Teen parliament: Bright young South Australians share concerns about state of health in SA

South Australia’s rising star school students are urging a health system fix, amid a final call-out to be part of the Teen Parliament event.

Talented high school students Teresa Bueti and Will Barrett are part of the University of Adelaide’s Headstart scholarship program - and passionate about health outcomes for their local community. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Two talented young rising stars are as concerned about issues affecting the state as they are in pursuing their own career aspirations and dreams.

Year 12 students Will Barrett and Teresa Bueti, who are each incorporating university subjects into their final-year curriculum, say the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in the health system.

Both believe more needs to be done to attract people to work in the sector, including providing financial incentives in the form of better pay and promoting career opportunities.

The students, each part of the University of Adelaide’s Headstart scholarship program which provides highly motived high school students the chance to enrol in university courses while still at school, shared their views two days ahead of nominations in the The Advertiser’s 2022 Teen Parliament closing.

Adelaide Botanic High School student Will, 16, who is hoping to do a double degree in teaching and music when he finishes school, is this year studying a unit in musicianship at the university.

The keen musician and singer, who plays the trombone, trumpet and euphonium, says he believes it’s important for young people to take an interest in politics and local affairs.

“After two years of living through a pandemic, I feel the state’s healthcare needs improving,” Will, from Manningham, said.

“I would say, right at this moment in time, that needs to be a priority and I don’t think our leaders have focused on it enough.”

Will said better pay rates were needed to entice more talented people into careers such as nursing and paramedics.

University Senior College student Teresa Bueti, 17, is hoping to pursue a career in the health sciences, studying a unit in human anatomy and physiology at uni this semester, and principles of human health and disease in Semester 2.

She believes better career counselling during high school could help more young people opt for careers in health.

“I feel like Covid has highlighted the need to promote the importance of the health sciences and the associated career options,” she said.

“I am lucky to have the opportunity to explore my passion and get a taste of uni life, but I think others would also benefit from more exposure to potential careers.”

It’s the ideas and priorities of youngsters like Will and Teresa that The Advertiser is hoping to hear debated in the inaugural 25-member Teen Parliament, due to sit on February 25.

Students in years 10 to 12 are invited to apply to take part before entries closing

this Friday.

A panel will select the “parliamentarians” and two students will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship to help them with post-school education, thanks to HomeStart, an anonymous donor and The Advertiser Foundation.

The event will be held in parliament under guidance from Speaker Dan Cregan.

“Young people often believe politics is not something they can influence, but they can,” he said.

“All MPs should be listening carefully to what the next generation are thinking.”