and all students have presented informed questions about Canberra, my role as their federal member and leadership more broadly, and it's been a pleasure to answer their questions, any questions; be present in their lives; and share more information on Australia's democratic process.

The school leaders, be they year 6 or year 12 students, are very inquisitive, and our interactions are very candid. Not much is off limits for young people, and many students also ask about my favourite part of the job, which for me is a very easy answer—that is, being here with you, the students—the future—and the Gold Coast community. Thank you to all the schools that have hosted me so far this term. I'll just list a few: Merrimac State High School, Southport State School and Southport State High School, Bellevue Park State School, the Southport School, St Michael's College, Broadbeach State School, Worongary State School, St Kevin's Catholic School, Benowa State School and Benowa State High School, William Duncan State School and Nerang State High School. They're just some of the schools in Moncrieff.

Young people, especially, cannot be what they cannot see, and the examples that we set are the showcase for the leadership skills of the future. I really enjoy interacting with my schools and the young people of Moncrieff. We've also spoken in depth about the ABCs of life—that is, the attitudes that affect your behaviour. And your behaviour of course affects the consequences.

I am thrilled and proud about the IMPACT Gold Coast Youth Summit, and I'll have more to say about that as we roll into our fourth one this year. The Sea World Foundation is the big sponsor of the Gold Coast youth impact summit, bringing together over 220 young people to inspire them, uplift them, give them new opportunities and make sure that they have great aspirations for the future.

To all the young people across Moncrieff: you really do make me proud to be your federal member, and I wish you all the best, across all of the 33 schools on the central Gold Coast. You are the heart of the Gold Coast. You are in my heart, and I hope that I'm in yours.

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