Speeches
Sunday, 14 June 2026
South Australia and Okayama Connected Classrooms Online Exchange (Okayama, Japan)
I am pleased to be in Okayama and to join you in celebrating the connections our young people are building through our schools and international education platforms.
Education is a powerful connector. It connects people not only within our own communities but across continents.
It spans every stage of life, offering diverse pathways through school, vocational education, tertiary and as alumni.
It is a foundation upon which enduring bonds between regions and nations can be forged.
Supporting young people to have access to a high quality and innovative education with a global focus is a priority for South Australia and Okayama Prefecture.
Sister state relationships, such as that of South Australia and Okayama, can provide opportunities for meaningful engagement and mutual growth.
International school partnerships, like the one developing between Okayama Tsuyama Higashi High School and Reynella East College, can be formed within these sister state frameworks and brought to life, allowing young people to learn from each other and to foster intercultural understanding and a global vision.
These international school partnerships allow young people to explore new perspectives, develop respect for different cultures, and communicate across boundaries, broadening horizons for everyone involved.
While we often mark partnerships with formal agreements or official visits like today, it is the people-to-people connections, especially those formed by our young people, that promise an enduring and vibrant future for our sister state relationship.
I especially welcome all the students here and those participating online.
Your willingness to join this international online exchange is a testament to your curiosity, commitment, and enthusiasm for learning beyond borders.
Congratulations for embracing this opportunity to share your cultures and to form new friendships.
International cooperation in education is essential in today's interdependent world.
As the world changes rapidly, future generations will navigate challenges and opportunities that cross national, cultural, and linguistic boundaries.
More than ever, we need citizens who are open-minded, empathetic, and equipped to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with all people.
By participating in exchange programs, such as the online collaboration we are acknowledging today, you are becoming the global citizens our world needs.
Technology in our classrooms is bringing schools in South Australia and Okayama closer together, making it possible for students separated by oceans to connect, share interests, and collaborate in real time.
I look forward to hearing from the students here today about their newly formed online experiences.
Today's online friendships may become tomorrow's face-to-face meetings here in Okayama, in South Australia, or perhaps elsewhere in the world.
I hope you continue to embrace opportunities to engage, both as students and as friends, into the future.
Let us remember: exchanges like these are about more than academic enrichment or language improvement.
They foster mutual respect, deepen understanding of our differences, and nurture empathy. The way you interact and learn from one another helps to break down barriers and build bridges between our communities.
Students,
I am inspired by the commitment, leadership, and courage our young people show.
Please keep supporting each other, stay curious, and carry forward the best of both Australian and Japanese traditions as you grow and learn together.