Premier's Spirit of Democracy Study Tour
The PSOD 2023 tour began with an insightful talk by Vicki Ward, the Parliamentary Secretary for Education. We learned about the role of politicians and their impact on our daily lives. Engaging with the Greek diaspora in Melbourne, we visited the 'Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture' in the heart of the Greek Precinct on Lonsdale St. It provided us with insights into the origins of democracy in Ancient Athens and its influence on Australian politics. A highlight was 'ostracising' a tyrant by voting on pottery pieces called 'ostracons'.
Later, at RMIT, Sushi Das presented on the importance of fact checking in politics and our daily lives. We witnessed the power of technology through AI-generated pictures and deepfake, emphasising our responsibility to identify hidden bias and misinformation.
Then came the visit to Canberra which absolutely cannot be talked about without the mention of Reece, our amazing tour guide who made the experience extremely educational and fun. We all left Canberra with his guidelines to life in our minds (pet the dog!). During our visit to Canberra, we started at the National Capital Authority to learn about the city's planning and political background. We then visited the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, where we were surprised by their opposing stance on The Voice referendum.
Next, we explored the Museum of Australian Democracy, gaining insights into the influence of media on politics and admiring 1920s architecture, including the former workspace of journalists at the old Parliament House. At the National Electoral Education Centre, we gained valuable knowledge about the Australian political system, which was particularly relevant as many of us were approaching voting age. We also had the privilege of attending the Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. Additionally, we enjoyed a tour and program at Parliament House, including access to the chambers where we enthusiastically engaged in a simulated debate on a bill, providing us with valuable insights into the functioning of Australia's Parliament House.
Our itinerary further included a visit to the High Court of Australia, where we observed a session and deepened our understanding of the country's judiciary system. We attended an ANU lecture that sparked discussions on gender in politics, and finally, we explored the National Archives of Australia, where we had the opportunity to view the constitution draft as well as the Petition by the Aboriginal Advancement League, 1937.
One of the things that made the tour so incredibly special was the amazing students and teachers who accompanied us on the trip. We were able to learn about different lifestyles and experiences and engage in insightful discussions prompted by the events. The six nights and seven days spent together in the company of 22 students from all across Victoria allowed us to create lasting memories and friendships that we will treasure forever.
We had midnight hangouts, belted karaoke together on the bus and even had a rendezvous adventure to the jacuzzi! Although we were only together for a short amount of time, there was an instant friendliness between us, which made the trip all the more memorable.
PSoD Attendees, 2023