Gilroy principal receives civics award at the CEFA NSW Awards for Excellence 2009
On Tuesday 27 October, Brad Campbell principal at Gilroy College received an award for Outstanding Support of Civics and Citizenship at the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) NSW 2008 Awards Ceremony. The event was held at Government House, Sydney and hosted by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AO, CVO.
The ceremony was held to reward excellence in CEFA civics education projects, programs and awards in schools and universities from across NSW. Brad received the award for introducing and implementing a CEFA School Parliament (CSP) at Gilroy College and at his previous school, St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Albion Park.
The CEFA School Parliaments (CSP) are a major civics education project being implemented across Australia. Participating students take on the roles of parliamentarians, advisers, parliamentary officers, ministers for special projects, committee members, journalists and cartoonists. Forming political parties, students conduct elections, produce school newspapers and debate issues relevant to them, their communities, Australia and the world.
CEFA’s School Parliaments (CSPs) are designed as grass roots whole-of-school civics and citizenship, values education projects intended to eventually engage the majority of students in a school community and not only the academic elite. Students are involved in creating a structure that reflects the Australian system of government. It immerses participants in a continual learning process, which can last for their whole school life and foster a desire for life-long learning and interest regarding civics and citizenship. It incorporates self-directed learning, and student ownership of the learning process to create an optimal educational experience.
The distinguished audience included CEFA trustees Thomas Keneally AO, renowned Australian author, former NSW Premier The Hon. Barry Unsworth and former Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Dame Leonie Kramer as well as CEFA executive director, Kerry Jones.
Brad highlighted the importance of student parliaments in schools and dedicated the award to the students and staff involved in the Student Parliament.
‘The longer I work in education, the more confident I am that the future of Australia in safe hands, said Brad.
‘The young people of Gilroy Catholic College who are involved in the student parliament have impressed me with their maturity and their desire to act for the good of the community on the behalf of others.’
‘This award really belongs to the teachers who are working with our student parliament and more importantly, to the impressive young people who are involved in our student parliament,’ he said.
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