“As a 16-year-old white male … visiting central Australia was one of the more formative education experiences I have had. The experiences I had among Indigenous Australians were in marked contrast to everything I had heard, or the more negative views people can portray in society.
Since finishing at CCG in 2011 I have studied a teaching degree, with a large focus on Outdoor Education. I spent / spend time guiding student groups all over Australia and overseas. I have now done six Central Australian trips including a couple more with CCG, and other schools. I love the culture, location and relationships I form every time I go.
I have created an outdoor equipment company which focuses on institutions and industry. In 2017 I was delighted to add a component to our company which focuses on social change and sustainability. As a result, I have been able to send large amounts of outdoor related equipment to Central Australia for schools to use in the bush – things like boots, hiking packs and shelter.
The whole experience of Our World has influenced my view on Indigenous culture, my career choices and even sparked an urge to travel to more remote parts of our large nation. It has allowed me to be more sympathetic to issues that are not easy to solve but also highlight some of the more controversial political or corporate agendas that are easier to see through since actually having experiences there.”
Marcus Tyrrell, Christian College Alumni.
Our World elective at Christian College.
Marcus undertook the Our World elective at Christian College. Our World continues to change the perceptions and lives of our students. This elective explores a range of issues in different contexts, harnesses student passions for making a difference and then provides powerful experiential learning by immersing students in different cultures;
- Year 10 students become absorbed in social justice issues by analysing the causes of poverty in some indigenous communities. A ten-day Central Australia program, sees students spend time immersed in Anangu culture at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This brings to life their study of culture and encourages critical thinking about contemporary social influences on traditional lifestyles. The group also spends four nights camped at a remote Indigenous school where they work with the community and learn about the challenges of remote life.
- VCE students further extend their understanding of social issues by analysing responses to poverty and justice in Vietnam, Cambodia or East Timor. Living and working for two weeks in one of these countries, their experiences become the focus of their study and research. Students are challenged to ask difficult questions about aid and development and tasked with creating sustainable solutions to these complex issues.
