Year 9 Future Sanctuary Design Challenge day

The first of two excursions took the first half of our Year 9 cohort to Healesville Sanctuary, taking part in a free excursion that brought together Indigenous perspectives, conservation, sustainability, and hands-on design thinking, all deeply connected to life right here in Healesville.

Students explored the sanctuary, attending animal talks featuring koalas and kangaroos, and taking in the breathtaking Spirits of the Sky free-flight bird presentation. Along the way, they reflected on what worked well and where improvements could be made. 

The afternoon brought a session about the concept of "Layers of Country" to engage more deeply with the space around them and a collaborative design workshop where students put their ideas to work brainstorming, prototyping, and developing concepts for a "Future Sanctuary" experience. The day wrapped up with students sharing their visions for how the sanctuary could be improved for generations to come. This kind of immersive, place-based learning is exactly what connects classroom ideas to the real world and our own backyard is the perfect place to do it.