Learning, growing and exploring in Melbourne

A cultural melting pot, unofficial sporting capital of Australia, and considered one of the world’s most liveable cities, Melbourne offers much for school groups to explore.

Whether you are visiting the area from a neighbouring town, or your school is situated within Melbourne, multiple subject areas and cocurricular interests can be enriched by exploring the garden city. Melbourne can also make a great base for exploring attractions in neighbouring areas, providing access to adventure based activities like hiking, kayaking, and much more.

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 Of course, the Royal Botanic Gardens is a must see, with opportunities to extend learning in biology, geology, and conservation.

Home to more than 140 cultures, Melbourne is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Students can explore these different cultures through food, visiting significant sites, and meeting people. This will help them expand their world view beyond their immediate lived experience.

A museum for all interests can be found in Melbourne, with spaces dedicated to science, art, First Nations history, sport, music, transport, fashion, and a range of different cultures. A variety of performance venues in the city offer students the chance to see a live show, or connect with and learn from local performers. Similarly, Melbourne boasts world-class facilities for most sporting codes, making it an ideal destination for your school sport team.

Along with the excitement of visiting a big city, and the explicit learning opportunities, an overnight trip, or longer, to Melbourne could have unintended benefits. Away from home and out of their comfort zone, students will need to fend for themselves. They may need to manage their finances, ensure they have clean clothes and other supplies each day, and make choices about when and where to eat. For some students, it may be their first time navigating public transport, or using a map to explore a new place.

This will all help students build resilience, teamwork, problem solving skills, and communication capabilities, which will benefit them across all subject areas. A trip away from home also offers an excellent bonding experience, helping students become closer.

Students from remote and regional areas may have never visited a big city before, and a school trip to Melbourne will provide this opportunity. Many students may experience their first visit to a museum, major sporting venue or culturally significant site while visiting Melbourne, as these opportunities might not be accessible to them in their hometown.

For students approaching graduation, experiencing a big city firsthand will provide insights into the lifestyle, and assist students contemplating a move to a similar area. A taste of Melbourne will show students what to expect, if they are considering moving to pursue further study or employment, and help them decide if the hustle and bustle is for them.

To plan your Melbourne adventure, students could be tasked to identify appropriate sites to visit linked to the curriculum area. To extend the learning activity, students can plan itineraries using public transport, and organise a budget. This activity would work for students at schools central to Melbourne, as well as further afield.

Alternatively, external providers can be engaged to help plan your school trip. These providers can assist with accommodation, learning activities and itineraries.

An overnight stay or longer will give your school group time to explore even more. A range of accommodation options are available, including dedicated school camp sites, hostels, and hotels.

And for teachers, remember that Melbourne is renowned for its coffee scene, so you can make sure you remain fuelled and energised throughout you visit!

Here are some suggestions for your school’s Melbourne expedition.

Escape Hunt Melbourne offers students the opportunity to escape the classroom and leap into their wonderfully appointed worlds. Students are tasked with finding clues and completing missions in an adrenaline fuelled race against the clock.

Packed with excitement, these team building experiences inspire communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving.

Escape Hunt Melbourne has five escape rooms available that run simultaneously, accommodating up to thirty players at any one time over a one-and-a-half-hour period. The team have worked with many returning schools across Melbourne and beyond, and are always delighted to welcome new ones.

ApsisVR and ViriVR have been popular destinations for students, teachers and parents for the past five years. Visitors are challenged and entertained by Virtual Reality Games and Escape Rooms. These activities improve students’ problem solving, communication, and teamwork skills in a fun and engaging way.

ApsisVR offers several programs specifically for schools, either visiting or based in Melbourne. For Teachers, there is the Virtual Reality Micro Certification Program, a Teacher Professional Development Program utilising High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS).

For students, an excursion to ApsisVR will allow them to experience the VR Escape Rooms in groups of 10 to 20. Weekend excursions can also be organised for students living in boarding schools to have fun at ApsisVR. A VR Event Day can also be hosted at your school, where ApsisVR will establish a VR Lab for the day to deliver multiple VR activities to support student health and wellbeing.

The team at ApsisVR can support your school’s lunch time VR club, conducting and managing at-school advanced VR sessions for education or employment. A VR Hackathon, facilitated by ApsisVR, will allow students to develop learning content with teachers in a fun and engaging way, for use in their lesson plans and curriculum activities.

ApsisVR, as a specialist VR service provider, can also provide managed VR support services, providing all the required tech and VR content for your school to reduce workload on teachers and school IT technical teams.