Canberra

“Students develop the knowledge, skills, and values to participate as active and informed citizens.”

Canberra provides students with direct exposure to Australia’s democratic system and national institutions. Through guided experiences, students explore how laws are made, the roles of elected representatives, and the responsibilities of citizens within a democracy. These visits bring abstract civic concepts to life, supporting classroom learning around governance, participation, and national identity.

Key Attractions:

• Parliament House

• Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House)

• High Court of Australia

• Australian Electoral Commission Education Centre

“Students develop knowledge, understanding and skills to make informed decisions about health, wellbeing and physical activity.”

Outdoor learning environments in Canberra encourage active participation and engagement with the natural world. Students can explore personal and community wellbeing, resilience, and respectful relationships through both structured programs and reflective learning experiences. Physical activity components of tours also support the development of movement skills and personal responsibility.

Key Attractions:

• Australian Institute of Sport

• Mount Ainslie

• Lake Burley Griffin

• National Arboretum Canberra, e.g. orienteering

• Cycle Canberra

“Students investigate the past to understand the present.”

Students engage with primary sources, national memorials, and curated exhibitions that examine Australia’s social, political, and military history. Visits encourage inquiry into continuity and change, perspectives, commemoration, and the significance of historical events. Canberra’s national institutions provide meaningful opportunities for students to analyse evidence and reflect on Australia’s evolving story.

Key Attractions:

• Australian War Memorial

• National Museum of Australia

• National Archives of Australia

• Old Parliament House

“Students explore the relationship between people and their environments.”

Canberra’s planned design and surrounding landscapes offer opportunities to examine urban planning, sustainability, and environmental management. Students investigate how natural and built environments interact, how places are designed for purpose, and how communities respond to environmental challenges. Fieldwork elements can support geographical inquiry skills and spatial awareness.

Key Attractions:

• National Arboretum Canberra

• Lake Burley Griffin

• Australian National Botanic Gardens

• Mount Ainslie Lookout

“Students engage in creating and responding to artworks.”

National cultural institutions provide exposure to diverse artistic practices, historical works, and contemporary expressions. Students analyse visual storytelling, symbolism, and creative techniques while responding to artworks that reflect Australia’s cultural identity. Many venues offer guided workshops that support artistic exploration and critical reflection.

Key Attractions:

• National Gallery of Australia

• National Portrait Gallery

• National Film and Sound Archive

• Canberra Glassworks

“Students design and produce solutions to identified problems.”

Through interactive exhibitions and innovation-focused programs, students explore scientific principles, engineering processes, and technological advancements. Experiences encourage design thinking, experimentation, and problem-solving, reinforcing classroom learning in STEM disciplines.

Key Attractions:

• Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre

• CSIRO Discovery Centre

• Australian Mint

“Students develop scientific knowledge, understanding and skills to investigate the natural and physical world.”

Canberra offers interactive and inquiry-based environments where students can explore scientific concepts through experimentation and observation. Experiences support the development of scientific inquiry skills, including questioning, predicting, analysing evidence, and communicating findings. Visits reinforce classroom learning in physical sciences, biological sciences, Earth and space sciences, and STEM applications.

Key Attractions:

• Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre

• CSIRO Deep Space

• Australian National Botanic Gardens

• National Arboretum Canberra

• Geoscience Centre

• Mt Stromlo Observatory

“Students learn to listen to, read, view, speak, write and create increasingly complex and sophisticated texts.”

National institutions provide rich opportunities for students to analyze primary sources, persuasive texts, historical narratives, and visual storytelling. Through exhibitions, guided discussions, and reflective tasks, students interpret multiple perspectives and develop critical literacy skills. Experiences support comprehension, analysis, and the creation of informed responses to real-world texts.

Key Attractions:

• Museum of Australian Democracy

• National Archives of Australia

• Australian War Memorial

• National Museum of Australiaescription

“Students develop mathematical understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning.”

While not always an obvious link, Canberra’s institutions provide authentic contexts for applying mathematical reasoning. Students can explore measurement, scale, data interpretation, financial literacy, and spatial awareness through real-world examples. Integrating mathematics into excursions supports applied learning and strengthens connections between abstract concepts and practical use.

Key Attractions:

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (education resources)

• Australian Mint

• National Arboretum Canberra (mapping, scale and design concepts)

• Parliament House (design, symmetry and spatial planning)