Explore and connect
Join us after class at the National Museum of Australia to connect, explore and be inspired. Network with fellow teachers, get to know our Education team, and discover the power of objects to bring the curriculum to life.
This term’s spotlight is the Great Southern Land gallery – an immersive journey through Australia’s deep-time history to present-day environmental change and conservation, ideal for cross-curricula inquiry.
- When
3.30–5pm
Thursday 24 July 2025- Where
Great Southern Land gallery
National Museum, Canberra- Cost
Free
- Enquiries
What to expect
- Expert insights from Museum curators and educators
- Strategies for using objects to spark curiosity and critical thinking
- Practical ideas for engaging students with real-world learning
- Information about our curriculum-aligned school programs, post-visit resources and our award-winning Australian Defining Moments Digital Classroom (ADMDC)
- A relaxed atmosphere and opportunities to explore at your own pace.
Find out more about this twilight session including the event schedule, and how it meets AITSL standards.
About twilight sessions
3.30–3.45pm: Arrival and networking
Light refreshments and informal chats with fellow teachers and Museum education staff on the Great Southern Land mezzanine.
3.45–4.30pm: Curator talk and Education presentation
Curator talk
Gain insight into the vision of the Great Southern Land gallery – how it explores the themes of Connection, Life, Power and Change. Discover links to Australian history, the sciences, design and the arts through powerful stories in the collection.
Education presentation
Learn how to use gallery objects as prompts for storytelling, inquiry and visual analysis. Explore post-visit classroom activities, digital resources (ADMDC), excursion planning tips and outreach opportunities.
4.30–5pm: Self-guided gallery discovery
Wander through Great Southern Land at your own pace. Education staff will be in the gallery for a yarn and any questions. Collect your goodie bag on the way out.
Meet AITSL standards
- 2.1 Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities
- 3.3 Select and use relevant teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem solving and critical and creative thinking
- 6.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities
- 7.4 Participate in professional and community networks and forums to broaden knowledge and improve practice.
For enquiries contact education@nma.gov.au
Thursday 16 October, First Australians gallery
Discover powerful stories of First Nations peoples and explore how to meaningfully embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives across the curriculum.
Bonus: Come and explore our temporary exhibition Our Story: Aboriginal–Chinese People in Australia – a celebration of shared histories, identity and resilience.
Wednesday 12 February, Landmarks newly reimagined gallery
Experience the Museum’s new Landmarks gallery – a fresh take on the events, people and places that have shaped modern Australia. It’s a dynamic space full of diverse perspectives, with rich potential for HASS, Civics and beyond.