The Parliament of NSW announced that Jessica Johnston from Richmond Christian College in Ballina is the winner of the 2024 Parli-Flicks Short Film Award. 

This year, students from Years 5 to 12 across NSW were invited to tackle the thought-provoking question: “If you were a Member of Parliament, what is the one law you would want to pass?”.  

Parliament received submissions from both primary and secondary students, representing regional and metropolitan areas. Each entry showcased remarkable creativity and offered a unique perspective on democracy. 

On November 13, the awards ceremony at NSW Parliament House celebrated finalists across five categories, with Jessica announced as the overall winner.

She was awarded a trophy plus a $500 prize for her entry, Helping Animals, which advocates for mandatory courses for new pet owners on how to care for their furry friends. 

The Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, President of the NSW Legislative Council, praised all students who entered the annual short film award. 

“This year’s entries exceeded our expectations. The vision and thoughtfulness of the students highlights the incredible talent across our state,” Mr Franklin said. 

“Congratulations to Jessica and all the finalists for their outstanding entries.” 

Finalists were awarded a $100 prize and a medal in honour of their achievements. The categories included Best Regional Short Film and Best Metropolitan Short Film, as well as distinctions for Junior and Senior Secondary entries. 

For more information about the Parli-Flicks Short Film Award and to view the winning entries, please visit the Parliament of NSW Education website.