Stories of Success and Impact | Flinders Island, Tas.
Flinders Island, Tas. | 2023
In 2023, Year 5 and 6 students from Flinders Island District High School tackled the biggest question facing their island community – and presented their ideas to the adults making decisions about its future.
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Flinders Island, Tas.
Presented with the support of the Australian Government
Students from Flinders Island District High School have been part of illuminate programs since 2017 – first travelling to Launceston for regional programs and participating in online programs. But illuminate and the school knew the impact would be felt most deeply when the program was delivered on the island itself.
In 2023, illuminate delivered a program for Year 5 and 6 students on Flinders Island, in alignment with the Furneaux Futures Forum – a process setting a collective vision for the island after a deep regenerative tourism project.
Students tackled big issues: road and housing conditions, what made them proud about island life, and new ideas to enhance the Flinders Island experience – including a machinery museum and mountain bike trails. They shared their progress daily with leaders from the regenerative tourism project and key Tasmanian stakeholders, inspiring many forum participants to visit the school to celebrate the students’ final ideas.
What the program produced was not just capability in students – it put young people at the table. Community leaders who arrived expecting to observe left having genuinely engaged with ideas developed by the island’s youngest residents.
“This initiative has truly been a transformative experience for us; truly enhancing our abilities as critical thinkers and problem-solvers… Through engaging activities, thought-provoking discussions and real-world problem-solving scenarios, we developed the ability to analyse information critically, evaluate evidence and make informed decisions. These skills have not only enriched our academic experiences but have also equipped us with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the world around us… This approach empowered us to take ownership of our learning journey… The illuminate Challenge has instilled a passion for lifelong learning and a commitment to thinking critically and creatively.”
Grade 5/6s, Flinders Island District High School
Key Outcomes
- Program delivered on Flinders Island for the first time with primary school students in 2023 (delivered in 2017 & 2022 with high school students)
- Aligned with the Furneaux Futures Forum – a formal community visioning process
- Students tackled real island priorities: roads, housing, tourism and community identity
- Forum participants visited the school to engage with student ideas