Expansion of AUSLAN education bill 2024
The YMCA Youth Parliament program has concluded for 2024; the Hume City Council team consisted of Natalie Ryan, Rumaysa Salman, Rehan Ali and Hafsa Moallim.
The Hume City Council team debated their Bill on ‘Expansion of AUSLAN education bill 2024’ as part of the Assembly Council on Tuesday 2 July 2024 at Parliament House in the Legislative Assembly. Hume City Council’s Bill passed with parliamentary majority.
The Hume City Council team refuted Whitehorse City Council’s Bill on ‘Increasing of education and support on intergenerational trauma, intersectionality and cultural competency Bill 2024’ on Thursday 4 July 2024. Whitehorse City Council’s Bill passed with parliamentary Majority.
All participants demonstrated enthusiasm and passion when addressing their Bill. Well done to the 2024 Hume YMCA Youth Parliament team!
Meet the 2024 Hume YMCA Youth Parliament Team
Natalie Ryan
What was your overall experience of the YMCA Youth Parliament program?
"My experience of the YMCA Youth Parliament program was incredible and life-changing, and both the experiences of the program itself and the people I met throughout the program’s run will stay with me for a long time."
What did you learn throughout this experience?
"I learnt a lot about debate skills and collaboration within a competitive debating context, as well as the value and power of empathy and kindness in all contexts— being handing a note complimenting your speech from the other side gives me so much confidence, and I learnt that working to give that empowerment to others was so worthwhile."
What was your favourite part about this program?
"My favourite part of the program were the people involved; there were people who were school leaders, university students, high schoolers, advocates, aspiring politicians, and everyone in-between, and I learnt so much about the wide range of youth experiences in Victoria and the experiences and opportunities they were involved in."
Rumaysa Salman
What was your overall experience of the YMCA Youth Parliament program?
"It was truly rewarding. I learnt many life skills, gained meaningful connections and had the avenue to network with people who may be beneficial in the advancement of my career and life goals. It gave me a sense of purpose, and all the volunteers and parliamentarians formed a tight knit community I will always remember."
What did you learn throughout this experience?
"I learnt how to debate professionally and stand up for what I believe. I gained the courage to speak out and voice my opinion regardless of who was watching, even though it was daunting at first."
What was your favourite part about this program?
"The parliament sitting days provided me with a feeling I am unable to express. I was filled with so much pride, and fear alike, when presenting the bill my team and I have worked for months on. To freely be able to debate with the intention of real change made me feel like I was a part of something greater than myself, and I will always be truly thankful for it. The camps helped me step out of my comfort zone and explore new ideas I would have been too afraid to encounter on my own."
Rehan Ali
What was your overall experience of the YMCA Youth Parliament program?
"It was an invaluable experience that allowed me to develop my public speaking skills and making new lifelong friends."
What did you learn throughout this experience?
"I learned about the role of government and how parliament actually works. I also gained the opportunity to speak about topics I was Passionate about working together with my team to address them."
What was your favourite part about this program?
"The opportunity to collaborate with other young people who are passionate about making a difference. We shared our ideas and perspectives, and I came away inspired by the collective power of our voices."
Hafsa Moallim
What was your overall experience of the YMCA Youth Parliament program?
"I absolutely loved every aspect of the Youth Parliament program. I got the chance to really push myself to limits I didn’t know I had."
What did you learn throughout this experience?
"Throughout the program I learnt all about navigating parliament, how to speech write and also how to present myself as professional. I learned so many skills that I definitely will be using in my daily life, moving forward."
What was your favourite part about this program?
It definitely was a bit challenging when being confronted with situations I haven’t been in before such as meeting such a big group of people all at once, however I am so grateful that I did. By meeting people from different places all across Victoria, I now have a more comprehensive understanding of a variety of circumstances."