HSIE

Year 12 HSIE Excursion - Sydney

Legal Studies

The Legal Studies students experienced an incredible few days in Sydney. Our first activity was a visit to NSW Parliament House where we were treated to a rare viewing of the magnificent Jubilee room followed by a guided tour through Parliament by Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh. The experience was a highlight of the trip according to our students. From there we headed to the State Library of NSW to view the Photos 1440 exhibition which was spectacular. On our final day, we had the privilege of meeting SJPC graduate and Family Law Barrister, Rhys O’Brien, in his chambers. Rhys provided the students with invaluable insight into his journey from high school to the courtroom, the inner workings of family law and the challenges and highlights of working in law. We also visited the Justice and Police museum to learn about the origins of crime and punishment in Australia. The trip was capped off by a mock trial in one of Australia’s first courtrooms - a fabulous end to the trip!

Society and Culture

The Society and Culture students spent the trip observing and immersing themselves in a range of religious, ethnic and sub-cultural communities. Our first stop was down to Wollongong to experience the meditative and serene Buddhist Nan Tien Temple. Here we gained insights into Buddhist philosophy including calligraphy as meditation, methods of worship and vegetarianism. The shrines, temple grounds and surrounding gardens showed the students the important role that architecture plays within Buddhist tradition. This was explored further on our second day when we visited the Lakemba Mosque and were graciously welcomed by the Lebanese Muslim Association. Our guide, a university student studying to become an imam, gave us a thorough explanation on the beliefs and practice of Islam. We were thoroughly enlightened with the differences between Catholicism and Islam and left with a deep respect and reverence for our Muslim brothers and sisters. The students’ behaviour towards the different social and cultural groups demonstrated a mature sensitivity that was exemplary and they proved to be respectful and informed 21st Century world citizens.  

Business Studies

The Business Studies students spent the trip observing a number of high profile real world case studies. On our first day we visited the Sydney Cricket Ground where we were given a tour of the ‘front’ and ‘back’ of house areas of this iconic landmark. Our students were given an insightful introduction to the Human Resources of the SGC, including details of the scale and training involved in running events at the stadium. They also experienced how the SCG uses technology to enhance the experience of events at the ground. 

Our second day saw us heading to IKEA at Tempe where a breakfast of meatballs proved to be a highlight for some of the students! Here, we explored how IKEA controls the experience of their customers, such as what customers see and how a customer feels after the ‘IKEA experience’. 

During the trip, the students also investigated the interaction between the price and quality of various products and brands with visits to the failed Max Brenner Chocolate Bar chain, the iconic ‘Strand Arcade’ heritage listed and unique version of their case study, McDonalds. We also visited Culture Kings - a business which has some unusual marketing strategies, providing customers with a spectacular light show and an in house DJ. The trip was a great opportunity for students to explore real world examples of their syllabus content. 

Geography

The Geography students spent the trip examining the urban dynamics of a world city. Our first day involved exploring Sydney, including public housing on Kirribilli Rd - the home of our PM. We also walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, examining the history and the urban dynamics of The Rocks and Circular Quay. The students explored the patterns of advantage and disadvantage and the vast differences that exist between the wealthy and the poor in this major city. 

Day two was spent with a teacher from Observatory Hill who gave the students a guided tour of Barangaroo, Millers Point and The Rocks. Here, they completed fieldwork including an assessment of urban challenges such as heritage, waste and human movement. Barangaroo was particularly interesting as it is a new development that has had its fair share of controversy over the past decade. Our final day was spent at a drenched Taronga Zoo where we examined this enterprise in the context of global tourism. We were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the zoo, including a visit from ‘Darling’ the snake who was keen to say hello to the students. 

Matt Hiddlestone
Leader of Learning - HSIE