Past Student Inspires Civics Education for Students
When Santa Maria College past student Monique Ziegelaar (Class of 2013) returned to the College recently, she wasn’t simply coming back as a former student. She was introducing a new program she has spent almost a year designing to empower young people to become informed, engaged and confident participants in Australia’s democracy.
With guidance from Politics & Law teacher Luke De San Miguel, Monique has developed Vote Like, an interactive civics education program that helps students understand that democracy extends far beyond voting on election day. After almost 10 months of planning, research and collaboration, the program recently completed its first pilot workshop with our Year 10 Politics & Law students.
Turning an Idea into Action
The idea for Vote Like began in Term 3, 2025, when Monique approached Luke with a concern about declining civics knowledge among young Australians. Recent national data showed Australia’s civics proficiency rates had fallen from 38 per cent in 2019 to just 28 per cent in 2024.
Having worked on grassroots political campaigns herself, Monique recognised that civic participation is often misunderstood.
Monique wanted students to see that making a difference isn’t reserved for politicians or people with politics degrees. Democracy relies on informed citizens who are willing to engage, ask questions and take action.
Together, Monique and Luke explored what meaningful civics education should look like. Rather than focusing solely on facts and government structures, they wanted students to experience how everyday Australians can influence change.
Those conversations became the foundation for Vote Like.
Bringing Democracy to Life
The pilot workshop, delivered to Year 10 Politics & Law students in Term 2, combined real-world examples with hands-on learning to demonstrate how civic participation works in practice.
Using the Fix Our Feeds campaign as a case study, students explored how advocacy groups, media attention and community support can influence government decision-making. They then worked collaboratively to identify ways citizens can respond to important issues before stepping into the role of Members of Parliament to analyse and debate a mock bill.
The workshop encouraged students to think critically, consider multiple perspectives and recognise that active citizenship can take many forms.
The program aims to:
- increase students’ understanding of Australia’s democratic systems and civic processes
- build confidence to discuss political and social issues
- foster positive attitudes towards participation and belonging within Australia’s democracy.
Monique was supported throughout the workshop by her sister, Shannon, a member of our College Board, who assisted in facilitating the day’s activities.
Inspiring Future Leaders
The impact of the workshop was immediately evident in student feedback.
One student reflected:
“I really enjoyed the Vote Like workshop because it showed that you don’t have to be a politician to make a difference. Learning about the Fix Our Feeds campaign made me realise that ordinary people can work together to influence government decisions.”
Another shared:
“I found the workshop really practical and relevant. Looking at the strategies used in the Fix Our Feeds campaign helped me understand how pressure groups, media attention and public support can work together to create political change. It made politics feel much more connected to everyday life.”
Perhaps most encouragingly, one student said the workshop had influenced their future subject choices.
“Vote Like was one of the most engaging workshops I’ve done this year. I liked that we looked at a real campaign instead of just reading about politics in a textbook. It changed the way I think about democracy because I now understand there are lots of ways citizens can influence decision-making outside of voting every few years. I was also on the fence about whether to choose ATAR Politics & Law next year, and completing this workshop inspired me to make that choice. I hope I can be an advocate for an issue like Fix Our Feeds one day.”
Empowering the Next Generation
Luke said the workshop demonstrated exactly what meaningful civics education can achieve.
“The Vote Like program was an outstanding learning experience for my students. It brought political participation to life by demonstrating that democracy extends well beyond voting, highlighting the important role of advocacy and community campaigns in shaping public policy.
“Monique delivered an engaging, relevant and thought-provoking workshop that helped students understand how young people can work together to influence decision-makers, and that you don’t have to be a politician for your voice to have an impact. Students left the session feeling empowered to participate in Australia’s democracy.”
Following the success of the pilot, Monique will return later this year to trial a second workshop, with discussions underway about expanding the program across the entire Year 10 cohort.
For Monique, returning to Santa Maria to inspire the next generation has brought her journey full circle. For our students, Vote Like has shown that democracy isn’t something that happens to them; it’s something they can actively help shape.
- active citizenship, Australian democracy, civics education for students, democracy education, Featured, past student stories, Santa Maria College alumni, Student Voice, Vote Like program, Year 10 Politics and Law, youth civic participation
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.
Weekly Wrap Up – Week 4, Term 3
The Joy of Dance Comes to Life on Stage
