Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm reading this speech on behalf of Kaleah, as part of Raise Our Voice:

Hello, I am Kaleah, I am 12 years old, and I am from the Mayo electorate.

Growing up I loved going to school, being with my friends, making art, having fun. I had no worries.

However, as I got older things started to change. I started having so many thoughts that people didn't actually enjoy my company and I wasn't focusing on my work because I was too anxious on other problems.

I was getting bullied and that caused me to miss many school days. I had problems in the morning, getting up was difficult. I started having days where my anxiety would make me think what was I even doing here.

I moved schools, but that is not enough for me. I want to change how schools do things. I want to build a stronger system to prevent bullying and I want schools to be able to help, or at least understand what a kid is going through. Creating a better system for all these kinds of things could really help people.

…   …   …

One way is to simply just check up on your students. I am not talking about all together as a group. Calling a kid out on that kind of thing would make them embarrassed or uncomfortable. Asking someone individually, and giving them the privacy from other people could make them feel in a more safe and not as scared to answer truthfully.

Giving a kid time is actually an amazing way to help. Do not push them, do not rush them. Let them go at their own pace. What they are talking about can be really difficult, and it can take time to even put the words together …

I have many more ideas, but I am sure you can all think of some together, as the people of Australia, we need to take care of young minds, help them grow. Thank you listening.

Kaleah, I would love to meet you. Please give my office a call.