Voting in Australia | Meet the Changs | Ep 8

Learning notes

For students:  (pdf - 134kb)

For teachers: (pdf - 102kb)


Transcript

Melanie:
Department of Oz-Speak here. Today we’re looking at voting in Australia. Vote 1 for Melanie!

Rami is drinking tea with Michael. Nicholas is distributing the mail.

Michael:
Backgammon tomorrow?

Rami:
Definitely! You’re getting too good at this game.

Nicholas:
Baba, this if for you. And Mama, this is for you.

Rami:
My friend, what is it?

Michael:
Citizenship!

Grandma:
What happened?!

Michael:
G'day, mum. I’m now a citizen!

Rami:
Congratulations! Just in time for the elections.

Michael:
But I'm not ready! Do I have to?!

Rami:
Yes. Voting is mandatory, but you have to enrol to vote.

Nicholas:
Baba, this is for you.

Michael and Rami sit across each other over a game of backgammon.

Rami:
Listen very carefully. In Australia we have three levels of government.
Now, you need to know what level of government the election is for. Is it local, state or federal?
Each level has an election every 2 to4 years. So you're going to be heading to the polls pretty regularly!

Michael:
How do you know who to vote for?

Rami:
You vote for the one you like! For example, the current person in our electorate always fights for small business. Very good chap! So, you vote for whoever's policies you agree with, and whoever you want to be your voice in government.

Michael:
But how will I know where to find these policies?!

Rami:
Trust me, you will know.

The Chang family is outside the school. Michael is handed campaign flyers.

Nicholas:
How cool that we can vote at school, hey!

Melanie:
Small one there. Big one, there.
There are always plenty of voting officers to help you on the day.
Vote 1, Melanie!

Nicholas:
Ma, come on!

Mariam:
Get your democracy kebab wrap!

Lily:
Two lamb kebabs for the kids and one falafel wrap for ma please.

Mariam:
Ah, what about you?!

Lily:
I do not want it.

Nicholas:
Thank you.

Mariam:
Lily… for you.

Lily:
I did not order -

Mariam:
This one is on the house for my neighbour! You must try my legendary garlic sauce!

Connie:
Legendary.

Michael votes at the school voting station.

Michael:
This one wears glasses... this one has nice hair... this one cares about climate change? The weather has been pretty weird recently.

Michael has finished voting.

Lily:
He’s coming!

Connie:
Good job, how was it?!

Michael:
It was alright. Ok, let’s go.

Nicholas:
Can we get a kebab?

Michael:
Of course!

Grandma:
Another freebie for your neighbor?

Melanie:
A freebie is something given for free.

Grandma:
I'm sure you will be neighbours in more than one way with my son soon.

Mariam:
What do you mean?

Grandma:
They're going to get the shop lease near your kebab store!

Melanie:
Things are getting spicy!
Remember, voting is mandatory in Australia, and you have to enrol first. Ah, democracy. I love it almost as much as having a democracy kebab after I've cast my vote... for myself. Vote 1, Melanie!



END





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Credits
Produced by SBS with assistance by

Video production company: Studio Gilay

Director: James Hackett

Educational consultant: Natalie Oostergo - International Education Services


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4 min read
Published 7 June 2022 11:25am
Updated 4 August 2022 9:54pm


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