We often hear a lot about the benefits of Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM), Languages and creative subjects. Many of our students also achieve great success in Geography and History, so I thought I would share some insights into these subjects.
This year, Sophie C, one of our Year 12 students, represented Australia at the International Geography Olympiad in Ireland, earning her place on the Australian team through her exceptional performance in the Australian Geography Competition. The team of four students were placed second behind the USA and Sophie was the only female to achieve a gold medal. She also achieved the highest score on a fieldwork test, a credit to her passion for Geography and a great testament to years of high-quality fieldwork and learning experiences designed by her teachers at Camberwell Girls.
Similarly, over the last 10 years, our students’ results in the Australian History Competition and the National History Challenge have been outstanding, with numerous state and national success stories. In 2024, this tradition of excellence continued, highlighted by Elsa W from Year 8 being named the Year Level State Champion in the Australian History Competition. Additionally, Aathana S (Year 9), Sass L (Year 9) and Isuli P (Year 10) all earned Gold awards at the State Level, with Isuli being named the National Winner for Year 10 in the National History Challenge. These outstanding results are again due to the passion of these students for their subject, as well as the commitment and enthusiasm of our dedicated History teachers.
So why focus on these two subjects?
There is a trend in secondary schools across Victoria to teach Geography and History in Years 7 to 10 under the umbrella of one subject, usually called Humanities. At Camberwell Girls, we have retained them with significant time allocations and taught them by expert teachers, as we believe that this provides opportunities for greater depth of learning in these important subject disciplines.
The subjects of Geography and History each offer the learner unique perspectives and skill sets. History education emphasises critical thinking, empathy, and the ability to analyse complex societal issues to understand cause and effect, change over time, and the interpretation of past events to more fully understand our world today. Geography focuses on the physical world and human-environment interactions, covering climate, landforms, ecosystems, and human geography, such as inequality and human wellbeing. This subject helps students understand spatial patterns and environmental processes, offering insights into cultures, economies, and urban development and exploration of sophisticated technology solutions and sustainability.
Teaching these subjects separately allows for specialised teaching methods and in-depth exploration of content, equipping students with distinct and valuable skills—historical thinking and geographical analysis. This also prepares students for a world where interdisciplinary knowledge and the ability to draw connections across fields are increasingly important, enabling them to appreciate the complexities of both the past and the present world and fostering informed citizens to build a better future.
Karoline Walter, Head of Geography at Camberwell Girls, succinctly states, “Geography is life,” describing it as a “way of thinking” about the world. Our teaching approach focuses on contextual understanding of issues to develop solutions and highlights hands-on activities like the Drone Program.
Geography spans physical and human sciences, providing a unique lens for studying diverse phenomena. It bridges various disciplines, fostering understanding across scales and spaces. According to the Australian Academy of Science’s strategic plan, Geography enhances both humanities and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) studies. The subject builds critical thinking, data literacy, communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills, particularly through fieldwork and geospatial technologies.
Karoline believes that fieldwork is crucial for real-life learning, enabling students to collect primary data for their investigations. Using geospatial technologies is equally vital, with students engaging with GPS tools, ESRI ArcGIS and Google Earth to collect, map and analyse spatial data. These are integral industry technologies used for understanding and solving spatial problems and the geospatial industry is projected to significantly contribute to Australia’s GDP and job market.
Karin Lemanis, our Head of History, is equally passionate about her subject! At Camberwell Girls, our History programs are designed to show students that history is dynamic and evolving, shaped by new discoveries. This approach fosters lifelong learning and encourages a deeper understanding of the past and ourselves.
History prompts curiosity and imagination, and Karin believes that it offers students the opportunity to form their own interpretations and engage in meaningful debates. She explains that it provides context for today’s events and helps students understand the foundations of current political structures, conflicts, environmental issues and cultural exchanges.
Our History teachers believe that History education cultivates critical thinking, civic engagement, empathy and relevance to contemporary issues, highlighting the transformative power of History education in shaping responsible citizens. Studying History also enhances other complex competencies such as communication, problem-solving, planning and collaboration – skills that remain valuable even in an automated future.
Karin refers to Professor Peter Seixas, a Canadian scholar in the field of History education who emphasised that studying history is crucial for understanding societal evolution and making informed decisions. Historical thinking also helps to foster a sense of identity and belonging.
At Camberwell Girls, our history classes focus on inquiry, imagination, empathy, interpretation and personal connection. As highlighted above, our students’ success in state and national competitions also reflects the dedication and expertise of our passionate History teachers.
By maintaining distinct curricula for Geography and History, we enable students to appreciate the complexities of both the past and the present world, ultimately fostering the growth and development of responsible and informed citizens.
With best wishes,
Debbie Dunwoody
Principal
