My name is Ben Durose and I am a Year 10 student at Penola Catholic College. During the first week of Term 2 holidays, I was given the opportunity to attend work experience with Frank McGuire, the state MP for Broadmeadows as well as the Parliamentary Secretary for Medical Research and Crime Prevention. Upon my arrival to the office, I was greeted with a warm welcome by Frank and his team.

The workplace environment had a positive corporate culture. Everyone was relaxed, friendly but at the same time productive.

During my time with Frank, I was invited to join him during his visit to the Broadmeadows Valley Early Learning Centre and Kangan Youth Foyer where I was able to see firsthand, the impact that Frank has had on the people of Broadmeadows. I was also given the rare opportunity, for a Year 10 student, to join Frank in parliament for a day. This was an amazing experience. Frank gave me an astounding private tour of the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Dining Hall, and other places while telling me about the perplexing and interesting history of politics in Australia.

I am so honoured to have been given this opportunity and I’d like to urge my fellow schoolmates to make the best of their work experience as you’ll never know what you may learn or discover by having an open mind and attentive ears.

I’d like to say thank you to Ms Grech, for facilitating my work experience and a huge thank you to Mr Frank McGuire and his team for taking me on and providing me with this immense opportunity. This is an experience that I will never forget.

Ben Durose, 10A