10 Portraits: An Active Citizenship Learning Resource

Synopsis

Oxfam Australia works in 24 countries around the world, supporting individuals and communities to realise their basic rights. We do this by supporting community based development projects, responding to emergencies and campaigning to address the root causes of poverty and injustice. Oxfam Australia is committed to strengthening Active Citizenship in Australia. Active Citizenship has two important dimensions: empowerment and engagement. The former requires skills and knowledge to influence decision makers and the community around us and the later, is having the commitment and belief that our efforts will make a positive impact. Young people are a key force in creating positive social, economic, political, and environmental change. Not only do young people make up half of the world’s population, they are also a great influence on the other half and can motivate them to act. Oxfam Australia’s school based project, RE:act, aims to work with the next generation of secondary school teachers as advocates of active citizenship. By creating active citizenship focused resources, teachers can build students capacity to foster active citizenship. This proposal for the production of a film based learning tool sits within will profile Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who are active in their communities and are creating a positive impact. The profiles will be presented in a multimedia format and will be accompanied by teacher notes, lesson plans and worksheets. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities in Australia have experienced incredible injustices and prejudices. With such a young population and a changing social environment, it is an important time for young people to get involved in social justice issues. The profile subjects are proof that change is possible regardless of circumstance. They are committed to using all the resources and skills they have to create a positive impact and their stories are inspiring. The existing funding secured by Oxfam will only cover the profiles of 3-4 Sydney based young people. We are seeking additional funds to increase the number of profiles to 10 and expand on the project’s geographic reach to show that change can come in many forms. Our ability to expand the project will enable us to showcase urban, regional and remote communities, enriching the project and increase its impact. This project has received the support of the NSW Department of Education, who will assist in aligning the material within curriculum frameworks and distribute amongst all NSW teachers.