From the 20th to the 26th of May 2026, the Clerk of the National Assembly of Seychelles Mrs. Tania Isaac participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Study Program (IPSP) in Canberra, hosted by the Parliament of Australia. The program is designed to enhance the understanding of parliamentary processes, structures, and operations among parliamentary staff, using the Parliament of Australia as a benchmark, while encouraging the exchange of best practices among participants. The IPSP brought together 14 senior parliamentary staff from a diversity of legislatures ranging from unicameral (one house), bicameral (two houses), Westminster systems, and Presidential systems of government. Participants hailed from Small Island Developing States with 27 Honourable Members, to vast nations of 580 Honourable Members. The esteemed group included representatives from Canada, Turkey, Seychelles, Kenya, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga, Uganda, and Zambia.
Throughout the week-long program, participants engaged in a series of interactive sessions, including tours of the Chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, observation of Committee Hearings, and presentations delivered by senior parliamentary officials. These included the Clerks of both Houses, the Sergeant-at-Arms, Committee Secretaries, Directors responsible for Table Office, Hansard, ICT, the Parliamentary Education Office and Procedural Development, to name a few. These sessions were engaging, thought-provoking, and challenged participants to reflect on their local parliamentary operations and processes. Reflecting on the experience, Mrs. Isaac stated: “The IPSP provided a valuable opportunity to refresh, and at the same time deepen, my understanding of modern parliamentary practices and to engage with colleagues from diverse jurisdictions. As the National Assembly continues its transition toward financial and administrative autonomy under the National Assembly Administration Act, this programme will further strengthen our institutional capacity and support the ongoing development of our parliamentary structures and operations.”
The programme concluded with a certificate-giving ceremony officiated by the presiding officers, Hon. Speaker of the House of Representative Hon. Milton Dick and the President of the Senate Senator the Hon. Sue Lines, who acknowledged the participants’ successful completion of the initiative. The National Assembly extends its appreciation to the Parliament of Australia for facilitating this important professional development initiative and for its continued commitment to inter-parliamentary cooperation.
