CSC students Angus Maughan and Taylar Knight pictured with Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, on the trip of a lifetime to Parliament in Canberra. Photo: Paul Chapman MODE Imagery
Two lucky Cobram Secondary College students recently had an opportunity to visit Parliament House in Canberra, representing Australia as part of a Teach for Australia delegation.
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Year 11 students Angus Maughan and Taylar Knight had some incredible experiences on the trip.
CSC Principal, Kimberly Tempest said students are provided high level, authentic leadership experiences.
“Being briefed on the challenges of attraction and retention of teachers in rural schools and meeting Sam Birrel to discuss the matter is an example of this,” she said.
Taylar, Goodman House Leader at CSC, said it was an awesome opportunity.
“I was quite nervous but everyone there were so lovely and made Angus and myself feel so welcomed.” she said.
“We were asked how Teach For Australia staff at school benefited us and if we liked their teaching skills.
“I explained that the TFA’s that have taught me have given me so many opportunities.
“Whether they were workshops from visiting professionals, or going down to spend time at the universities, they have opened my eyes to different career pathways I could take”
Angus said he was quote nervous ahead of the trip.
“It was easy talking about how great TFA’s are at our school and the benefits they bring,” he said.
“I talked about how I was inspired to go into Economics by Mr Houston.
“How he did extra activities during lunch, like the ‘stock market game.
“I really enjoyed the experience of talking to Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Educators.
“And as the Rural Youth Ambassador, it gave me an opportunity to have a voice for rural and regional schools, (and speak about) the importance of staffing schools with TFA’s.”
Angus and Taylar met Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell there to discuss how the Teach for Australia program is helping close critical teacher shortages.
Mr Birrell said Teach for Australia employed highly skilled professionals with a wealth of life experience to teach at schools while studying a Master of Teaching.
“Teach for Australia is an incredible organisation which is helping fill critical teacher shortages and has a strong focus on regional areas like Nicholls,” Mr Birrell said.
“It was amazing to meet with Angus and Taylar who are directly benefiting from the participants in this program.”
CSC students Angus Maughan and Taylar Knight's visit to Canberra featured a visit to the Channel 9 studios where they met journalists and toured the newsroom.
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Taylar and Angus are both taught by a range of Teach for Australia participants and a number of schools across Nicholls have teachers who are employed or have graduated from the program.
Mr Birrell said it was a proud moment to see the Year 11 students stand up in Parliament House in front of more than a dozen MPs and speak about their aspirations.
“Taylar and Angus are an asset to our region and our future leaders,” Mr Birrell said.
“Taylar is looking to study medicine, while Angus has his sights set on studying business.
“Both students said the Teach for Australia participants at Cobram Secondary are helping make their dreams a reality and are opening the doors to opportunities they would previously have not known about.
“We want our students in regional areas to have access to the same education opportunities as kids living in the city, and these highly skilled professionals are helping them understand what they are capable of achieving.”
Mr Birrell spent time with the students, which included a behind-the-scenes tour of Parliament House and even featured a tour and meet-and-greet with some of Australia’s leading journalists at the in-house Channel 9 studio.
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