I LIKE the idea of a City of Casey Junior Australia Day Tour Program for primary school children.
The plan is to provide primary school students with something similar to the secondary schools Australia Day awards that take 10 young people to Canberra for a threeday study tour.
They also go to the Victorian State Parliament for a day, and spend a day as guests of the City of Casey. This has been highly successful and highly appreciated by families.
The council has referred $46,000 to its budget discussions for consideration of an extension to the award to younger people.
If the money is allocated, the council would then develop a program in conjunction with Casey’s 57 primary schools. Just to be one of the 10 or so children chosen would be a wonderful achievement.
Whether this program is ultimately an Australia Day award or some other kind of local governmentbased award, it means widening the horizons of many students who find themselves nominated for selection and a worthwhile confidencebuilding experience for those selected.
My view is that, like the Australia Day Study tour Award, this is a good investment in our young people and a way of connecting the council more with its residents.