Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP have launched the ‘My First Speech’ Competition for high schools in the Gilmore electorate.
The national competition challenges students in years 10, 11 and 12 to envision themselves as newly elected Members of the House of Representatives and write a 90-second speech, focusing on a topic of their choice.
The national winner from each year group, accompanied by a parent or guardian, will be flown to Canberra to deliver their speeches live at Parliament House and participate in an engaging program tailored to deepen their understanding of the legislative process.
The submission deadline for the competition is set for 11.59pm AEST on Monday September 15, 2025.
To learn more about the competition and submit their entries, students can visit the dedicated competition website: My First Speech Competition – Make your first speech
Mrs Phillips is encouraging local students to enter to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.
“This is a chance for our students on the South Coast to shine a national spotlight on the issues that matter most to them,” she said.
“The students participating in this competition will be our local leaders of tomorrow, and I am excited to give them a head start on their futures with this program”.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP said one of his key priorities as Speaker has been to promote parliamentary education to students across the country.
“This is yet another exciting way that young people can take an active role in our democratic system,” he said.
“This competition will provide high school students with the chance to learn more about the way our nation’s democracy works, and how actively engaging with the parliamentary process can draw attention to the issues that are most important to them.”
For further information regarding the ‘My First Speech’ competition, please contact the office of Fiona Phillips on 4423 1782.
Media contact: Katrina Condie 0437 662 967
