Connect+Explore high school workshops (Term 3, 2026)

CONNECT+EXPLORE

Free after-school inquiry workshops for students in Years 7 – 12

Ever wanted to talk about real stuff — fairness, social media, truth, the environment — without getting shut down, laughed at, or dragged into an argument?

This is a small-group space where you can say what you actually think, ask questions without judgment, and hear how other people see things ... guided by a friendly, experienced facilitator who keeps things lively and interesting.

Not a debate club. Just good conversations about things that actually matter.

Venue:

Fawkner Neighbourhood House, 79 Jukes Rd, Fawkner (the orange brick building at the end of the drive that connects Fawkner Library, the Leisure Centre, and the skate park)

Dates:

Eight Monday afternoons in Term 3: 20 July – 7 September inclusive

Times:

3:30pm – 5:15pm (including 15 minute settling-in period at the start)

NOTE: If you would like your young person to participate but this timing doesn't work for you, please email michelle@fawknernh.org.au and we will try to arrange an alternative time that works for the majority of respondents.


Workshop topics:

Each workshop tackles real-world questions on topics like what makes a society fair, what forgiveness means in practice, the ethics of risk-taking, what it means to be happy, whether we can communicate with other species, what makes something authentic, and how we can know what’s true in an age of misinformation.

Participants learn how to build well-reasoned arguments, articulate their thinking clearly, and collaborate to address complex issues with respect for different points of view. Using engaging stories, videos, and collaborative reasoning activities, the facilitator will support students as they weigh up conflicting evidence and make their own reasoned judgements. We focus on inquiry rather than debate, and there's always space for students to change their minds if they wish. These workshops are about how to think, not what to think.

Students will be invited to join in our collaborative discussions and then, if they are moved to do so, generate creative responses in the form of drawings, comic strips, short stories, or other forms of creative expression.

Spots are limited… book yours before they're gone!

We encourage you to sign up for the whole series by clicking on all six dates in the booking calendar, but it's fine to come along to just the first workshop to get a taste of what it's like — we want you to feel comfortable!

Further information:

• Snacks are provided!

• Connect+Explore is delivered by our community educator, Michelle Sowey. All our staff have WWCC & Police Checks.

• We will release your child to travel home independently unless a parent has explicitly advised us that they do not consent to this.

• Enquiries — please email Michelle: michelle@fawknernh.org.au or phone (03) 9359 1824.

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Our other free programs in Term 3:

• High School Homework Support: Weekly sessions for students in Years 7 – 12, running throughout the year on a drop-in basis. In Term 3 these will run from 3:30pm – 5:15pm on Wednesdays at Fawkner Neighbourhood House (79 Jukes Rd), and students are welcome to arrive and depart at their convenience (late arrival is fine). Registration essential; register here.

• Study Skills Reboot: High school students in Years 9–12 are invited to book in for a 45-minute individual chat for tailored study skills support at Fawkner Neighbourhood House, including guidance in managing their time and dealing with procrastination and stress. Registration essential; register here.

• Primary Years Homework Club: Weekly sessions for students in Years 1 – 6, running throughout the year on a drop-in basis. In Term 3 these will run from 4pm – 5pm on Thursdays at Fawkner Neighbourhood House (79 Jukes Rd). Registration essential; register here.