Secondary Geography programs

Brewongle Environmental Education Centre provides engaging, hands-on Geography learning experiences for secondary students in Stages 4 to Stage 6 (Years 7 to 12). Located on Dharug Country at Sackville North in North West Sydney, our programs provide students with authentic opportunities to investigate places, environments and geographical processes through practical, inquiry-based and place-based learning.

Using Brewongle’s diverse natural environment, including bushland and Dyarubbin – the Hawkesbury River, students investigate landscapes and landforms, water, ecosystems, environmental change, human impacts and the ways people interact with, value and manage environments. Students develop geographical knowledge, understanding and skills through observation, fieldwork, mapping, data collection, analysis and geographical inquiry in real-world environments.

Programs are delivered by NSW Department of Education teachers and designed to support the NSW Geography 7–10 Syllabus (2024) and NSW Geography 11-12 (2022) syllabus, providing opportunities for students to undertake geographical inquiry, collect and analyse primary data, interpret geographical information, evaluate evidence and communicate their findings. Authentic fieldwork allows students to apply classroom learning while developing critical thinking, problem-solving and a deeper understanding of the processes that shape places and environments.

Aboriginal perspectives and connection to Country are embedded across relevant programs, providing opportunities for students to explore Aboriginal knowledges, perspectives and the enduring relationships between Aboriginal Peoples and Country. Where programs include Aboriginal cultural learning, we aim to have an Aboriginal Cultural Educator or Aboriginal Education Teacher present to facilitate and support learning. Where a cultural educator is not available, our experienced Brewongle teachers deliver the program using their cultural education knowledge and training, with ongoing support from cultural knowledge holders.

Excursions

Landscapes and landforms

This geographical inquiry explores how environmental and human processes shape and transform landscapes and landforms, with a focus on the Hawkesbury River at Sackville North.

Stage 4 (Year 7 and 8) program

Water in the world

This geographical inquiry explores the environmental and human processes influencing water availability and distribution, focusing on the Hawkesbury River at Sackville North.

Stage 4 (Year 7 and 8) program

Environmental change and management

Students investigate how human activity has shaped Brewongle over time through hands-on fieldwork, while exploring Aboriginal perspectives on caring for Country and strategies for managing environmental change.

Stage 5 (Year 9 and 10) program

Biomes and sustainable agriculture

Students explore permaculture and Aboriginal knowledge at Brewongle to discover sustainable and resilient approaches to future food production

Stage 5 (Year 9 and 10) program

Earths natural systems - Checking the pulse of the Hawkesbury River

This excursion supports the topic Earth’s Natural Systems through 5–6 pre-excursion lessons and a four-hour fieldwork investigation exploring the natural processes shaping the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and the impacts of human activity.

Stage 6 (Year 11 and 12) program