Australian Cultural Immersion Programs for School Students Take Hobart Students to Central Australia

Tasmania, Australia February, 2013 – Towards the end of last year, 25 female Year 9 students from St Michael’s Collegiate  made the trip to Yipirinya Primary School and the Red Centre in Central Australia as part of a cultural immersion program for school students. The Hobart students and four of their teachers joined Kate and Clint Miller from Destination Dreaming, a not-for-profit social education and global learning organisation that runs global learning programs for school students, for nine days of intercultural learning and outback adventure. www.destinationdreaming.org.au/
 
Working in two groups, the students taking part in the cultural immersion program for school students spent half the program participating in life at Yipirinya Primary School, an independent school for indigenous children in Mpartwne (Alice Springs). The remainder of the program was spent exploring Central Australia, including watching the sun set over Uluru, hiking through Kings Canyon and sleeping in swags under the stars.
 
During their time at the school, the girls supported the classroom teachers wherever possible and got involved in a huge range of class activities, including drumming, traditional painting and collecting bush sugar – ensuring the global learning program was a truly two-way exchange. The girls were also lucky enough to spend time with a local Walpiri, Luritja man, who shared some insights into Mpartwne and the Aboriginal histories and traditions of the region.
 
The overwhelming highlight for the Melbourne students was the friendships formed with students at their partner school, Yipirinya. It is hoped that this is just the beginning of a long relationship between the two schools, formed and nurtured by global service learning programs for school students led by Destination Dreaming. www.destinationdreaming.org.au/
 
The Collegiate community, led by the girls who visited Central Australia, raised $2,000 to support the Yipirinya School Honey Ant Readers program - a series of early Readers that focus on Indigenous learners, their languages, interests and life experiences. The group also collected and donated second-hand clothing, which was identified as a key need by the local school.
 
Reflecting on her experience, St Michael’s Collegiate student and intercultural learning program participant Georgia Ryan said “Thank you! The Northern Territory Experience will be something that I will always remember. It has definitely helped me grow as a person.”
 
Destination Dreaming works with schools creating sustainable community partnerships that teach students about global citizenship, self-awareness and social justice. These global citizenship programs for school students help the young people thrive in an increasingly global world with new challenges each day. Destination Dreaming runs these programs in Australia and internationally. To find out more visit  www.destinationdreaming.org.au/.

Contact Information

Kate Miller

Program Director

Destination Dreaming

(61) 03 5255 5148

info@destinationdreaming.com.au