A new national initiative from Squiz Kids is inviting Australian primary school students to imagine themselves in the country’s top job – and explain the one thing they would change if they were Prime Minister for a day.
The competition, PM for a Day, is being launched via the Squiz Kids podcast and will see the winning student flown to Canberra for a behind-the-scenes experience at the heart of Australia’s political system.
The initiative is a collaboration between Squiz Kids and the Office of the Speaker of the House, Milton Dick MP, with additional support from the Office of the Governor-General.
A civics lesson with real-world stakes
As part of the competition, students are invited to submit a short video explaining the single change they would make to improve life in Australia if they were Prime Minister for a day.
The winner will be flown to Canberra on March 31 for a day on Capitol Hill, including a personalised tour of Parliament House, a guided visit to Government House led by the Governor-General, and the chance to meet federal parliamentarians – and possibly even the sitting Prime Minister.
According to Squiz Kids director Bryce Corbett, the initiative is designed to spark curiosity about democracy among younger audiences.
“PM For A Day is part of Squiz Kids’ continued effort to improve civics engagement among Aussie kids,” explained Corbett.
“We firmly believe that if the next generation doesn’t understand our system of government – and how and why it’s so precious – they won’t grow up motivated to nurture and protect it.
“Together with Newshounds – our digital literacy program for primary school kids, currently in over 5,000 Aussie classrooms – ‘PM For A Day’ is part of Squiz Media’s effort to help safeguard Australia’s democracy.”
Squiz Kids director Bryce Corbett. Source: Supplied
Podcast meets classroom
The competition extends the work Squiz Kids has already been doing in schools through its Newshounds digital literacy program, which is currently used in more than 5,000 classrooms across Australia.
Entries will be judged by a panel that includes journalist and author Annabel Crabb, House Speaker Milton Dick MP and Shadow Cabinet Secretary Zoe McKenzie MP.
The program also complements the Parliamentary Education Office’s Parliament in Schools initiative run by the Office of the Speaker.
Backed by democracy initiative
The PM for a Day competition is supported by McKinnon, formerly the McKinnon Foundation, as part of its Democracy Counts initiative, which aims to strengthen civic participation and democratic understanding in Australia.
Through the Squiz Kids podcast platform, the organisers hope the program will not only inspire students to think critically about government but also encourage broader conversations about civic responsibility among younger Australians.