Sharney Wise is calling on Australians to cast their vote in another election.
The Staughton College year 12 student, who is taking part in a national indigenous mentoring program titled The Other Election, has written and recorded the speech she would make if she were to become Australia’s first indigenous prime minister.
Sharney, 18, has reached the top 100 ‘speechwriters’ from an initial pool of more than 600 candidates around the nation.
Candidates crafted their speeches as part of workshops run by the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME), a charity that connects 2000 indigenous secondary school students with 1000 university student mentors across five states.
“I was ‘iffy’ initially because I don’t really like writing or performing, but I was passionate about the issues,’’ she said.
In her speech, which runs for one minute and 20 seconds, Sharney shares her belief that all Australians should be given equal opportunities.
“My other main points were improving public transport, particularly in rural Victoria, and making sure culture and cultural history is taught to kids in school so they understand its importance.
“I also called for more support for struggling families and homeless or troubled youth.” Sharney hopes to one day work in youth and social work, or childcare, so that she can help make a fairer Australia.
She is one of 20 year 11 and 12 students at Staughton College involved with AIME.
“It’s pretty incredible to see what these kids have achieved,” RMIT’s AIME program co-ordinator, Addie Walsh, said.
“They were only given two hours, some students an hour, to write and record their address to the nation and imagine what’s possible for this country.”
