- by Dave Arnold
- 24 April 2018
Our new Australian Journey series of 12 free classroom videos is now accompanied by a resources pack — with podcasts, primary sources and more — giving teachers and students ideas for extending their understanding of Australian history.
Australian Journey traverses the history and geography of Australia, using objects — many from the Museum’s collection — to help reveal stories of the nation. ‘Resources for the Journey’ is an excellent compendium to this video series produced by Monash University with support from the National Museum of Australia and the Australian National University.
Classroom videos and complementary resources
Resources for the Journey includes books and articles to read, websites to visit, podcasts to listen to, films to watch and primary sources to review. Here’s an example of how the resources can work with the videos.
You might watch the videos below, starting with episode 8 of Australian Journey, ‘The Australian Way of Life’, which explores Australia after World War Two, along with contemporary sport, culture and society.
You might then watch the supplementary video, which in this case is presenter Susan Carland in conversation with her husband, Waleed Aly. This fascinating exchange includes avid Richmond fan Waleed talking about the evolution of Australian Rules Football, its links to cricket, and how Australia presents itself to the world through sport.
- Download Resources for the Journey12.1 mb pdf [ PDF | 12.1 mb ]
The Holden car and suburban life in postwar Australia, Cold War politics and America's cultural influence
Susan Carland and Waleed Aly on the influence of sport in Australian history
At this point you turn to episode 8 in the resources pack to see how you can continue your journey of learning. You might explore the Australia in the 1950s website, read John Murphy’s 2000 book, Imagining the Fifties: Private Sentiment and Political Culture in Menzies Australia.
Perhaps you will be tempted by the podcast, ‘Historyonics: Chifley’s Light on the Hill’, or decide to read Ruth Park’s, Poor Man’s Orange. If it’s primary sources you are after, you could follow up Ben Chifley’s 1952 speech, ‘Things Worth Fighting For’.
- Download Resources pack1.6 mb pdf [ PDF | 1.6 mb ]
Defining Moments in Australian History
Each episode in Australian Journey also links to the Museum’s Defining Moments in Australian History website. For episode 8 you can read about the 1949 election of the Menzies government, Australia’s longest continuous government. You can also investigate the introduction of television in Australia for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games.
Whatever you choose, 'Resources for the Journey', the new compendium to the Australian Journey video series, will richly reward your passion for Australian history.