Australia is an amazing nation, home to some of the most phenomenal natural beauty that the world has to offer. A diverse, multicultural society, Australia is also home to the world’s longest continuous culture, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. With the Australian Curriculum highlighting the importance of intercultural understanding and a range of twenty-first century skills and capabilities, it’s clear to see that our very own backyard offers a plethora of learning opportunities for our students.
But where to start? Whilst Australia is home to amazing communities, stunning natural beauty and countless opportunities to learn, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the range of opportunities that present themselves. When designing a learning experience, it’s imperative that teachers are able to clearly articulate the benefits of visiting one location over another, and additionally, make meaningful links to their teaching and learning programs.
This week on the blog, we talk about how the Northern Territory provides the perfect location for teaching our students about intercultural diversity and engaging them in a range of skills-based activities.
1. Students can explore their own backyard
Our great, wide land is one that is admired both locally and from afar. Australia’s natural beauty is unique, but in some cases, a beauty that local students have not had the opportunity to experience first-hand. By giving students the opportunity to see more of Australia, we create a vehicle for students to gain more insight into their nations’ shared culture and histories. An educational tour of the Northern Territory not only creates the chance to experience one of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world, it also allows students to learn more about the first peoples of Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Additionally, students can learn about Aboriginal connection to country, and why the land we live on holds such importance within their culture.
The Aboriginal people have a strong spiritual connection to country and see it as central to their experience of the world. It forms part of their identity, and is the home of their ancestors. Land is more than just a resource or a place on which to live, it is a living, breathing entity that must be treated with the utmost of care. The extent to which young Australian’s feel connected to the land varies significantly, often depending on where they live and the belief systems of their own families and cultures. By affording students the opportunity to meet with Aboriginal people and learn more about country, students can then in turn reflect on how they themselves view the land and the connections that they might have to special places around Australia. Additionally, students have the scope to further consider the interconnected nature of our world and how their choices can make an impact on the natural environment.
A Northern Territory experience transports students to some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes and natural features. Students can marvel at natural formations such as Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta, feel the red sand between their toes and be awed by the sheer expanse of the Australian outback. For some, the landscape couldn’t be further removed from their home environment and visiting will be an experience that is remembered for many years to come.
2. Students have the opportunity to connect ideas
Teachers often express the importance of rich learning experiences that allow students to integrate and consolidate their understanding of a range of different concepts. This is supported by the Australian Curriculum, which has been designed to foster numerous cross-curricular learning opportunities. These are highlighted in the cross-curricular priorities, curriculum areas that need to be reflected in all key knowledge areas across the curriculum. Key focuses include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures and Sustainability.
Domestic travel provides a number of opportunities to focus on these cross-curricular priorities. For example, a Northern Territory educational tour allows students to engage with several curriculum areas, as well as engage in skills development in a range of the key capabilities highlighted by the Australian curriculum. In particular, the Northern Territory student programs offered by Educational Journeys have multiple experiences linking to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, including immersive community experiences where students learn from local guides and elders. These experiences allow students to develop a better breadth of knowledge and understanding of the world’s longest continuous culture and actively consider a range of factors that contribute to the experience of Aboriginal people in modern day Australia.
Unique experiences, such as visiting Karrke at Wanmarra Community Kings Creek, give students the chance to meet and talk with Aboriginal people. They learn about traditional practices and how their current way of life reflects the traditions of past and present. Students gain valuable first-hand experience of this way of life and have the chance to ask questions and make connections between ideas. Furthermore, by visiting this diverse environment, students learn from traditional landowners and farmers about the vital nature of sustainability and the importance of protecting vulnerable and unique species of plant and animal life. Students will learn about which traditional land management practices form the basis for modern land management and how other cultures can learn from these practices.
3. Students can engage with a range of capabilities
Our world is increasingly connected and as a result it is essential for our young people to be able to successfully engage with people from a range of cultural backgrounds, in addition to their own cultural background. Whilst we can teach students about cultural diversity in schools, it’s often a first-hand experience or meeting that allows students to begin to develop a more detailed understanding of the intricate features of another culture.
The Australian Curriculum highlights the importance of students understanding the diverse nature of our multicultural society, with intercultural understanding specifically designed to support students in doing so.
The key aims of intercultural understanding are:
- Recognising culture and developing respect
- Interacting and emphasising with others
- Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
An educational tour within Australia provides the opportunity for students to have multiple intercultural experiences. Varied experiential activities provide students the opportunity to meet with individuals from different cultures and learn more about their way of life.
Educational Journeys Northern Territory experiences provides students the chance to engage in valuable immersive activities and learn from those in local Aboriginal communities. Students learn about culture, belief systems and values through storytelling. They will discuss modern day cultural practices with Aboriginal community members and consider how they contrast with traditional practices. These experiences can be formative and allow students to question their preconceived ideas and beliefs about different cultures within Australia.
Experiential activities also allow students to develop a range of other twenty-first century skills, including critical and creative thinking, personal and social relationships, literacy and numeracy. By providing students with a range of activities, both independently and in groups, teachers can give students scope to work on their communication skills, problem solve and form bonds with classmates. Students can further develop these skills on their return to school through creating texts, artefacts and reports that link back to their experiences.
If you’re ready to head north, check out our programs page!