​​

"We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams."  ― Jimmy Carter, Ex-president of the United States

Program overview

'Who do you think we are?' is an exciting full day excursion which begins at the BUEEC classroom or the forecourt of QPAC before moving into the West End to explore the influence of various migrant groups within this culturally diverse community.

In the morning session, students will gain an insight into the influence that migration has had on Australia by providing opportunities for them to share their own family migration stories. We consider the influence that migration has had in shaping the nation from the arrival of indigenous people tens of thousands of years ago, right up to the present day. Students will begin to consider the push and pull factors that influence migration before dividing into smaller groups and taking ownership of one of five migrant groups to discover more about their experiences.

Digital resources will be used to learn more about the challenges faced by their migrant group through an interaction with the individual narratives of migrant videos, written recounts, newspaper articles and presentations. Our centre teachers will guide this investigation so that each student group develops a fuller understanding of the experiences of their migrant. Through this activity, students will begin to understand more about the push and pull factors that drive people to leave their own countries and seek a new life in Australia.

To gain an understanding of specific cultural groups have contributed to Australian society, students then take a walk through the community of West End and create a thematic map of local businesses to illustrate the influence of a range of migrant groups there. Through this activity, students will gain insight into Australia's connection with other countries and how these can change people and places.

The day ends with a reflective activity where students create a digital presentation discussing the push and pull factors for their migrant group; the challenges faced by them as they left their place of birth to migrate and the ways in which they have contributed to the community of Brisbane. Presentations can later be used to compare push and pull factors between various migrant groups and begin to consider commonality of experience.

Curriculum links

Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment - Year 6 - who do you think we are​

Make a booking!