Curiosity at work: learning in the community

Politics students meet Ged Kearney and Penny Wong

On the 22 February, students from Year 11 Australian and Global Politics had the opportunity to attend a forum hosted by Labor Senator Penny Wong and Labor Candidate for Batman Ged Kearney. Ms Wong led an hour discussion on Australia’s contribution to foreign aid and talked about the need invest in Australia's neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region. Ms Wong then took questions from the audience and there was discussion on a range of issue including asylum seekers and terrorism.

Prior to the event, students had been challenged to ask Senator Wong some tough questions and a number of them succeeded in getting an opportunity to ask about Labor’s thoughts on youth unemployment and racism in the media. Overall, the group really enjoyed the excursion and it provoked much discussion in the classroom the next day. 

The Year 11 Politics class

At work at ACMI 

On Monday 26th of January, Mr Hamit’s Media class, together with Ms Barbara’s Drama class, headed up to ACMI in Federation Square.

We were tasked with 2 things: making advertisements and making a live news broadcast.

Our two teachers were kind and informative about what exactly we were going to do and it was very enjoyable! We comedically planned and advertised our fictional product “Stink” which to us was a perfume, air freshener AND a bear repellant!

As you can imagine it was ridiculous. After we had finished filming we all went to eat. Next it was our job to each make a live new program parody all in one take. We quickly devised some very random and stupid news topics. Highlights being: The Eifel Tower’s theft, A radioactive child eating bird, Discrimination against fire, A space goat, A hat world record and a self-cannibalistic sight-seeing pig.

After each of us had finished our news topics we each got to go check out Screen Worlds. It’s always good fun when you go in there to check everything out! But that’s not important. After Screen Worlds, we had lunch then came back to find the editor behind the area had hilariously edited our silly films. It was a sight to see. Before departure, much thanks was given to the staff at ACMI who were great at assisting us with the creative processes. We departed happy and informed.

Thank you for a great day!!!

Liam Flattley (9J)