Our Year 6 students recently embarked on an unforgettable two-day camp to Canberra, a rich blend of excitement, learning, and adventure, directly linking to their HSIE unit this term. Each stop along the way brought the curriculum to life, offering hands-on experiences that deepened students' understanding of Australian history, government, and civic life.

Throughout the camp, students actively engaged with the 6 Cs of Deep Learning, ensuring a purposeful and meaningful experience. The first day began with a visit to Parliament House, where students explored the chambers and participated in a role-play that brought the law-making process to life. This activity built their communication skills and deepened their understanding of citizenship. The learning continued at the Australian War Memorial, where students demonstrated character through respectful reflection on the stories of service and sacrifice. Next, students visited Mount Ainslie Lookout, taking in the sweeping views of Canberra. It was the perfect setting for a group photo, a special moment to capture the spirit of the day and the unity of the group. That evening, students headed to Questacon, where they explored hands-on science and technology exhibits. Their creativity and collaboration were on full display as they tackled interactive challenges that sparked curiosity, innovation, and plenty of excitement. 

On Day Two, students explored Australia’s democratic journey through visits to the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) and the Australian Electoral Commission. These sessions encouraged critical thinking and helped students see the importance of being informed, active participants in our society. A highlight was the mock election, where students took on different voting roles and learned how the democratic process works in real life. The final stop was the Royal Australian Mint, where students had the unique opportunity to mint their own coin and design their own creations. This hands-on experience offered fascinating insights into Australia’s economy and the role of currency in our national identity. The bus ride home was filled with a few well-deserved naps after two days of rich learning, friendship, and fun!

Teachers were incredibly proud of Year 6. Their outstanding behaviour, thoughtful questions, and respectful engagement were consistently praised by venue staff. Their enthusiasm and participation made this experience truly special. Beyond the learning, this camp allowed students to build stronger friendships, grow in independence, and develop resilience particularly for those experiencing their first night away from home.

A camp like this wouldn’t be possible without the support and care of our amazing staff. A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Agostino, Mrs Sanchez, Mrs Weaver, Mrs Vega, Miss Messina, Mrs Cox, Mr Fitzpatrick, and Mr McKendry for taking time away from their families to guide and support our students on this journey.

To hear directly from the students, some of our Year 6 campers have written short reflections about their time in Canberra. Let’s hear what they have to say!

Daniella Sultana

Stage 3 Pastoral Coordinator

The Year 6 camp was a deeply inspiring and memorable adventure of learning, fun and memories that will last forever! We had the privilege of visiting significant landmarks such as Parliament house, Questacon, the Australian Electoral Commission, Old Parliament House and the Royal Australian Mint. In addition, we also got to see the outstanding views of Mount Ainslie, which gave us a jaw-dropping view of the city. It left us in awe to finally see how our government functioned and to have the opportunity to increase our knowledge of the Australian democratic system, along with its history. I believe that I can speak for everyone in this year when I say that we all feel incredibly fortunate to have shared this time with our peers, making beyond extraordinary memories and learning so much along the way.

- Hailey P (6 Green)

Year 6 got to school at 6:15 am; we were all excited for our Canberra camp! At 6:30 am, the bus arrived. The grade was split into two groups as there were two different buses. We were all singing, sleeping, and having fun on the bus as we waited to arrive at Parliament House. When we got there, we were greeted by some staff from Parliament House. We then went up to the Lego Parliament House, where we had some morning tea, which was frozen yogurt. After that, our guide took us around Parliament House. First, we went to the House of Representatives; after, we went to the Senate. We even saw some senators there! We did a roleplay about the House of Representatives. It was so fun as we got to be Prime Ministers, Speakers, and the Opposition! When our time was finished, we went and had some pizza for lunch. Then we went back on the bus to go to the War Memorial. There we learnt about Australia’s history, WW1 and WW2. We saw some cool artifacts like parts of tanks and a watch which told us when the Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey! Then we went to Mt Ainslie to see the view. Next, we went to our cabins. They were nice, and we also got ready for Questacon! Before we went to Questacon, we ate dinner, which was marinated chicken, vegetarian fried rice, and for dessert, we had chocolate cupcakes with whipped cream. When the bus arrived, we went on it to go to Questacon! When we arrived, we went in and a tour guide led us to our first of six fun rooms full of fun activities! We had so much fun. There was even an earthquake house; it replicated an earthquake. The last room was the best as it was a big slide! We hung on a bar one at a time, let go, and slid down it! It was so much fun. There was even a speed ball tracker which tracked the speed of your throw! Sadly, we had to leave as it was time to get back on the bus. When we got back to the cabins, we went to sleep.

The next day, we woke up at 6:45 and got ready to eat breakfast. For breakfast, we had hash browns, bacon, sausages, cereal, and toast. It was very yummy. After breakfast, we went on the bus to go to Old Parliament. There, we learnt about voting, what they wore in the House of Representatives, and we played some cool games there as well! We then went and had something to eat, which was doughnuts, juice poppers, and shapes. Afterwards, we went to the Mint, where we had lunch, which was roast beef sandwiches, apple, and water. When we went into the Mint, we looked at how coins were made, the history of Australian coins, and played some games like making our own coin and learning skills that the workers there have. At the end, we got to mint our own coin. Then we had to go home, so we went back on the bus. On the way back, some of us slept, some watched movies, and some played games like Uno. After two days of fun and excitement, we got back to the school where our trip ended.

- Liam P (6 Blue)

When we visited Canberra, we had a fantastic time! During the three-hour bus ride, we chatted and played games like Uno.  Before we knew it, we arrived at Parliament House. At Parliament House, we explored the rooms and enjoyed frozen yogurt while we answered questions about Parliament. They also showed us where important members of the Australian government would sit. Once we finished viewing the rooms of Parliament, we settled down outside, where we ate pizza along with some fruit and chips. 

We then got back on the bus and drove to many places like the War Memorial, Questacon, and Mount Ainslie, where we saw an amazing view. After visiting many enjoyable places, we returned to our resort and rested until morning.

My favorite part of this trip to Canberra was visiting Questacon, where we had the opportunity to ride a vertical slide and play various science-related games!

- Irene S (6 Red)

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributed the amount of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs.