Daina Kerr didn't know much about politics when selected for Young Parliament but she was clear about one thing, rural education needed to change.
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The Mulwaree High School student was chosen to represent Goulburn for The Y's NSW Young Parliament program in 2021.
The initiative sees one Year 10-12 student from each state electorate participate in workshops, community engagement as well as debating and presenting bills to the Legislative Assembly, six of which have been passed since 2002.
When asked what she would focus on if selected, Kerr didn't hesitate.
"I chose education because my mum's a teacher and I said I'd like to really help rural education," she told the Post.
"Mum teaches out in Windellama, which is a tiny school. They are so desperate for causal teachers, it's unbelievable.
"They can't get anyone permanent, in some rural high schools they don't have any HSC teachers. It's a big issue.
"I went down recently with my mum to the teacher strike demonstration in Queanbeyan. That goes with what I talked about in Parliament. Education is a big part of my life."
While her group didn't end up presenting a bill aimed at teacher shortages, the 16-year old said she enjoyed learning how small actions can cause a ripple effect in society.
"We debated what we would write our bill about which ended up being modernising consent and sex education within schools," she said.
"Prioritising rural teachers was something that I campaigned for but we didn't end up going with that because it is on the priority list and we didn't get the votes.
"I had no clue about this before I started. At no point in my education has someone said this is how it works, this is who decides laws and how society is governed. I had to do that myself.
"It's really great being able to change how we act and how people are treated through simply talking to people and writing things down.
"I just did an online activist program with The Y. I'll certainly be involved with activism moving forward."
That future is full of possibilities and the Year 11 student is intent on giving back to rural areas like the one she grew up in.
"I want to be a caseworker and after uni come back to somewhere rural," she explained.
"We shouldn't have a disadvantage just because of where we're from. It's something I'm trying to help change in any way I can."
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