Private Members' Statement
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (00:18:16) — If there is one thing the COVID‑19 pandemic has taught us it is the need for our communities to be resilient in the face of change.
Further, it has reinforced the importance of continual learning—knowledge, research, science and analysis—in helping us to deal with challenges both known and unexpected.
As 2020 draws to a close, it is an ideal time to reflect on the year that was—and it was a year like no other in my living memory.
While we practised physical distancing, we learned the true value of social connectedness.
Facing uncertainty and despair, we learned to embrace hope and the kindness of strangers.
We also developed a new-found appreciation for our frontline workers—everyone from our supermarket workers to our nurses and our teachers.
Adapting to online learning from home during the lockdown period was a particularly challenging time. Many parents and carers had to juggle domestic duties and working from home with the added stress of their children learning entirely online from home.
Our teachers were given the arduous task of creating online content and delivering lessons in a virtual classroom—almost overnight.
Schools were agile in their transition to remote online learning. While the transition relatively smooth, it also reinforced the joys of face‑to‑face learning and teaching.
Of concern though is that the move to online learning highlighted the stark digital divide that exists in many of our communities.
Some children and families were simply unable to engage in online learning due to limited or no access to a suitable device in the home, or either no internet connection or very poor internet connection. This only reinforced their educational disadvantage with future flow-on effects impinging on their quality of life.
Making education equitable has far-reaching benefits for our whole society. As the late former Prime Minister of Australia Gough Whitlam, AC, QC, famously said:
We are diminished when any of us are denied proper education. The nation is the poorer—a poorer economy, a poorer civilization, because of this human and national waste.
I raise my hat to the class of 2020. Our cohort of year 12 students have faced great uncertainty and stress due to the pandemic—and yet they have risen to the challenge. We are all so proud of them.
I also commend the students, parents and teachers who have endured so much in 2020.
You could say this year has itself been an education. The overwhelming number of people who signed up for free TAFE courses during the pandemic also highlighted the huge demand for education and training that is both accessible and affordable.
People seized the opportunity to upskill for free at their own convenience online.
Financial barriers to education are simply unfair, particularly during a recession. People from all walks of life should be given all the support they need to upskill in the current economic climate. After all, we are always learning and growing.
Let us not forget that some of the best learning experiences occur outside the classroom as we go about our everyday lives. Education is lifelong. Learning is a constant journey for us all. New chapters in our learning are being written all the time.
I am proud to say that my own learning journey began at Robert Townson Public School and the Robert Townson High School before I undertook further study firstly at the University of Sydney and at the London School of Economics. And now, many years later, I look forward to embarking on further part‑time study at the University of Sydney as I undertake a higher research degree—another chapter to be written in my lifelong learning journey to help my local community to live a better life.
Solid investment in education and training is vital if we are to be a competitive, knowledgeable and innovative society. The pandemic has been an opportunity to learn and grow, both individually and collectively. We all benefit from each other's knowledge to make our country and our community a better place.
It was Bob Hawke who declared in 1990 his vision for Australia to be the clever country. As our nation moves forward from the pandemic, now is the time to examine the idea of a clever country and what it means for our future—a future in which we can proudly look forward to a resurgence in our manufacturing sector; a future in which we can invest heavily in research, science and innovation; a future in which we can secure our place and voice in the world and be a leader in climate change, health care and, above all, quality and accessible education for all.
That future starts right here and in our classrooms.
New challenges require new learnings and new ideas, but only if the Liberal Government steps up its game.
Instead of more spin, the Government should build our schools in fast growing areas such as Edmondson Park.
Instead of doing cheap land deals the Government should save the Hurlstone Agricultural High School and its farm.
The pandemic has certainly given us all an opportunity to reflect on a year of unprecedented challenges. At the same time, it has reminded us to never stop learning because life never stops teaching.
