Students have their say in 2022 Parliament Prize

Students from Williamstown Primary School, Brunswick Secondary College and Genazzano FCJ College have taken out the top prizes in this year’s competition, awarded by the Victorian parliament to students who have recorded a 90-second response to the question, ‘What would you say to parliament if you were an MP?’

Theresa Morton from Williamstown Primary School was awarded first place in the Grades 5 and 6 category for her entry that emphasised the importance of teaching Aboriginal languages in schools.

Amelia Freeman from Brunswick Secondary College won the Years 7 to 9 category with her statement on e-cigarette packaging laws, and Miranda McTigue from Genazanno FCJ College took out the top prize in the Years 10 to 12 category with a call to address consent education for young Victorians.

The Alicia Katz award (named after the first woman to run for the Parliament of Victoria) was won by Saltwater P-9 College in Point Cook. This award recognises a school that has made an inspiring contribution to the Parliament Prize through their strong commitment to a diverse range of issues.

All up the Parliament Prize attracted 675 entries from 145 schools. Students addressed over 390 unique topics, ranging from the cost of living to gender equality, animal rights and education. For the second consecutive year, the environment and climate change were the most popular themes, with 173 entries, followed by health and mental health (67 entries) and discrimination and racism (53 entries).

The judging panel included three members of parliament, Juliana Addison, Ali Cupper and Andy Meddick, as well as members of parliament’s education advisory panel and parliament staff.   

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entries and to each first-placed student’s school, to be used to promote civics and citizenship and law-related education.

The results

Grades 5 and 6

1st place: Theresa Morton
Williamstown Primary School
‘Teaching Aboriginal languages in school’

2nd place: Seth Reed, Michael Limm, Jordan Slattery,
Charlotte Lentowicz and Lucas Lentowicz
Warringa Park School
‘Using mindfulness to support learning’ 

3rd place: Jack Paterson
St Mary’s Primary School Bairnsdale
‘Fix it at 40’ 

Years 7 to 9

1st place: Amelia Freeman
Brunswick Secondary College
‘E-cigarette packaging laws’ 

2nd place: Fadzai Bako
St Aloysius College
‘It is time to raise the age of criminal responsibility’

3rd place: Hrishikesh Harish Narayanan
Alkira Secondary College
‘Teachers must be paid more’
 

Years 10 to 12

1st place: Miranda McTigue
Genazzano FCJ College
‘Consent education' 

2nd place: Tamanno Zavqieva
Hume Anglican Grammar
‘Cancer comes in fruity flavours’

3rd place: Toby Mew
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
‘Tree canopy coverage in Geelong’

The Alicia Katz Award

Saltwater P-9 College, Point Cook