Dr CHALMERS (Rankin) (13:39):  Last week was Adult Learners' Week. Adult learning is an issue very close to my heart, so I was very pleased to be able to present the REACH Awards at Griffith University's Logan campus. The REACH Awards recognise people who have reconnected with the education system, often in the face of very serious and substantial obstacles, so I wanted to congratulate the recipients of the awards here in the House of Representatives and acknowledge all of the partners who helped make that possible. I wanted to pay tribute to Di Mahoney, Anja Roberts, Lesley Chenoweth and all the good people at Griffith University.

The power of adult education was neatly encapsulated in two stories told in a great night. The first one was Pip Giles. Pip Giles had the courage to tell the story of her own university journey, including a GPA that would put the rest of us to shame. John Danalis, the author, also shared his own remarkable experiences, which have also been recorded in the great novel Riding the Black Cockatoo.

In our community one person's success makes the rest of us all walk a little bit taller, so I wanted to thank the adult learners, who enrich us and our community with all of their efforts in the education system.