Place and liveability excursion | Stage 4 Geography  | Field of Mars EEC

Cost, risk assessment and details

Cost	DoE school $27 per student – GST free Non-gov school $37 per student – GST free, minimum charge $750 per class Program costs may change. Bookings are charged at the cost confirmed when you book.
Classes	Maximum 4 classes with up to 30 students per class. This is a temporary reduction due to construction noise.
Risk assessment	Access the risk assessment for your excursion location. Mill Park risk assessment Meadowbank wharf risk assessment
Activities	Activities may change to suit student needs, the selected site and weather conditions.
Bring	View Preparing for your excursion. Bring worksheet, writing equipment, clipboard, medications, low-waste food, water bottles, sunblock, hat and raincoat in a backpack. Sports uniform recommended.
Welfare	Participants will be walking all day. Some sites not wheelchair accessible - contact centre. 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 and rescheduling	Cancellation or rescheduling with less than 30 school days’ notice before the booking date – $650 Cancellation with less than 14 school days’ notice before the booking date – full program cost Cancellation due to unsafe weather or fire danger – $0

Fieldwork activities

Mapping and field sketch

Students examine the natural and built features of place through mapping and field sketching.

Liveability and community survey

Students will use observation, bipolar analyses and a range of digital instruments to assess liveability in relation to social, cultural, economic and environmental factors.

Living river assessment

Students conduct a case study of swimming in the Parramatta River, engaging in sensory fieldwork and water quality testing to investigate connections between urbanisation, environmental quality and liveability.

Discussion and reflection

Students use their acquired data to consider how liveability has been planned for and can be improved, whilst recognising varied perceptions of liveability.

Worksheet and supporting resources

Worksheet	Worksheet Schools are responsible for printing student worksheets.
Additional learning resources	Fieldwork techniques

Explore related fact sheets

Use these student-friendly fact sheets before or after your Place and liveability excursion to support investigations of urban places, environmental quality, waterways and liveability factors.

• ⁠Urban environments fact sheet – Learn how buildings, transport, green spaces, waterways, people and wildlife shape urban environments.
• ⁠Estuary environments fact sheet – Explore places where freshwater and saltwater mix, including urban river foreshores and tidal waterways.
• ⁠River and creek environment fact sheet – Learn how water flow, banks, vegetation and human impacts affect river and creek environments.
• ⁠Water habitats fact sheet – Explore water habitats that support plants, animals and fieldwork about environmental quality.
• ⁠Mangrove forest ecosystem fact sheet – Discover tidal forests that can influence foreshore biodiversity, water quality and liveability.
• ⁠Ecosystems and environments fact sheet – Compare urban environments with forests, wetlands, waterways and other managed places.

Suggested timetable

Time	Activities
9.30 - 10.00	Arrival and introduction Toilets
10.00 - 11.30	Fieldwork activities
11.30 - 12.00	Food break and toilets
12.00 - 1.30	Fieldwork activities
1.30 - 2.00	Food break and toilets
2.00 - 2.15	Conclusion and depart

Syllabus outcomes and content

NSW Geography K-10 Syllabus (2024)

Outcomes

• locates and describes the diverse features and characteristics of a range of places and environments GE4-DFC-01
• explains the processes and interactions that change people, places and environments GE4-PRI-01
• examines and describes the perspectives of people and organisations on a range of geographical issues GE4-PER-01
• explains the management and protection of places and environments GE4-MAN-01
• selects and uses geographical tools to acquire and process geographical information GE4-TAP-01
• uses concepts and terminology to communicate geographical information for a range of purposes, audiences and contexts GE4-COM-01

Content

Thinking and working geographically

• Use relevant geographical concepts
• Engage in geographical inquiry using geographical information
• Use relevant geographical tools

Perceptions of liveability

• Environmental, social, economic and political factors that affect the liveability of places
• Diverse experiences and different perceptions of the liveability of places
• Methods used to measure, assess or rank liveability

Influences and impacts on liveability

• Influences of social, cultural and community connections on liveability
• Access to services and facilities that influence the liveability of places
• Physical and human influences that impact environmental quality and the liveability of places

Enhancing liveability

• Roles and actions of community groups in enhancing liveability

NSW Geography K-10 Syllabus (2015)

Outcomes

• locates and describes the diverse features and characteristics of a range of places and environments GE4-1
• explains how interactions and connections between people, places and environments result in change GE4-3
• examines perspectives of people and organisations on a range of geographical issues GE4-4
• explains differences in human wellbeing GE4-6
• acquires and processes geographical information by selecting and using geographical tools for inquiry GE4-7
• communicates geographical information using a variety of strategies GE4-8

Content

Influences and perceptions

Students:

• investigate factors influencing perceptions of the liveability of places

Access to services and facilities

Students:

• investigate the influence of accessibility to services and facilities on the liveability of places

Environmental quality

Students:

• investigate the impact of environmental quality on the liveability of places

Community

Students:

• investigate the influence of social connectedness and community identity on the liveability of places

Enhancing liveability

Students:

• investigate strategies used to enhance the liveability of places using examples from different countries

Geography K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2015

Start and finish locations

Depending on the number of classes attending, this program may commence and conclude at two locations - Mill Park and Meadowbank wharf.

Each class will walk along different routes around Meadowbank and the Parramatta River foreshore. Please contact the centre for planning assistance.

Walking route	Number of classes	Start and finish location
North-south walk	Up to 4 classes	Mill Park (temporarily not in use due to construction noise)
East-west walk	Up to 4 classes	Meadowbank wharf