New initiative makes museum accessible to students experiencing disadvantage
Museums Victoria’s Learning Access Fund kicks off in National Science Week
An exciting new initiative at Museums Victoria will make enriching educational experiences more accessible to students experiencing disadvantage who might not get a chance to visit its museums otherwise.
The Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund provides free or subsidised education programs to eligible schools that have not visited Museums Victoria venues in the past two years and have a high number of students experiencing social disadvantage, based on the Student Family Occupation Education (SFOE) index. Eligible schools are invited to apply online via the Museums Victoria website.
In rural Victoria, the number of people experiencing disadvantage are higher and educational aspirations and outcomes are lower than for metropolitan areas. In response to this disadvantage, the Learning Access Fund is the latest initiative in Museums Victoria’s ongoing mission to break down barriers to participation in STEM learning programs.
Museums Victoria is the largest education provider in the state outside of the Victorian Department of Education, engaging over 279,000 students each year. The organisation’s education programs directly support curriculum-based learning, and the museum delivers these programs to every single Local Government Area (LGA) across the state.
National Science Week (10–18 August) marks the beginning of school groups’ visitation thanks to the Learning Access Fund, with four regional Victorian primary schools receiving funding to send their entire population of students to Melbourne Museum for an unforgettable day of learning from the museum’s expert educators.
School groups will take in the Home of Dinosaurs Education Show, an innovative theatre-based education performance where students can discover the most amazing facts about the dinosaurs in Melbourne Museum. Armed with a curriculum-linked dinosaur booklet, they will pay a visit to Horridus – one of the world’s most complete, real Triceratops fossils – and expand their understanding of the prehistoric in Dinosaur Walk, as well as learn about today’s natural world in the popular Forest Gallery and Bugs Alive! exhibitions.
Quotes attributable to Lynley Crosswell, Museums Victoria CEO and director:
‘As part of our mission to build future generations who are set up for success, Museums Victoria is deeply committed to empowering every learner and to ensuring access and inclusion for all.’
Eligible schools are invited to apply for the Learning Access Fund online. For further information visit the Museums Victoria website.
