On 18 September, the Western Australian Schools’ Constitutional Convention was hosted by the team at the Constitutional Centre of WA.
86 Year 11 Politics and Law students attended the event, where they:
- explored more about the democratic and parliamentary process
- were encouraged to be active participants in democracy
- had opportunities to expand on their critical thinking, debating and public speaking skills.
How students got involved
The theme for the 2026 convention was ‘Mechanisms for Change’, exploring whether referendums remain an appropriate method of constitutional change in contemporary Australia.
Students also participated in debates in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of WA and voted on a proposal to remove the double majority requirement for changing the Constitution in a mock referendum.
While at Parliament, students also participated in a committee style workshop, where they reached consensus to rank topical issues in order of importance and reported back on their choices, along with the reasons why they came to their conclusions.
The convention was a valuable opportunity for young Western Australians to engage with the principles and processes that underpin democracy and is also an
opportunity for teachers, academics and members of Parliament to hear the voices of the future.
For more information
Learn more about the Constitutional Centre and the work they do.
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