I had the opportunity to formally congratulate Mount Ridley College year 12 student Dean Ieremia for being awarded the inaugural Arthur Calwell Rising Star Award - an award recognising significant progress and early achievement in a student's professional or community field of endeavour.

Dean Ieremia is a rising star in rugby league. In April this year he became the first student from Mount Ridley College to formally sign a contract with Melbourne Storm.

Whilst on youth matters, I want to mention the Calwell Youth Committee, an initiative developed and led by Sachetha Bamunusinghe, with the assistance of Aggelos Makrigiorgios, who both work in my office. I have always valued the importance of fostering and mentoring our local youth, who will be, as we all know, the leaders of tomorrow.

Our Calwell Youth Committee brings together a collective of young people to discuss issues they find important to them, especially in the local area.