Working in an MP’s office is regarded as the ideal way for Mount Gambier school leaver Amity Starick to spend her so-called gap year.


Her passion for politics is being fuelled by a 12-month traineeship with Independent MP for Mount Gambier Troy Bell.


Dozens of people make contact with his Bay Road office each day and Amity and her office colleagues and Mr Bell do their best to assist them.


“Getting to be a part of this team and learning so much about the community of Mount Gambier in my short time so far has been nothing but fun and rewarding,” Amity said.


“I cannot wait to show what our team and myself will be getting up to in 2024.”


Amity appreciates the variety of her work and no two days are the same.


For example, she recently flew to Adelaide and back in one day to provide an extra pair of hands for Mr Bell.


He conducted tours of State Parliament for students from schools in his electorate.


On the other hand, Amity is also more than willing to undertake such routine office tasks as answering the phone, note taking and photocopying.


All this experience at the coalface will be invaluable for the young woman who has her heart set on a career in politics.


She officially becomes an adult on her 18th birthday on Tuesday (April 2).


“Since I was little, I have always had an interest in politics and journalism,” Amity said.


“I graduated from Mount Gambier’s Tenison Woods College in 2023 and over the last two years of my schooling, I took Modern History and Society and Culture classes.


“They soon became my favourites due to the content I was studying.


“These classes ignited my love for politics, history, and journalism, and then later discovering the traineeship that is offered at Troy’s office, I knew I had to do it.


“Next year, I will continue my studies further as I will be moving to Adelaide to study a double degree of International Relations and Media at the University of Adelaide.


“This involves four years of full-time study.”


Amity was with The SE Voice from 2022-2024 as a reporter and covered netball, tennis, basketball and events happening around Mount Gambier.


The highlight of her time with The SE Voice was being a media trainee at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in September 2022 in Sydney.


“I was able to interview some of the world’s most incredible female athletes such as Lauren Jackson, Marianna Tolo, and Kelsey Plum,” she said.


Numerous successful politicians such as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had started their careers in political offices and perhaps this will be the first chapter in the public life of Amity Starick.