AUJS delegation at Victorian Parliament
'I'm encouraged to play an active role in the change I wish to see through policy.'
In the first week of August, a group of 25 Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) delegates were taken into Parliament House in Victoria as part of a flagship Victorian Political Training Seminar (VPTS).
It was an opportunity for Jewish students to engage with politicians and community leaders in Victoria.
The students were able to meet directly with leaders of the Victorian government and ask them challenging questions about a range of issues, with VPTS participant Gabi Saffer noting, “We were able to capture the attention and critical engagement of those instrumental in creating the change we care most about.”
The AUJS delegates heard from Premier Daniel Andrews; Opposition Leader Matthew Guy; Georgie Crozier, Shadow Health Minister; Greens MP Sam Hibbins; Nina Taylor MP; Steve McGhie; and Fiona Patten, leader of the Reason Party.
The group also had the pleasure of hearing from Jewish members of Parliament, including David Southwick, deputy leader of the Liberal Party; and Paul Hamer, member for Box Hill.
Highlights of the day, according to AUJS delegate and “honoured” VPTS participant Eddy Lichtig, included “networking with other Labor and Liberal and independent politicians during the day, observing question time, and AUJS being acknowledged as part of a Member’s statement in Hansard while we looked on from the gallery.”
Students engaged with advisers and members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. With this rare access to politicians, Jewish students’ concerns were heard and listened to about recent waves of antisemitism on campus and how to best address and advocate for those issues for and with them.
Noa Abrahams remarked, “I felt empowered to deepen my understanding of political processes, and I’m encouraged to play an active role in the change I wish to see through policy.”
AUJS will be hosting its flagship Political Training Seminar in Canberra in early September.
This year, the seminar will be preceded by Accelerate, a conference that aims to boost Israel advocacy on campuses around Australia and New Zealand.