Anesha Rahman to read acknowledgement of country at Teen Parliament

16-year-old Anesha Rahman will join The Advertiser’s Teen Parliament this week, with the aim of promoting cultural inclusion for the Indigenous community.

Anesha Rahman has big ideas. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Proud young Aboriginal woman, year 12 student Anesha Rahman has big plans for a culturally inclusive future.

Anesha, 16, of Badimaya heritage from the Yamatji region of Western Australia, will be presenting her ideas for a culturally responsive South Australia at The Advertiser’s Teen Parliament on Friday morning. The parliament is part of The Advertiser’s inaugural Building a Bigger, Better South Australia campaign.

The Wilderness School student, who is from Oakden, will give the acknowledgment of country at the opening of the parliament in the House of Assembly, where Speaker Dan Cregan will preside over a debate with 25 students.

Anesha Rahman, who will give the acknowledgement of country at the Youth Parliament on Friday. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The parliament has devised special Standing Orders to help students share the big idea which secured them a place as a teen parliamentarian for the morning.

Anesha’s passion for her culture and awareness of her family’s suffering, including her grandfather who was a member of the Stolen Generation, spurs her advocacy.

“In the public I feel like there can be a very tokenistic nature in which Aboriginal people are presented,” she said.

“It feels like sometimes things are done in a way that’s only trying to show that things are diverse, but not really take Aboriginal perspectives into consideration.”

George Burgess, 15, who will be at Teen Parliament. Picture: Supplied

Mihir Doshi, 17, ahead of Teen Parliament. Picture: Supplied

Her plan to introduce bush tucker menus at South Australian schools, and inviting rural doctors to participate in providing healthcare in remote Aboriginal communities under spiritual trees, are just a few ways that family influence has impacted her outlook.

Daughter of the University of South Australia’s first Aboriginal PhD graduate from the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education, Dr Kiara Rahman, Anesha said hearing of her family’s previous injustices made her drive change.

“There isn’t a lot of representation of Aboriginal people in the media and I wanted to be a role model,” she said.

“For Aboriginal students at my school, I wanted to be a role model and show them we can do really great things and put our ideas out there and be recognised.”

Tealia Jenkins, 16, of Inglewood, who will be at Teen Parliament. Picture: Supplied

Teen Parliament MP Ebony Hughes, 16, of Victor Harbor. Picture: Supplied

Anesha began studying at Wilderness in year 4, after receiving a scholarship.

She said the opportunity to educate others at the Teen Parliament was exciting.

“My school is really good with promoting diversity, and I just wanted to make sure that every other school is like that as well,” Anesha said.

“Doing this will help me to discover more about my culture, and gain confidence in my ability to voice these issues of my community.”