Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to congratulate all the students who participated in the Raise Our Voice in Parliament initiative. I'll read out the winning speech from Fowler by a 14-year-old constituent of mine, Jasmine Houng Giang of Canley Vale High School.

As a young Australian student, I would like to address a critical concern: The Australian curriculum is one that is tremendously outdated and creating a generation of unaware students. My generation is the most digitally connected to date, but we are not effectively taught how to use technology to its fullest extent.

I propose that the Australian government provide more funding for vocational courses, workshops and external opportunities, to help students develop everyday skills to resolve real world issues.

Many indispensable skills are not taught in school, and this can make students oblivious to the requirements of contemporary society.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states "Of people who completed vocational education or training in 2019, 56% of people reported better employment after training."

Imagine this statistic but the training was already provided in schools, this would help students leave school feeling more assertive and self-assured.

Let's be honest, this idea is not revolutionary, it is an investment to encourage students to go into industries feeling more comfortable and confident. This isn't about making school easier, it is about making it more relevant and giving students the tools to build their own futures.