Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This week I had the honour of welcoming not one but two representatives from my electorate who have been selected to attend the National Indigenous Youth Parliament. They are 19-year-old Ashleigh Darrie from Encounter Bay and 20-year-old Kaitlin Purcell from Strathalbyn. Ashleigh and Kaitlin are among 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who have been selected by the Australian Electoral Commission for this week-long leadership program.

Kaitlin is an Indigenous trainee with SA Police, and she is looking forward to becoming a community constable. Kaitlin is also very passionate about AFL, both playing and coaching many of the women's teams.

I met Ashleigh in January when she collected the Young Citizen of the Year award at the Victor Harbour Australia Day celebrations. Ashleigh started as a trainee with the Alexandrina Council under a youth program aimed at tackling regional unemployment. She quickly became a role model in the program, mentoring and inducting other trainees.

Both young women are exceptional young leaders in our community, and I am so very proud to welcome Ashleigh and Kaitlin to Canberra. I know you both will learn so much over this next week, and I know you will make our Mayo community very, very proud. My congratulations to both of the young women.