Heart Camp

A Journey to La-Trobe

Heart Camp Excursion overview and Activities.....

On the 16th of August 2022, La-Trobe university held a generous onsite excursion (Heart Camp) for students from various schools to attend and learn about the cardiovascular system in a human’s body, how it functions daily, and what illnesses and diseases might threaten the system that keeps our heart beating.

Accompanied by our lovely Science teacher Ms. Rachel Radford, several Lalor North Secondary College students from year 9 and 10 set off to expand their knowledge on the topic and explore the amazing La-Trobe Bundoora Campus.

As soon as the students had arrived at the university location, a timetable of the activities and time periods for the activities was given out to all teachers. Then all the students had gathered in a lecture hall to be welcomed and introduced to the professors in charge.

Students were then presented with PowerPoints on basic information about heart physiology then blood vessels physiology. The PowerPoints were very explanatory and educational, in addition to the professionals speaking to the students about a certain topic and answering to any raised questions by the students. 

Our Lalor North students were scheduled to meet with a professor to teach them about Heart pressure and the two types of heart pressure: systolic and diastolic. Students participated in an activity to measure the heart pressure of classmates before and after exercising for a few minutes.

With the help of another professor, Lalor North students made their way to the Anatomy room, the room with all the stored human organs donated by those that have passed. 

Students got to observe and hold the human heart and human brain – with the appropriate equipment. In addition to learning various things about the organs and their functions in the body.

After that, Students gathered for free lunch offered by the University, and our Lalor North students decided to take a walk to the library, where they learned just how amazing La Trobe is of a university. When Lunch was over all students gathered and listen to the inspiring stories of Garrie (Cardiovascular Professor) and Vivian (PhD researcher), and how they’ve made it so far in their life, starting off with so little. And in addition, they were kindly willing to answer to any risen questions by the students and offer their advice.

It was a lovely event that surely our students would love to experience once more. The people were ever so welcoming, and the university was incredible.