Aboriginal connections to Country excursion
HSIE history and geography
Program
Students embark on a meaningful journey to explore Aboriginal culture, connections, and responsibilities to Country. During a bushwalk through natural landscapes, they will engage in a range of activities and storytelling that highlight the deep relationships the Darug Peoples have with Country. Through this experience, students will discover how Country provides essential resources such as tools, weapons, food, and medicines, while also learning the many ways we can respectfully care for and protect Country.
Learning intention
- We are learning to identify the features of Country.
- We are learning to describe the relationship between Aboriginal Peoples and Country.
Activities
Students will embark on a bushwalk to develop a deeper awareness and connection with their natural surroundings. Using Aboriginal Dreaming stories as a guide, they will identify and explore the significant natural features within their environment.
Through a combination of teacher-led instruction and student-directed activities, students will explore the characteristics of bushland, understand how it is cared for, and appreciate its significance to Aboriginal Peoples.
Activities include creating sand stories, sensory-guided bush resource walk, creating a nature orchestra and nature-based memory games. To conclude the day students will reflect on and recount what they have learnt whilst creating a nature based artwork.
Location options
Buffalo Creek Reserve
Main location – including bus maps, risk management advice, track overview
Field of Mars Reserve
Alternative location – including bus maps, risk management advice, track overview
Blackman Park
Alternative location – including bus maps, risk management advice, track overview
Essential information
| Cost 2025 |
DoE $25 per student – GST free Non-gov school $35 per student – GST free, min charge $750 |
| Cost 2026 |
DoE $27 per student – GST free Non-gov $37 per student – GST free, min charge $750 per class Term 1 – Non-gov weeks 3 to 6 cost = DoE cost – GST free, min charge $750 |
| Classes | Maximum 6 classes. |
| Bring | Sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, reusable name tag. |
| View | Preparing for your excursion |
| Welfare |
Rugged bushwalking, limited wheelchair accessibility. May not suit recently unwell participants. For medical or special needs notify staff prior to program. |
| Extreme or wet weather | Program may be modified, postponed or cancelled due to predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms. |
| Booking policy | Confirm student numbers and classes 7 days in advance. |
| Cancellation fee |
Less than 30 working school days – $600 Less than 7 working school days notice – full cost Weather or fire danger cancellation – $0 |
| Time | Activities |
| 9.45 - 10.15 | Introduction, toilets and recess |
| 10.15 - 12.00 | Bushwalk and activities |
| 12.00 - 12.30 | Lunch and toilets |
| 12.30 - 2.00 | Bushwalk and activities |
| 2.00 - 2.15 | Pack up, toilets and depart |
Human Society and its Environment K-6 Syllabus (2024)
Outcomes
- Describes interactions between Aboriginal Peoples and Country HS1-ACH-01
- Describes ways people connect to and care for places, water environments and each other, using geographical information HS1-GEO-01
- Describes the ancient past and changes in communication over time, using stories, images, objects and sites as evidence HS1-HIS-01
Geography content
Aboriginal Peoples have a responsibility to Country
- Identify how Aboriginal Country is represented in a range of contexts
- Describe ways in which Aboriginal Peoples use Knowledge of land, water and sky Country in everyday life
- Recognise Aboriginal Peoples’ responsibility to Country can incorporate physical, spiritual and Cultural connections
History content
Aboriginal Peoples have rich and diverse Cultures and Histories
- Locate and discuss objects and sites that evidence Aboriginal Peoples as the oldest living continuous Cultures in the world
- Identify and describe significant Aboriginal sites across NSW and relate them to Dreaming Stories
Text link
This excursion supports the study of the text Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy. Walker Books (2016).
Other syllabus links
Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcome:
English K-10 Syllabus (2022)
Vocabulary
- Understands and effectively uses Tier 1, taught Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary to extend and elaborate ideas EN1-VOCAB-01
English K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2022
Human Society and its Environment K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024
