Seeking Refuge and Belonging
Explore the stories of people seeking refuge in the context of Australia's immigration history.
In this curriculum aligned excursion secondary students learn about refugee and asylum seeker experiences, Australia’s immigration policies and the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Students will experience
- Stories of displaced peoples, asylum seekers and refugees from the museum’s collection.
- Presentation of key ideas, documents and terminology on seeking refuge in the Australian context.
- Following a classroom session, visit museum galleries to consolidate learning on Australian laws, legal definitions and interact with further stories of people who have sought asylum in Australia.
Students will learn
- Key ideas and definitions including refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, human rights.
- An understanding of key institutions and legislation including UN, UNHCR, Refugee Convention, Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- An outline of the process for an individual who is seeking refuge.
- A range of people across time and locations who have sought asylum to Australia.
Students will be provided
- A booklet to guide them through the galleries and to record their findings.
Students will need
- Pens or pencils.
Other key information
- The length of this excursion is 90 minutes and includes a 45-minute workshop and a 45-minute gallery visit.
- Teachers are encouraged to visit the Getting In gallery and the Immigration Museum permanent exhibitions to familiarise themselves with the content before the excursion.
Availability
Terms 1–4, Monday to Thursday
Duration: 90 minutes
Student information
Years 9 to 10, VCE
Maximum 30 students
Bookings
Workshop
Presented by a museum educator
Victorian Curriculum Links
History Levels 9 and 10
Overview: Levels 9 and 10
- significant developments and events since 1945 that have contributed to global change, such as World War II, the United Nations, the Cold War and technologies (VC2HH10K03)
- the continuing efforts to create change in the civil rights and freedoms in Australia, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants and women (VC2HH10K06)
Investigation: The globalising world (1945–present)
- the origins and significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including Australia’s involvement in the development of the declaration (VC2HH10K37)
Civics and Citizenship: Levels 9 and 10
Government and democracy
- the Australian Government’s roles and responsibilities at a regional and global level, including diplomatic relations in the Asia-Pacific region (VC2HC10K04)
Citizenship, diversity and identity
- individual and group participation in, and contribution to, civic life and global citizenship (VC2HC10K09)
- the influence of a range of media, including social media, in shaping identity and attitudes to diversity (VC2HC10K11)
Intercultural Capability: Levels 9 and 10
Culture, identity and belonging
- how diverse cultures, including their own, influence one another in a range of contexts and how this impacts identity and a sense of belonging and inclusion (VC2CI10C01)
- ways in which intercultural relations and intercultural experiences are influenced by policies and practices of a range of institutions (VC2CI10C02)
VCE Legal Studies
Unit 2: Wrongs and Rights
- Area of Study 3: Human Rights
Accessibility
Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund
The Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund aims to enhance access to our museums (Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and Immigration Museum), programs and events by offering free or subsidised education programs for eligible schools. Find out more about the fund.
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