By Karen Noble,
Professional Learning Coordinator,
Asia Education Foundation
July and August saw the final learning lift for 2022 as participants convened in Queensland for the GGC Immersion Program and wrapped up the year with our fourth workshop.
In the true ethos of global citizenship, the Queensland Department of Education (QLD DoE), led by Jacinta Webb (Director, Global Engagement) and Meredene Hill (Manager, Global Engagement), supported and co-facilitated an inspiring and informative immersion visit to the sunshine state. Participants of AEF’s Growing Global Citizens (GGC) professional learning course, commissioned and funded by the South Australian Department for Education (SA DfE), comprised 25 school leaders who connected and collaborated with Queensland colleagues.
South Australian school leaders had a window into the process of systemic change necessary to unlock the potential of global citizenship education through exploring the Global Competence Pilot Program and providing the context for global competence in Queensland state schools. The session was facilitated by Jacinta Webb, Director Global Engagement @QDoE, Meredene Hill, Manager Global Engagement @QDoE, Dr Karena Menzie-Ballantyne CQQ, Dr Miriam Ham CQU and Chantelle Kohn, @ The Change Collab.
Highly informative and practical sessions from Joel Buchholz, Executive Principal, Pimlico State High School and Pamela Curtin, Head of Curriculum, Aurukun Secondary School, invited us to follow along their journey of discovery, see firsthand the impact of global competency education on students (and teacher) empowerment, well-being and learning as well as understanding some of the challenges, barriers and lessons learned along the way.
In tandem with the workshops, immersion visitors were fortunate to visit some of the participating schools in the pilot program leading the way in implementing global competency education. We are incredibly grateful to the leaders, teachers and students from Indooroopilly State High School, Calamvale Community College, Kelvin Grove State College, Corinda State High School and Yeronga State High School. They generously shared their vision, process and impact with us.
A culminating highlight of the visit was the networking dinner attended by Queensland and South Australian educators at Royal on the Park. The room was buzzing, and the enthusiasm was overflowing. All an indicator of the power generated when passionate educators are in the same room and on the same page! An outstanding experience for all.
This highly informative immersion visit positioned participants well to transition into the final learning lift for 2022. Returning to Adelaide and the majestic State Library, we were honoured to be Welcomed to Country by Jack Kanya Kudnuitya Buckskin, a proud Kaurna, Narungga and Wirangu man. Jack has dedicated his life to learning and passing on his knowledge and language of the Adelaide Plains to future generations of Kaurna people. Jack went on to share his work in revitalising the Kaurna language and the impact this has had on himself and those he works with as he explored the connections between language, culture, identity, and Aboriginality.
Participants then reflected on the need to create a shared and co-designed vision of Global Citizenship Education within their school community that is relevant and authentic to their context. Discussion around models of organisational change aided participants in taking a more forensic look at their action plans and honing in on the work to bring GCE to life in a sustainable and impactful format.
Finally, connecting to learning from the Immersion Program, school leaders worked collaboratively to unpack the Queensland Global Competence Framework focusing on the dimensions and, equally importantly, the conditions and school culture that holds space and opens the doorway for GCE to flourish.
A very successful day, as evidenced by the following comments:
- "Today I felt very creative and excited to work on my project"
- "I get a huge amount out of these workshops. The structure is great, and the opportunity to collaborate and share is appreciated"
- "I really enjoyed the presentation by Jack Buckskin and his perspective on identity and languages"
- "The positivity and enthusiasm in the presenting, keep it going!"
We look forward to reconnecting with this fantastic group of changemakers in February for our final workshop and seeing where this journey is taking them!