New to BSSC, Year 12 student Tyler Doye, decided to join the Environmental Leadership Team. Leadership teams are not only a great way to connect with other students: the environment is a hot topic and something Tyler is very concerned about.
With a long-held passion for politics, his curiosity was piqued by an ad on the BSSC screens for the three-day 2025 National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra.
This year’s convention topic was: ‘Revisiting Sections 51ii and 90 to Reimagine Australia’s Fiscal Federalism’.
“I thought it looked really cool,” Tyler says. “To apply, I had to write a short essay. A couple of weeks later found out I was one of 120 students selected from across Australia.”
The convention aims to ensure students interested in politics become better informed about how Australia’s Constitution provides a democratic framework. Participants also gain insight into the day-to-day events of federal parliament.
“It was a really great experience,” Tyler says.
Students heard from and met numerous politicians as well as the Governor General, Her Excellency the Hon Ms Sam Mostyn AC.
“The Governor General gave each of us a signed copy of the Australian Constitution—and Yarralumla looked exactly as I would expect a home and garden to look for someone connected to British royalty.”
Running across the same week was the Budget Speech, giving students the chance to hear this significant oration in person. They also attended Question Time.
Workshops and a mock referendum—held in Old Parliament House—brought a deep dive into Australia’s constitution as students formed groups to discuss the merits of the sections they had been asked to consider: a fundamental debate about whether state governments should become more economically independent—and how changing tax laws could impact this.
A number of distinguished university professors and representatives from the Australian Electoral Commission guided students through these workshops.
Tyler’s group concluded it was not such a great idea to change these sections of our constitution—and ultimately the ‘no to change’ won the day.
President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Sue Lines, was presented with their referendum result.
The National Press Club was also on the itinerary, and then a meeting with two students who had been to past conventions, who offered heaps of suggestions about career paths into politics.
“A lot of people don’t seem to understand how our political system works—or even how our economy is controlled. There’s always something happening that’s going to affect you, so it’s worth being informed.
“On the flip side, I think many politicians are out of touch—you see it in the recycled ideas in the ads they use. I think listening to people is one of the most important aspects of being a politician in a democracy.”
Since around 12 years of age, Tyler has wanted to be part of the action in Australian politics. However, this love affair with politics began when he was even younger—he remembers asking in Grade 3 about the results of the US 2016 election.
He finally got to vote in the May 3 federal election, and handed out how-to-vote cards on the day.
Tyler’s VCE subjects—Legal Studies, Politics, English Literature, History of Revolutions and General Maths—have been selected to set him up for a double degree in Law & Politics at Deakin University.
“My favourite subject is Legal Studies, but all my BSSC teachers are so prompt in replying to my emails. It makes me feel like the staff—and even admin—really care about me.”
He describes the college as ‘open’.
“Here, I can learn the way I want to. I like to be alone and undistracted when studying and love being able to change the places I study—such as going to the park or library.”
Music is usually part of Tyler’s study routine, but it’s also a valuable way he destresses—alongside catching up with friends or watching a movie.
“I also know how much it’s meant to me to have the kind of support my family has given me: great parenting, lots of resources, educational opportunities—and life lessons such as NOT buying me my first car so I had to save up myself.”
If he was already a member of parliament Tyler says he would be moving climate change issues along more quickly, working hard on tax reform, addressing growing inequality and ensuring more support for the LGBTIQA+ community. He’d also love to see HECs debt cut.
Tyler’s still a fan of people like US politician, Bernie Sanders, who focuses on issues such as inequality and protection of workers’ rights.
“Climate change has me really concerned. I can see it happening in my lifetime. We need young people passionate about this to be in government influencing decisions at the highest level.
“I’m not convinced activism helps because the average person just gets annoyed. Change really needs to happen at government level.
“Present wars are also horrible to hear about too. Pointless suffering. But I think the biggest problem is how the very rich influence politicians—you see it down through history, but especially in the US at the moment.”
