I rise today to read a speech from Mikalya Bolkus who lives in my home state of South Australia and who participated in the Raise Our Voice campaign. Here are Mikalya's words:

I graduated high school with the ability to solve algebraic equations, craft poems and draw circles with a compass … while I acknowledge the value of these skills, they felt utterly useless when I stood stranded on the roadside with a flat tire.

The Australian education system, though commendable, falls short of its potential. Envision an Australia where graduating young adults are not only full of academic knowledge but also practical life skills. Envision young Australians leaving school knowing how to do a tax return or an invoice or having the ability to administer first aid.

Young Australians should be educated about their rights as young workers. The current education system assumes parents will fill the gaps… but this expectation does not hold as a reality for most.

Here's my proposal: a subject in high school were subjects and life skills, and where they encounter challenges the world may present. This course would ensure students leave school with not just knowledge but independence. This course will fill the gap for children who didn't have a parent to teach them the importance of a firm handshake. Because it's all well and good to be able to craft a poem but if you cannot change your tire or at least know who to call … you can't keep moving forward.

Well done, Mikalya, on your speech. I'm very proud to read it to the Senate today.