Carringbush Adult Education

The excursions continue for students sharing lunch and different food cultures, experiencing different perspectives and cultural etiquette. Certificate 2 students visited the Fitzroy gardens, taking in the conservatory and all students prepared a dish for their shared picnic.

Certificate 3 students visited the City of Melbourne Library near the Vic. Market- Naarm Ngaargu. They had a fabulous tour. So many services for members, like a Maker’s Space, English conversation groups, local lunch club, Library cinema and an English song club.

The excursions continue for students providing opportunities for interacting and socialising, ‘learning by doing’. Assunta’s Course students headed to the Mother Exhibition at the Ian Potter NGV and looked out for the artwork highlighted in the Art Trail guide, before wandering down Hosier Lane to see the latest street work. While Rowena’s Certificate 1 class visited the NGV at Federation Square and saw the Emily Kame Kngwarray painting which they learned about in class when they watched the SBS doco ‘Emily: I am Kam’. They had a tour of the Naarm artists downstairs and the My Country exhibition. Also visiting the Mother Exhibition, which got a lot of positive attention. They also viewed TOP Arts 2026 and had a picnic at the boat sheds on the banks of the Yarra.

As the new term begins and students focus back on EAL, ✍️📚 we look back at their excursions in the final week last term. The classes planned their own trips. At Carringbush, we believe that students interacting and socialising outside of the classroom fosters a sense of belonging, gives students the opportunity to improve ‘learning by doing’ in authentic contexts. There are great cross-cultural benefits with students often preparing lunch to share, experiencing different perspectives and cultural etiquette. 🙍🏽‍♂️🙍🏻🧕🏼

Initial and Course students visited the State Library Victoria. They relaxed under the Dome, explored the Children’s Quarter, viewed some exhibitions, read books in English and their own languages, and even played chess.  It was a great experience for everyone!

Peter’s Course students also headed to the Mother Exhibition at the Ian Potter NGV and looked out for the artwork highlighted in the Art Trail guide, before wandering down Hosier Lane to see the latest street work.

The Department of Employment and Workplace are engaging with stakeholders to enhance national skills referral and advisory services. Carringbush students participated in a focus group run by CUBE Group to inform the government about:
What do adult learners find helpful?
When do adult learners want to get help with reading, writing, speaking, numeracy and digital skills?
How did you found out about the classes at Carringbush?
How could it be easier for people to find out and join classes?
How do they like to find out information to help them?
Would they use a one-stop website and what should be on it?
What helps students come to class every week?
Is there anything that stops students coming to class?
How would students feel about a coach that could call on them to check how they’re going with classes?

Our second slide shows how our students found out about Carringbush (Red dots)
While the green dots show responses for “how do they like to find out information to help them” It seems talking to friends and family or a professional is the most popular way to find information. While picking up the phone was far too scary.😱
Students gave lots of great information. I think the takeaway was ‘word of mouth’ is currently the way students find things but as our students become more connected and IT literate, websites and social media will play a bigger role in spreading the word on how to access English reading, writing, speaking, numeracy and digital skills for everyone, not just for migrant and refugee communities.😊

Who knew it was so easy to borrow a book from the library…….lucky Kim’s grandchildren delicious meals coming their way 😋

Who knew it was so easy to borrow a book from the library…..and lucky Kim’s grandchildren - delicious meals coming their way!!!😋

Liem uses the library to help her study English 🥰.

So many great collaborations in Richmond that our students are lucky to get involved in.🤲
 
On Monday 23rd March the inaugural North Richmond Community Leadership Summit was held celebrating the people involved in the past four leadership courses run by Track C Consulting, with the support of DFFH and other local service providers.
 
 Carringbush student Li Ouyang participated in the Women’s Leadership Program 2025.
 
Li said “I like this book room and course because it give me many power, and it’s about woman to stand up” Li thanked her classmates and said they also taught her patience.
 
Li’s photo of ‘The old tree ‘and description resonates beautifully…
 
Li Ouyong
 
The Old Tree 🪾
 
‘Like a woman who has weathered many storms, she stands with gentle strength that cannot be broken. Her branches bend with elegance, the way a determined woman moves through life with quiet confidence. She opens her arms like a protective woman offering calm, safety and silent companionship to the world around her’.

Students share why they love 🥰 the library…

Do you love libraries? 💕 Do you have great memories of libraries? 🤔 The State Library of NSW is celebrating 200 years with a collection of stories about how libraries have changed us. But not everyone has had access to libraries, so we asked our EAL Certificate 2 class about their library experiences, in their home countries and in Australia.
 
It seems most of the libraries in our student’s countries are not like those here. Many libraries are attached to schools or universities, so not open to the public. We visited the Richmond library and asked students what they liked about libraries. Here’s what they said……”📣.