Rural Victoria Program
Common Unit
Unit Description
The Rural Experience Program is a five-day overnight camp where students have the opportunity to explore one of the five Rural Regions of Victoria. They will meet the local makers, growers, crafters, and creators and learn about the regional industries, farming, and community organisations. They will investigate some of the historical, geographical, and cultural significances of the area and develop an understanding of our First Nations Peoples connection to the country that they will be immersed in. Students will discover the diverse range of scenery and natural environments that are unique to each region and gain an appreciation of the differences between urban and rural lifestyles.
There are six different Rural Experiences across the five regions of Victoria for students to choose from.
- Barwon South West: Cooriemungle
- Loddon Mallee: Benloch
- Gippsland: Allambee
- Hume: Harrietville
- Hume: Ovens Valley
- Grampians: Dunkeld
Students focus on the following key learning intentions throughout their involvement in the program:
- to understand about the First Nations stories, cultures, history and connection to land specific to the rural area
- to develop an understanding of the rural area community opportunities and challenges and act to help an aspect of the rural community
- to be able to make connections with the learning that take place during the program with some of the learning that you have explored in other subject areas, such as Geography, History, Health etc.
- to learn about the main industries and other key sectors that are significant to the rural region
- to be able to implement strategies to look after their personal and group’s health and wellbeing during the program
- to understand how they, their group and the community can live more sustainably from a social, financial and environmental perspective
Assessment
While the Rural program is not formally assessed, students keep a reflective journal and contribute to group activity roles such as; bloggers, podcasters, videographers & editors, news reporters, digital newspaper journalists, social media content creators and researchers.
