Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to read out a statement on behalf of an Indigenous work experience student I hosted this week. It reads:

My name is Carly-Jade Chesterfield; I’m 16 years old and currently go to Airds High School. My favourite subjects at school are Biology and Community and Family Studies. I wanted to be a part of the Learn Earn Legends program to get a different perspective of the political parties and a better understanding of the decision making process.

The experience has been a huge opportunity to meet new people such as my parliamentarian Rob Mitchell and his media officer, Jinane Bou-Assi, along with two journalists, Richard Willingham from the Age, and Matt Johnson from the Herald Sun. I have also met with Jim Chalmers who is Chief of Staff to the Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister, who gives advice to Wayne Swan. I also met the media adviser, Adam Collins. By meeting those people it has given me a taste of what they do in their fields, it has also given me more self confidence with meeting new people.

Hopefully at the end of the program I will get a better understanding of the political procedures along with real life hands-on experience. Another thing I will get out of this program will be exploring the different opportunities that are offered within the political field.

So far in the Learn Earn Legends program I have seen the structure of the House of Representatives, also I have learnt about the differences of the political parties.

It was a great opportunity and feeling when I got to see the Prime Minister Julia Gillard walk into the chamber before she introduced the carbon price bill. Personally seeing Julia Gillard was one of the best experiences I have been part of and I think will never forget the time spent in the Parliament House with the amazing people I have seen and met during the time spent here.

It was a great privilege to have the opportunity to host this young intelligent person in our office. I wish Carly very well for the future. She has a very bright future ahead of her.