Cultural exchange declared a success

An exchange program between students at Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus and Hoxton Park High School has been declared an overwhelming success by the Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship, Ms Barbara Perry.

Under the program, students from Woy Woy campus spent a day at Hoxton Park High School, a culturally diverse school in Sydney's south west where many students are from non-English speaking backgrounds.

The Brisbane Water Secondary College students told Ms Perry about their involvement in the program when she visited the school recently.

The exchange was run as part of the college's HSC Society and Culture program and was developed by teacher Mr Ian Backhouse.

The program has been funded in part by a State Government grant.

The program required students to complete an assessment for the preliminary HSC course worth 25 per cent of their yearly mark.

"Not only were the students required to complete a research-based assessment task about the exchange, they also gained invaluable life experience by hearing first hand about so many different cultures," Ms Perry said.

Brisbane Water High School vice captain Amber Miller, 17, who took part in the exchange said it was a worthwhile experience.

"We got a better understanding of different cultures and that they are not all the same," Ms Miller said.

Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews said the exchange program has proved invaluable for the high school students.

"The students have come away from this experience with a wealth of knowledge about our culturally diverse State," Ms Andrews said.

"They can now share that experience with their fellow students, families and the local community."

Press release, 20 Feb 2008 Barbara Perry, Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship