The Schools Constitutional Conventions Program is an initiative of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation. It is designed to raise public awareness about the Australian Constitution in the years leading up to the Centenary of Federation in 2001. Programs at the state level are aimed mainly at year 11 students, although some schools encourage students in earlier years, particularly year 10, to attend. Students are addressed by guest speakers, often a Member of Parliament or other expert on constitutional matters, who raise issues for the students to consider.
Students can ask questions from the floor, before moving off into small discussion groups.
Participants in the Regional Conventions are then eligible to apply to attend the State Constitutional Convention. The Fifth State Constitutional Convention was held at the Parliament of Victoria on Monday 11 October 1999. 140 students from Victorian schools were selected to attend the convention where they had the opportunity to discuss a current issue and conduct a mock referendum on this issue. The main proceedings took place in the Legislative Assembly Chamber in Parliament House. Students who participated in this State Convention had the opportunity to apply to attend the National Convention in Canberra in 2000.