Students get the ear of the Education Minister

Education Minister Grace Grace today (June 7) sat down with 16 secondary students from schools across Queensland, who have been appointed to provide her with a students’ perspective on key education matters.

Ms Grace said the students had been selected to be part of the 2018 Ministerial Student Advisory Council – the first of its kind in Queensland.

“Students are our most important stakeholders so it’s only natural they be given an opportunity to make their views heard,” Ms Grace said.

“I was so pleased to have the opportunity to sit down and talk with these students in Brisbane today.

“The students travelled from all over Queensland to attend our inaugural meeting, including from schools on the Gold Coast, Cairns, Longreach, Charleville and Mt Isa.

“These students will be my eyes and ears in Queensland classrooms and school grounds and I’ll be asking them ways we can improve their learning experience.

“One of their first priorities is to look at ways to address bullying and cyber bullying, which we know are insidious community issues.

“The Palaszczuk Government is determined to continue the fight against bullying and the ideas put forward by this Student Council will be progressed to the Queensland Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce.”

The Queensland Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce is due to recommend an anti-cyberbullying framework to the Premier by 31 August 2018, along with suggested community and government actions.

The youngest member of the Council is Year 7 Longreach State High School student Hugh Smith. Hugh plans to be a voice for rural and remote students on the unique challenges facing young people in the outback.

Another Council member, Kathleen Farrelly, is a student leader at Spinifex State College in Mount Isa where she is in Year 8. Kathleen’s long-term ambition is to have a career in science

Aspiring doctor Lev Marienbakh is a Year 9 student at Varsity College the South East Queensland while Jesleen Patel, from Cairns State High School leads the ‘We Can’ Human Rights group in her a school and is a James Cook University Languages Champion.

“I am sure that the Council members will provide valuable insights that will keep me in touch with what it is like to be a student in Queensland schools," the Minister said.

“I know they are excited about this opportunity to make their views known and I want to thank them on behalf of the Government for volunteering their time."

Students’ feedback and ideas from Ministerial Student Advisory Council meetings will help inform future government policy and program development.

2018 Ministerial Student Advisory Council Participants

Flony Anjilivelil, Year 12, Pimlico State High School (Townsville)

Lucinda Cowle, Year 12, Cavendish Road State High School (Brisbane)

Kathleen Farrelly, Year 8, Spinifex State College (Mount Isa)

Brea Frousheger, Year 12, Charleville State High School

Shadrach Getawan, Year 12, Woree State High School (Cairns)

Dyirun Johnson, Year 12, Bundaberg State High School

Lev Marienbakh, Year 9, Varsity College (Gold Coast)

Zoe Mavromatis, Year 11, John Paul College (Brisbane)

Kasey Murray, Year 11, Boonah State High School

Jesleen Patel, Year 9, Cairns State High School

Tenesha Richardson, Year 12, Balmoral State High School

Ella Scotford, Year 11, St Rita’s College (Brisbane)

Hugh Smith, Year 7, Longreach State High School

Alex Somerfield, Year 11, North Rockhampton State High School

William Tor, Year 12, Pine Rivers State High School

Tiana Wegener, Year 12, Harristown State High School (Toowoomba)

Media contact: Emma Clarey – 0439 578 472