SYP
For students in
years 8-12
MYP
For students in
years 5-7
WPP
For organisations, sports clubs and teams
TPL
For teachers of primary and
secondary school students
Courage to Care delivers free educational Upstander Programs to primary and secondary schools across Victoria, helping students recognise discrimination and empowering them with the courage and skills to take a stand against prejudice in all its forms.
Students learn practical skills to be Upstanders — people who choose to act when they witness discrimination or injustice, rather than remaining silent as ‘bystanders’.
Our age-appropriate incursion workshops are grounded in universal values of respect, empathy, fairness, and active citizenship. They build resilience against all forms of racism and discrimination.
Upstander Programs take place in primary and secondary school classrooms, where passionate and skilled volunteers engage students in hands-on activities and group work to understand the real-world impact of our individual choices and actions.
They’ll hear powerful testimony of a Holocaust Survivor Speaker or a custodian of their story, and learn from their real-life experience of being rescued by ordinary people who had the courage to care.
Students are given safe and practical tools and are empowered to become Upstanders in their own classrooms and communities.
Supported by the Department of Education, Upstander Programs align with and enrich learning areas and capabilities across the Victorian and Australian curriculum and school-wide positive behaviour support frameworks.
We offer:
Explore our programs below to learn more and book a free Upstander Program for your school.
For students in
years 8-12
For students in
years 5-7
For organisations, sports clubs and teams
For teachers of primary and
secondary school students
students are better equipped to respond to discrimination
students reached to date
of teachers recommend the program
“I believe this excursion to be one of the best that I have experienced in nearly 30 years of teaching. It was a credit to all concerned and such a program must be continued.”
“I found it so interesting and unbelievable to actually hear from a Holocaust survivor, I will always remember this.”
“This exhibition is exceptional. It is full of life-changing concepts and you are courageous to share it with us.”
“A wonderful PD – so impactful!”
“When you don’t stand up or speak up, you are accepting that the situation is okay. I learnt no matter the issue you have to stand up to the mistreatment of others.”
“The talk by a survivor was listened to in silence, although there were over one hundred students present. Attendance is free, yet the ‘return’ in information gained and discussion generated is massive. I commend the Courage to Care volunteers and urge teachers to take advantage of this excellent program.”
‘The presentation was impressive, powerful and moving. I felt honoured to hear Peter’s story in person. I have already spoken to staff at school about how we might include it in our RRRR curriculum – you refreshed my motivation.’
“Thank you so much for telling your story. You’ve made me realise that there is a light at the end of the tunnel as I have been going through a hard time.”
“The program links the past with current day perfectly. The students clearly made connections with Upstanders in WWII to current students/Upstanders and saw that they have the ability to be an Upstander.”
“I think the main messages that we took away from the program was that if I stand up, it will have a ripple effect, and everyone will stand up.”
“I loved the Survivor’s testimony and definitely have takeaways for my classroom and entire school.”
Visit our frequently asked questions page to learn more