COMMUNITY INQUIRY PROJECTS

Y E A R   9  

Students must select one theme from the follow as a compulsory core subject for one semester:

Community Inquiry Project - Overview for all themes

Technology, globalisation and climate change are rapidly reshaping the world and the workplace. Young people need skills and capabilities that will prepare them for the continually changing environment outside of school. After consultation with parents, students and community, FHS has developed a Year 9 program that helps students know themselves and their community better whilst developing these capabilities. These four community-based, student-centred programs support students as they interact with the world beyond school, consider solutions to real-world problems, and aim to make positive change. The Local Term provides students with community service experiences which prompt them to consider their theme in their local context. The City Term provides students with the opportunity to explore their theme using Melbourne city as their classroom. 

Community Inquiry Project - Technology and Engineering

The technology and engineering theme is based around investigating technological approaches to problems. With a focus on innovation, students will connect with key engineering-related projects in the city, such as the Metro Tunnel, building and transport technology and theatre technology spaces. The local Footscray component of the Technology and Engineering theme will involve addressing a local technology challenge either at school or in the community.

Community Inquiry Project - Sustainability

The Sustainability theme of the program aims to empower students to take action and make real world change in the space of environment and sustainability. For one term students focus on the local area of Footscray and create sustainable solutions to localised problems. The city experience of this program aims to expose students to ideas of sustainability in the Melbourne CBD context.

Community Inquiry Project - Social Justice

The social justice theme is based around supporting students to interact with social issues and the democratic and legal institutions that have the power to make change. With a focus on inclusion, diversity and empathy, students will visit places such as the courts (both Magistrates and Childrens), Victorian Parliament, the Koori Heritage Trust, hear a lived experience of homelessness at the Big Issue, and build a relationship with people with disabilities through a term-long mentoring program at a city skate-park. For their local term, students will investigate social justice issues in their local community.

Community Inquiry Project - Wellbeing

The Wellbeing theme of Community Inquiry Project will provide students with the opportunity to engage with the local and extended community to problem solve in the context of wellbeing. Students will use the lens of wellbeing when connecting with organisations in the city that may include the Big Issue, MCG, Queen Victoria Market, Theatres & Galleries. For their local term, students will investigate wellbeing issues in their local community.