Australia’s joyous participation in the Eurovision Song Contest each year is always a good conversation starter for Newington’s student delegation to the Model European Parliament (MEP). 

‘Australia’s inclusion in Eurovision is always a bit of an ice breaker for our team in the first few days of the MEP,’ says Melissa Mitreski, Newington English Teacher, Head of Whitaker House and MEP delegation facilitator. 

‘Just as Australia is not located in Europe but we love Eurovision, many of the issues pertaining to the EU are also relevant to Australia and therefore our students.’ 

The MEP was started 30 years ago with the secretariat in The Hague, Netherlands to simulate the work of the European Parliament, one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. The most recent session was held last month in Athens, the birthplace of democracy. A fitting location, says Ms Mitreski, given the MEP’s founding aim is to help young people, the world over, become active, informed and responsible global citizens through promoting diplomacy, intercultural dialogue and cooperation. Newington is the only school in Australia to participate in the esteemed international program. 

‘This was the MEP’s 60th session and our delegates Benjamin M, Peter F, Miles J and Evan G did themselves, Newington and Australia proud. As a surprise incentive, Headmaster Mr Parker dropped by to watch a day of proceedings at the MEP while on his sabbatical,’ says Ms Mitreski. 

The MEP’s objective, says Ms Mitreski, who previously facilitated MEP for Macedonia from 2011 to 2016 before beginning to teach English at Newington, is to give our young people an understanding of the EU’s decision making processes on issues such as trade, climate change, and foreign policy. 

‘Australia is obviously not a member of the EU, but we do have a free trade agreement with the EU and issues pertaining to the EU affect Australia’s interests both directly and indirectly,’ says Ms Mitreski. 

Students take on the role of delegates representing their respective Member States, candidate countries and/or guest countries, engage in debates and negotiations, and draft resolutions on both EU and international-related topics. 

‘They collaborate to find solutions for contemporary challenges, and hone their critical thinking, public speaking, and negotiation skills. It broadens our students’ horizons, fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and global perspectives. It also gives them a real taste of the workings of geopolitics and pathways into careers in diplomacy.’ 

Newington College has participated in the MEP for the past year in Prague, Czechia and Tallinn, Estonia. The Newington delegation is only made up of four to five students, so understandably, competition for places is fierce. 

‘Students are auditioned by a speech related process where they are given an EU/Australian related topic and 30 mins to do some research on it,’ says Ms Mitreski. 

‘Students then have to speak to that subject matter, and we look at the knowledge they had accumulated, how they are able to speak on the issue from Australia’s perspective, and how it relates to Australia’s relationship with the EU. Students who are ultimately successful must think critically on their feet and accentuate their argument clearly and convincingly on the fly.’ 

Last month in Athens, our Newington delegates were kept busy. Benjamin M delivered a speech at the Opening Ceremony as Head of Delegation in the Maria Callas Theatre. Miles presented the resolution on the Committee of Constitutional Affairs to the General Assembly, and questioning the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs about its resolution clause on AI assisting with identifying corrupt financial streams in the open debate, and together Peter and Benjamin prepared an impromptu speech on an amendment against their committee’s resolution, convincing 200 others why they should vote against it. Evan gave the last closing speech of the General Assembly plenary session for his Committee on Foreign Affairs, defending its resolution with all that he had.   

‘MEP is a wonderful experience which gives Newington students a unique platform to engage in diplomatic simulations, debates, and discussions on global issues with their global counterparts. It is also not only an opportunity to represent Newington College but a chance to represent Australia too on the global stage,’ concludes Ms Mitreski.