Canowindra High students Hayley Stephens and Lillian Harrison visited Parliament House in the nation’s capital last month as part of Regional Development Australia’s (RDA) 2024 Ten4Ten program. Run by RDA Central West the program was first introduced in 2020 with the aim of providing a unique mentoring experience to youth leaders by connecting them with community champions. Students from Orange High, James Sheahan Catholic High and Kinross Wolaroi School are taking part in the program which runs over the course of the school year in the Orange, Blayney, and Cabonne local government areas, and is open to all Year 11 students in these regions. RDA Central West Operations Manager Lynda Smart and Communications and Engagement Manager Rachel Chippendale, escorted the Ten4Ten 2024 students to Federal Parliament where students were taken behind the scenes by Member for Calare Andrew Gee MP. The students enjoyed lunch in his office with the opportunity to ask questions and discuss important regional issues. “It was a pleasure to host students from Regional Development Australia’s Ten4Ten program at Parliament House recently,” Mr Gee said. “Ten4 Ten is a unique opportunity for 10 specially chosen youth leaders in our region to participate in a mentoring program. “I took the students on a behind the scenes tour of Parliament House, before they met with the Minister for Regional Development. “After spending time with the Minister, the students sat down in my office for some lunch and a Q&A session,” he said. The day concluded with students attending Question Time with topics of the day including the motion to increase the minimum age of social media access to 16 and fee-free TAFE.
