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Empowering our future generations to become Upstanders

Up and coming generations shape our society. One day, their values will influence the world we live in.
That’s why it’s so important to lay the right foundations for a more inclusive, diverse future.

Every day we’re surrounded by people of diverse faiths, cultures and beliefs. And sadly we still see instances of discrimination, racism and hate speech throughout our communities. Our Upstander Programs equip teens to navigate our diverse society with insight for deeper understanding, acceptance and inclusion.

Led by experienced and trained facilitators, students in Years 8-12 are guided through an exploration of their own attitudes and actions. We provide them with tools to develop more empathetic responses, and the language to advocate Upstander behaviour.

Our Upstander Programs are offered FREE to all Victorian secondary schools via incursion directly to the school, at exhibitions delivered annually in three different Victorian regional areas, or remotely using interactive conferencing technology in the classroom.

The Secondary Years Program runs for 1 hour and 50 mins.

Upstander Programs align with the Victorian and Australian curricula learning areas of:

  • 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 programs enrich all Capabilities areas:

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

Students will discover, explore and discuss

A brief documentary

A short film provides a historical background into the Holocaust and other genocides to demonstrate an extreme real-life example of the consequences of racism and discrimination.

Students dissect the tools that were used to dehumanise and pave the road to genocide, encouraging students to question ideas before embracing them.

A survivor’s testimony

A survivor speaker will detail their own experience of being rescued by ordinary people with the moral conviction, compassion and courage to stand up in the most challenging of circumstances.

These personal stories of Upstanders highlight the importance of having the courage to care and the power each individual holds to make a difference.

Understanding discrimination

Using an historical lens, students examine how discrimination devolves from seemingly minor incivilities that occur in all societies.

Armed with a new understanding of the dangers of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, students stretch their understanding of the impact they have on their community and on the social environment in which they live.

An exploration of Upstanders

Students engage in interactive  group exercises to discuss their own perceptions and circumstances, and use contemporary scenarios to examine their own power to make a difference through Upstander behaviour.

Students are imbued with new ideas and skills that empower and inspire them to choose to be Upstanders and use their individual power to make a positive difference.

Some results of our Upstander Programs

41 %

increase in positive discussion among students

86 %

increase in students demonstrating Upstander behaviour

36 %

positive change in behaviour towards peers

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