Instead of the usual venue the Soldiers Club was chosen because of licensing regulations. Tiffany Ezzy and Charlotte Hargan from Goulburn High, Declan Wilkinson and Blessy Fernandez from Mulwaree, Kate Easlea and Tom McEntee from Trinity Catholic College presented their thoughts on various subjects including education, the right to vote and be heard, student welfare, and the future of Australia and their own hopes concerns for their future.

Acting as facilitator was Mulwaree High’s head of English and History, Stephen Duhigg, had a fairly easy job keeping the discussion flowing.

On education the students raised concerns on the changing and crammed curriculum and the fact as they saw it that they were being taught information that they would never use and in some cases the information would not even be tested in the HSC because it was no longer in the syllabus.

Kate Easlea said she felt that students should be heard when it comes to the syllabus, as it was unfair to expect them to learn material they would’t be examined on, yet not be taught some of what would be in the exams.

“In classes nobody has a clue what the actual HSC will be like. We cannot go back and look at past exams to get an idea,” she said. 

“We are going in blind, where other years have had an idea what the exam would be like.

“We are hopefully still of being taught skills we can adapt.”

Blessy Fernandez said that what was being taught, though not necessarily being tested, would have application later on in life and study.

She said the Government puts a lot of planning into changing the course content and what is included reflects what is needed for students in future study and to smooth the transition into university.

The students were unanimous in their opinion that while politicalising education and party political bias was not a good thing, students still needed to be given an understanding of the political system and how it operated.

They were somewhat divided however on whether the voting age should be lowered to give them a say in education or other decisions that affect them.

Declan Wilkinson said that students have the capacity at 16 years of age to vote. However Kate Easlea said awareness through education of the responsibility that voting involved was important. Blessy Fernandez said that students at 16 were generally too young to vote and were too easily swayed and influenced. Declan Wilkinson suggested a voluntary voting system.

Charlotte Hargan said, after conducting a short survey around the room, that we need a voluntary system of voting. This was because the majority of people were not really politically aware or even really interested in finding out about who would best represent them.

Kate Easlea offered a personal and insightful view on mental health support for students and providing support. She said that teachers needed to be trained in mental health first aid and students need to be more supportive of each other. 

Charlotte Hargan said that the stigma often prevented students from seeking help from the counsellor and they were more confident in talking to a teacher.

On a question about the impact of social media, Kate Easlea said that it had a very negative effect on some people and its misuse had caused victims harm and to self harm.

Blessy Fernandez on the other hand, who was a first generation immigrant, found it extremely useful in cost effectively. She was able to communicate with her family and friends back in her home country on a daily basis. She said she could catch up on news unavailable through the traditional news media.

The students were asked about their thoughts on the future and an overwhelming concern was for jobs, whether or not they could afford to buy a home and the way costs were increasing yet wages were standing still.

They were also concerned about the impact of climate change. They commented later that they would be keen to participate in another similar forum where they could share their opinions.