Have you ever considered how a nation like Australia forms its identity? What shaped this nation?

The study ‘Migrant Nation’ explores precisely this. It explores the experiences of Australians from 1788 to the present day. It also explores how Aboriginal people came to Australia 40 to 50 thousand years ago. The study delves deeper into this topic and asks students to consider and understand the indigenous responses to white settlement, as well as the experiences of the men and women who came as convicts. It is important to know the history of our own home city of Melbourne.

The study considers the early history of the settlement of Melbourne, and the types of conflict which arose in settled society between the Europeans and the indigenous population. Students will compare Melbourne of the past to what Melbourne looks like now. This will enable students to form ideas of what has changed or stayed the same – this is the study of change and continuity. This is all achieved with the opportunity to create authentic experiences that enable students to engage in the real world with walking excursions to parts of Melbourne, as well as other outings looking at the Australian identity evident in art and literature. Evidence of who we are as Melbournians, and indeed Australians, is all around us. Let’s go and explore what this means for us.