Emma Scott, The Naracoorte News
Children’s University has been making a positive impact in and around Naracoorte since 2017 and, this year, is excited to announce Sunrise Christian School Naracoorte joining existing member schools (Naracoorte Primary, Naracoorte South Primary, Mary MacKillop Memorial, Frances Primary and Naracoorte Library Community Hub) in offering the program to their families.
Children’s University, hosted by the University of Adelaide, promotes beyond the classroom learning and engages children and young people in exciting, out-of-school learning opportunities.
The program aims to boost educational achievement by rewarding young learners for taking responsibility for their own learning.
Children aged 5-14 can register through a passport to learning, where they complete various activities throughout the year.
These activities include visits to learning destinations such as art galleries, museums and community organisations that offer children’s programs whilst members also have access to a variety of online activities.
Learning destinations locally include the Naracoorte Caves, Naracoorte Library & Town Hall, Naracoorte Regional Art Gallery and Naracoorte Visitor Centre.
For young people aged 15-18, the program offers a passport to volunteering, encouraging children to seek out volunteer opportunities throughout the year, fostering a sense of responsibility and community engagement.
Children’s University is expanding into Mount Gambier with additional schools and learning destinations joining the program this year.
As members complete milestones in their learning journey, they are invited to attend a regional graduation ceremony, celebrating their achievements and dedication.
In their first year, members must reach 30 hours of extracurricular learning to graduate, and they accumulate hours each year to meet additional graduation milestones along the way.
Members have the opportunity to graduate multiple times and earn awards, certificates, diplomas and degrees.
Children’s University is grateful for the ongoing support of the minister for education, Blair Boyer MP, whose dedication to regional centres across South Australia plays a vital role in supporting local communities and providing children and young people with meaningful learning opportunities.
To find out more about Children’s University, please visit www.cuaustralasia.com.
This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 9 April 2025.
