Programs and Resources

The Cultural Exchange Program provides an opportunity for schools to develop exchanges with other schools in order to break down barriers and promote community harmony. Schools may go to the Cultural Exchange Program website to register their interest in conducting a cultural exchange program, find a partner school and access ideas about how to conduct an effective cultural exchange program.

As a part of the Cultural Exchange Program, it is anticipated that a Student Partnerships Conference will be held annually to promote successful cultural exchange programs between schools and provide teachers and students with information and ideas to increase cultural understanding and encourage harmonious community relations.

Making Multicultural Australia is a website which provides multicultural content and a range of teaching ideas and learning activities related to Australian history and culture and current multicultural issues and debates.

The Calendar for Cultural Diversity provides details of major celebrations and events of Australia's diverse cultures and communities. It is accompanied by a Teachers' Handbook to assist teachers in the development and implementation of teaching and learning programs which acknowledge and celebrate Australia's cultural diversity. Copies of the calendar and handbook are sent to government schools each year.

Identity, Culture and Conflict is a resource kit for the secondary school classroom. The kit contains eight video segments and accompanying presenter's guide and is designed to stimulate productive discussion relating to issues of identity, culture and racism, Australia's cultural and linguistic diversity, and Reconciliation. A copy is available in every high school and central school.

The Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition provides an opportunity for students in Years 3-6 to develop public speaking skills while exploring issues related to community harmony and multiculturalism.

These teaching units are designed to assist schools incorporate multicultural perspectives to the curriculum. They have been developed in conjunction with a variety of schools who have conducted multicultural education targeted projects over a number of years:

• Early Stage 1, Hopscotch and hoops around the world
• Stage 2, I'm just like you
• Stage 5, Personal identity and culture

Roads to Refuge is a teaching and learning resource for students in Years 5-10. The seven sessions deal with issues relating to the refugee journey and experience of resettlement through video footage, case studies and classroom activities. A copy is available in every school.

The Department's annual Ethnic Affairs Priorities Statement Report provides details of activities and programs undertaken by schools, regions and state office directorates which support the learning outcomes of students from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and which provide opportunities for their increased participation in education. The Department is also required to prepare a self-assessment and an EAPS Plan outlining strategies for improvement in each of the EAPS priority areas.