Lianne Recognised for Outstanding PLEAWA Competition Entry
Congratulations to Year 10 student Lianne, who has been recognised as the best Year 10 entry in the Political and Legal Educators Association of Western Australia (PLEAWA) Competition for her outstanding infographic exploring offshore detention in Australia.
The competition challenged students to investigate a contemporary political or legal issue and communicate their understanding through an original and creative piece of work. Lianne’s infographic impressed the judges with its thoughtful research, balanced perspective and engaging visual presentation.
Exploring a Complex Issue
Lianne chose to explore offshore detention because she wanted to better understand one of Australia’s most debated public policy issues.
“I chose offshore detention because it is a controversial issue in Australia that involves important questions about human rights, government responsibility and how asylum seekers are treated,” she said. “I wanted to understand the reasoning behind the policy and the different arguments surrounding it.”
As she delved deeper into her research, Lianne became fascinated by the challenge of balancing national interests with humanitarian responsibilities.
“I was most interested in the conflict between Australia’s right to control its borders and its responsibility to uphold human rights,” she said. “I found it interesting to consider how governments make decisions when political, legal and humanitarian interests can conflict.”
Looking Beyond Border Protection
One of the biggest discoveries during Lianne’s research was just how interconnected the issue is.
“I was surprised by how many different areas the issue connects to,” she explained. “I initially viewed offshore detention mainly as a border protection policy, but my research showed me how closely it is connected to international law, human rights and Australia’s legal obligations.”
To develop a balanced understanding, Lianne explored the history and purpose of offshore detention before examining a variety of perspectives.
“I used a range of sources, including government and legal websites, human rights organisations and news articles, and compared these perspectives to form my own understanding.”
Inspiring Future Learning
The competition has sparked an even greater interest in politics, law and human rights.
“It has made me more interested in the relationship between politics, law and human rights,” Lianne said. “I found it particularly interesting to see how government decisions can have such significant effects on individuals, and I would like to explore these areas further in the future.”
Congratulations, Lianne, on this outstanding achievement. Your curiosity, critical thinking and commitment to understanding complex issues are to be commended, and we look forward to seeing where your passion for politics and law takes you next.
- Academic Excellence, Featured, infographic competition, PLEAWA Competition, Political and Legal Educators Association WA, Politics and Law, Santa Maria College, Student Awards, student success, Year 10 achievement
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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