Call for compulsory
community service for high school students
By Lisa Saremel
A
proposal by the youth wing of the ALP to introduce compulsory community
service for high school students has received a mixed reaction from state
and federal ALP members and other groups.
The plan put forward by Young Labor requires all high school students to complete a set number of hours of volunteering in the community before graduating.
The community work could include helping charities, clubs, aged care services and participation in defence force cadet programs.
While backed by the Salvation Army, the general response by Federal Labor was that such a program should not be compulsory. Acting Federal Labor leader Jenny Macklin said the essence of volunteering is that it should be voluntary.
Student groups also objected on the grounds that while involvement in the community is important, it should not be forced upon young people.
Others supported the plan, including State Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt and Acting NSW Opposition Leader Andrew Stoner.
The Centre
for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au