One of the greatest joys I have as a local member is visiting schools and engaging with our younger students. One such occasion occurred recently when I visited Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School at Hoxton Park. I was met at the school by two students, Kevin and Amelia, and by the school principal, Leonie Sewell. The purpose of the visit was to speak to the year 6 students about my role as a local MP and present them with a certificate to commemorate their recent visit to Canberra, including to Parliament House. The students also asked me a range of questions that were thoughtful, insightful and very relevant. I'd like to thank the Good Shepherd school for their very kind invitation. The students were exemplary. Their behaviour was fantastic, and they are a credit to their families, their teachers and most definitely the school ethos.

Visits to schools like Good Shepherd remind me of the wonderful work that our teachers and their support staff do every day and of the importance of making sure that our children get the best start in life. I wish the students all the best as they finish up year 6 and look forward to high school in the new year. It will be a big step for them, but I know our community, teachers and schools will be there to support them in their endeavours.

Link to Hansard: Full Seech