Secondary Years Program (SYP)

Courage to Care’s free Secondary Years Program supports students in Years 8–12 to navigate our diverse society with greater understanding, empathy and responsibility.

Through powerful storytelling, guided discussion and interactive activities, students explore the real-world consequences of discrimination and learn how individual choices can create positive change.

Session duration: 1 hour 50 minutes
Delivery: In person

Our evaluation demonstrates

87% of students demonstrated increased subject knowledge of the concepts of bystanders and Upstanders
93% of students demonstrated increased subject knowledge of Upstander action in the Holocaust
87% of teachers agreed the program increased student knowledge of Upstander action in the Holocaust
81% of students demonstrated understanding of how discrimination develops
81% of students identified safe and appropriate Upstander actions
85% of students improved awareness of safe and appropriate responses to discrimination

The Secondary Years Program aligns with the Victorian and Australian Curriculum learning areas, including:

English (set reading on the Holocaust/other genocides, refugees, outsiders and social ‘othering’)
Humanities
History (WWII)
Civics and Citizenship
Politics
Philosophy
Psychology (the bystander effect; herd behaviour)
Religious Studies and Comparative Religions

The program supports and strengthens all Capabilities areas, including:

Ethical Capabilities (including Respectful Relationships)
Critical and Creative Thinking
Intercultural Capabilities
Personal and Social Capabilities (Student Wellbeing and Student Voice)

Courage to Care also offers a free Middle Years Program (Years 5–7), tailored to support age-appropriate learning and early Upstander development.

During the session, students will:

Watch a short documentary

Students view a brief film that introduces the historical context of the Holocaust and other genocides, demonstrating the devastating consequences of racism, discrimination and dehumanisation.

Through guided reflection, students examine how language, stereotypes and social norms can be used to marginalise groups and pave the way for violence, encouraging them to question ideas before accepting them.

Hear a survivor’s testimony

Students hear firsthand accounts from a Holocaust Survivor Speaker, or custodians of their stories, describing how ordinary people showed compassion, moral courage and the courage to care during extraordinary circumstances.

These personal stories highlight the power individuals have to make a difference, even in the face of fear or injustice.

A discussion on discrimination

Using a historical lens, students examine how discrimination often begins with everyday behaviours and seemingly minor acts of exclusion that exist in all societies.

Students deepen their understanding of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, and reflect on the impact their actions have on their school community and wider social environment.

Learn how to be an Upstanders

Through interactive group activities and contemporary scenarios, students explore how they can respond when they witness discrimination or injustice.

Students leave with practical strategies and tools to:

Act safely and respectfully
Support others
Take responsibility for creating inclusive environments
Use their individual power to make a positive difference in their communities

“It engaged the student with real details, then took it further to make it matter. Excellent presenters, great materials, effective program. “

Teacher, Xavier High School

“It really impacted me, got me thinking about how easy it is for bad things to happen when you don’t do anything.”

Year 10 Student, Geelong College

“Relevant to so much in adolescents’ lives – bullying, acceptance, bigotry, etc. A wonderful program. Please come to our region again soon.”

Teacher, Victory Lutheran College

“It’s eye-opening and teaches us much more than history and the Holocaust. It inspires you to be an individual and stand up for your beliefs. It made me realise that I can make a difference.”

Year 11 Student, Loyola College

“Real life education activity which helps engage students in understanding the Holocaust and the “Upstanding” message. A great experience, especially for our rural students who cannot travel to Melbourne.”

Teacher, Horsham Secondary College

“It’s eye-opening and teaches us much more than history and the Holocaust. It inspires you to be an individual and stand up for your beliefs. It made me realise that I can make a difference.”

Year 11 Student, Sale

“This two-hour workshop taught more to the students than we could get through in weeks at school!”

Teacher, Echuca College

“It sparked the realisation that we do have the responsibility to stand up and voice our concerns, to make a difference when we believe something unjust is occurring. Thank you for telling these important and inspirational stories. It was eye-opening for everybody.”

Year 12 Student, Rochester Secondary College

Our educational resources are available for download at no cost, but we ask you please to provide us with the information we need for our internal evaluation processes.

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Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony

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Upstander Activity Pack

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Upstander Activity Pack SYP

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Upstander Toolkit

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY.

Entrants must be permanent residents of Victoria with a valid residential address, email address, and phone number.

There is no cost to enter.

There are two categories of Entries:

Victorian School Students Competition – which is open to any currently enrolled student in a Victorian Primary or Secondary School (including VCAL or equivalent); and
Open Competition – which is open to all Victorian residents of any age.

Each Entrant may enter only one photograph.

By entering this Competition, you confirm that:

you are the creator and owner of the entered photograph;
you grant Courage to Care (Vic) (“C2C”) at no charge, a perpetual, non-exclusive licence to use, sell and reproduce your photograph in print and digital media, for use in and promotion:
- of C2C’s 30^th Birthday Exhibition; and
- by C2C for any purpose.
the exhibition and promotion of your photograph does not infringe copyright or moral rights; and
you have obtained all relevant permissions of persons shown in photograph.

Your entry for this Competition must include:
A digital image file in jpeg format with a file size of at least 4 MB and no greater than 10 MB
A title for your photograph; and
A written explanation in no more than 50 words that explains why your photograph is relevant to the theme of “Being an Upstander.” For Further information on this theme, refer to couragetocare.org.au
Digital manipulation and alternative post-capture image processing methods of photographs are permitted.

No entries will be accepted after 11:59 pm on 31 March 2022
C2C will acknowledge receipt of all entries. If you do not receive an acknowledgment within fourteen days, please contact C2C competition@couragetocare.org.au.
Entries will not be accepted or judged if:

under normally accepted standards, the photograph could be considered offensive in terms of pornographic content, character denigration, racial or religious prejudice. The Judge’s decision and discretion will be final; or

The Judges will decide and notify the finalists and also the Competition winners. The Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence concerning the Judges’ decision will be considered.

All finalist photographs will be exhibited at the C2C 30^th Birthday Exhibition and will remain for the duration of this period.
C2C reserves the right to curate the exhibition as it sees fit. C2C will determine whether the photograph will be displayed digitally or as a printed photograph. The costs of printing and display of the photographs will be paid by C2C.
The Competition winners will be announced during the C2C 30^th Anniversary Exhibition.
For the duration of the Exhibition, all Photographs must be available for sale. All proceeds of sales will go to C2C as a fundraising initiative to support their charitable purpose.

Photographs will be sold via a “silent auction”. All photographs will be delivered to the purchaser as a printed photograph at C2C’s expense.
The Prizes for the winning Entrants in the Competition are …TBD

C2C will not be responsible for any loss or damage of the submitted digital image files or printed photographs, however caused.
Please note that this Exhibition is separate from the annual Art Show run by B’nai B’rith Victoria.

Secondary Years Program (SYP)

Secondary Years Program (Years 8-12)

During the session, students will:

Watch a short documentary

Hear a survivor’s testimony

A discussion on discrimination

Learn how to be an Upstanders

Some results of our Upstander Programs

Upstander Activity Pack SYP