Making bookings

Express interest in the program by contacting [email protected]

The program is FREE.

The program runs for 90 minutes.

Maximum of 60 students per session.

Program contents

  This structure may be slightly modified based on the year levels present. We differentiate via role allocations to students, with teacher support. 

Quick Schedule: 90 minute session 

10 Minutes: Arrival, introduction, and introductory presentation. 

50 minutes: Electoral Commission program – discussion, mock election activity, and election results 

5 minutes: Transition and introduction to Parliament program. 

50 minutes:  Parliament program: discussion, lower house roleplay, upper house roleplay, and recap on learning.  

15 minutes: Discussion on how to have your say, and poster drawing activity.  

Staff attending

We generally travel with 2x registered teachers and 1-2 additional Parliamentary staff, all with current Working With Children Checks. We may also be joined by the local MP depending on their availability.

Travel & location

We usually set up at a school directly, or in a local community centre. If you need to arrange travel from your school to the program, we may be able to assist with reimbursing your group’s bus costs. Send an email to [email protected] to discuss options. 

What to bring

Water bottles are the only items required. Everything else needed is provided. We bring: a ballot box, voting screens, electoral officer bibs, ballot papers, three 6mx4m floor mats of the Parliamentary chambers, large backdrop stand, wigs, robes, prop Mace and Black Rod, debate scripts, our own tech equipment, poster making supplies, goodies for every student (including absentees – we work off the numbers you provide us).  

If you have bags we put them to the side as they won’t be used during the session. We request that food is not eaten during the session. 

Preparation

  1. Decide which students will be performing the key roles
  2. Complete the voter enrolment form emailed to you in the program confirmation email.
  3. Create an electoral roll (for all participants in alphabetical order of FIRST name, followed by surname, and class/mentor group) and bring 3 copies.

Student Roles

We strive to ensure our programs are engaging and involve movement and activity, so there is a lot of student involvement throughout the sessions. Students can play the following roles during the program. Please consider who may be best suited to each function prior to the presentation.   

Mock Election

  • Issuing Officers – Depending on the size of the group 2 – 4 students. Quick with the alphabet.   Marks the names of the electors off the roll, issues ballot papers. 
  • Queue Monitors – Depending on the size of the group 1 – 2 students. Holds the voter line and directs voters to the next issuing officer. 
  • Ballot Box attendant – 1 student.  Ensures the ballot box is secure and that votes are placed in the box. 
  • Electoral Officials – 4 students. Removes all the ballots from the ballot box and checks votes for formality. Sorts and counts the votes. 

Parliamentary debate

  • Speaker of the House – 1 student. Will wear a large wig and robes. Will be sitting at the front reading lines in front of their peers. Ideally confident and happy to get into character. 
  • Clerk – 1 student. Will wear a wig and robes. Will need to read 2 paragraphs in front of their peers. 
  • Serjeant-at-Arms – 1 student. Will wear a wig and robes. Will need to make one short announcement and need to be responsible enough to carry a replica mace.  
  • Members of Parliament – 4 students. Will stand and give a speech reading from script.  
  • Depending on time – three more students may be chosen to wear the wigs and robes for a look at the upper house.  

Teacher Expectations

 As groups can be large and we do not know the individual needs and contexts of your students, we ask that teachers play an active role in assisting us to monitor and manage student behaviour during the session.

Extra Preparation Ideas