Cultural Heritage and the Role of Museums
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Audience
Secondary school -
Learning stage
Stage 6 -
Learning area
First Nations, History -
Type
Museum educator-led
© Australian Museum
About the program
This 2-hour excursion is designed for Stage 6 Ancient History students studying Investigating Ancient History – The Nature of Ancient History, with a particular focus on Cultural Heritage and the Role of Museums. Through source analysis, object-based learning and historical inquiry, students will investigate the role museums play in preserving, interpreting and displaying cultural heritage.
As Australia's first museum, the Australian Museum provides a unique opportunity for students to explore the responsibilities museums hold as custodians of cultural heritage. Students will examine how museums acquire, store and exhibit artefacts and cultural materials, and consider the challenges museums face when balancing preservation, access and ethical responsibilities.
The program begins in a dedicated learning space where students explore the origins and development of museums and their contribution to our understanding of ancient ways of life. Students then participate in a guided walking tour examining the cultural heritage of the Australian Museum and its surrounds. In the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum exhibition, students will use source analysis and historical inquiry skills to investigate significant objects and evaluate how museums contribute to historical construction and whose past is represented in museum displays and exhibitions.
Students will also explore contemporary issues surrounding cultural property, including the looting and illegal trade of antiquities, and investigate arguments for and against the repatriation of artefacts and cultural materials. The program concludes with a hands-on activity where students step into the role of historian and digitisation officer, photographing, documenting and researching objects from the Australian Museum collections.
The program is facilitated by a museum educator, and teacher, parent and guardian participation is encouraged.
Learning Intentions:
In this program, students will:
- Effectively analyse historical sources
- Assess a variety of approaches to historical construction
- Examine the importance of ethical considerations in museums
Audience: This program is bookable for Stage 6 students.
Cost: $20 (GST included) per student with a minimum cost of $200 per session.
Duration: 120 minutes
Capacity: Up to 30 students per session
Term: Terms 1-4 2026
Dates: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Times: 10am & 12:15pm
NSW Syllabus (for the Australian curriculum)
Cultural heritage and the role of museums
- The role of museums in acquiring, storing and exhibiting artefacts and cultural materials
- Cultural property and the arguments for and against repatriation
- The contributions of museums to our understanding of ancient ways of life and the question of whose past is represented in displays and exhibitions
Outcomes
- analyses and interprets different types of sources for evidence to support an historical account or argument AH11-6
- discusses and evaluates differing interpretations and representations of the past AH11-7
- communicates historical understanding, using historical knowledge, concepts and terms, in appropriate and well-structured forms AH11-9
- discusses contemporary methods and issues involved in the investigation of ancient history AH11-10
Any changes to numbers or cancellations must be made in writing by emailing group.bookings@australian.museum before the date for Final Confirmation (14 days prior to your visit).
Final booking numbers must be confirmed at least 14 days prior to the scheduled visit.
A tax invoice will be issued prior to your visit based on Final Confirmation details.
A tax invoice based on Final Confirmation details will be issued prior to your visit or session.
Please advise at the time of booking if the tax invoice needs to be issued to a different contact name or email address. NSW Department of Education schools that use the EDConnect payment system should advise this at time of booking and provide a purchase order number if required.
Our payment terms are net 14 days. However, it is the AM’s strong preference that bookings be paid in full prior to the visit.
Adjustments on the day – the AM will adjust the invoice amount and you must pay the difference where:
i) Group numbers increase from Final Confirmation numbers; or
ii) the Group changes to a more expensive booking/ticket.
The adjusted invoice payment terms are net 14 days. To be clear, where numbers are less than Final Confirmation numbers, no deductions or refunds will be given.
For information about your excursion, arrival to the Museum and available facilities, visit our school excursions page.
