In September Future Shapers 2023 travelled to Canberra to visit Parliament House and attend the Regional Australia Institute’s National Summit. It was a jam-packed three days starting with a presentation from the Parliamentary Education Office to better understand the role, function, value and the best strategies to engage with the Federal Parliament and an opportunity to speak with the Hon. Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and of course Ballarat’s local Member of Federal Parliament.
Days two and three were spent immersed with regional leaders from across the country, exploring issues including
– Population movement and migration
– Energy transition and a reduced emissions future
– Skills of the future and a fluid job market
– Housing and health
– National productivity growth
Some of our Future Shapers also took the opportunity for an early start to join Michael Long and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the last leg of The Long Walk, in support of the ‘Yes’ campaign for the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
“The opportunity to visit Parliament House and spend time with Catherine King was great. I had a fangirl moment when Media Advisor Lyndal Curtis took us on a tour and shared tales of (the) press gallery….”
Future Shapers Participant