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Mandatory PACER Institutions

Home Attractions Mandatory PACER Institutions

Below are the mandatory institutions that your students need to participate in to be eligible for PACER.

To qualify for PACER, your school’s travel itinerary must include at least 3 of the 4 mandatory institutions.

Once booked either the booking forms or the confirmed itinerary needs to be attached to your application.

Requirements at All Mandatory Institutions

Students should leave all bags, iPads, food, and drink on the bus (the exception is medical supplies), as there is limited cloaking available and it can be time-consuming with school groups.

Duty of care rests with the teachers and supervising adults accompanying the group. Please see each venue’s’ Public Liability Certificate’ and ‘Risk Assessment Statement’ which can be found on each institution’s website.

Each institution may have further requirements listed below so please review carefully.

If any of the mandatory institutions below are fully booked, you may book an alternative institution.

 

Parliament House Guided Tour

A visit to Parliament House must include a one-hour guided tour of the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, as well as highlights of the public areas of the building.

Maximum of 50 students with 4 x sessions able to enter at any one time (1 hour program).

Parliamentary Education Office (PEO) – recommended although not a PACER Mandatory Institution.

This is an Attraction; we highly encourage schools to attend Parliamentary Education Office (PEO) program to participate in an immersive learning program that gives primary and secondary students hands-on experience of how our Parliament works to make Australia a better place to live.

More Information

More than 100 000 students visit Parliament House each year as part of an organised school visit. During their visit, primary and secondary students can participate in:

  • a one-hour comprehensive guided tour, including the Senate and House of Representatives chambers and parliamentary exhibits.
  • a one-hour immersive learning program with the Parliamentary Education Office.
  • a half hour break in the Queen’s Terrace Gallery with the opportunity to meet your member of parliament dependant on their availability.

The School Visit Program is managed by the Serjeant-at-Arms’ Office. The program booking form and contact details can be found on the APH website.

Bookings are available up to 2 years in advance. The peak period for school visits is from June to November.

On the day

When entering the underground carpark, coach/buses must proceed through the boom gate to the designated coach/bus parking bays at the rear of the public carpark.

Please arrive at the front entrance of Parliament House 15 minutes prior to the start of your booking. From the security screening go to the information desk in the foyer with your booking paperwork to confirm participant numbers and present your PACER paperwork.

For duty of care purposes, one teacher per 15 students must accompany the group during each activity in the building. All adults accompanying school groups must present current photo identification when requested.

Filming and photography in the private areas of Parliament House is strictly prohibited. These restrictions include the House of Representatives and Senate Chambers whilst the Houses are sitting. Photography in the public areas of the building is permitted.

Video conference programs available

If you can’t participate in a Parliamentary Education Office program while at Parliament House, why not organise a video conference back in your classroom.

Go beyond the nightly news to discover the who, what, how and why of the Australian Parliament. During the program, students work with our highly experienced Parliamentary Educators to understand the work of the Australian Parliament.

Find out more about how the Parliamentary Education Office’s video conference program can be tailored to the needs of your group.

https://www.pacer.org.au/2018/02/22/2-activities-visit-parliament-house/

Activities for your visit to Parliament House

Parliament House in Canberra is home to Australia’s Parliament. It is a place where decisions that shape our nation are made, and a place for celebration, memorial and sometimes protest. Most importantly, it is a place for all Australians.

There is lots to see and do at Parliament House. The mandatory tour of the building includes the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, as well as highlights of the public areas. On sitting days, you will be able to watch Parliament in action and may have the opportunity to meet your local member of parliament.

Where possible, primary and secondary groups should also participate in an immersive learning program with the Parliamentary Education Office. By debating a bill in the House of Representatives or Senate, or conducting a committee of inquiry, students will get an engaging, fun and practical understanding of the role of the Australian Parliament and the work of members of Parliament.

While at Parliament House, you may also want to:

Find out more about what is on offer at Parliament House on the APH website.

Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD)

Address:

Old Parliament House,
18 King George Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600
Ph: 02 6270 8282
Email: bookings@moadoph.gov.au
Visit website

A national icon – a place of great beauty, magnificent design and historical significance, Old Parliament House is home to MoAD (Museum of Australian Democracy).

Maximum of 50 students per session (1 hour program).

Opening hours

MoAD is open from 9am – 5pm every day of the year, except for Christmas Day. School programs are not available for bookings on weekends or most public holidays.

Learning programs overview

The delivery of high-quality curriculum-based school programs and resources for primary, secondary and tertiary students and teachers onsite, online and through outreach, to empower and transform their thinking and practice on what it is to be an informed and engaged citizen.

MoAD delivers school programs to more than 85,000 students and teachers every year and is one of the mandatory Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) institutions.

 

Digital Experiences Available (not PACER approved)

If you can’t visit physically why not plan a digital program or workshop. MoAD has many options available on their website. Click on the below links for more information:

  1. Democracy: Our House, Our Voices
  2. Rights and Freedoms
  3. Drawn Together
  4. You, Me and Sustainability

More Information

All school program bookings for MoAD are made through the Book Canberra Excursions website. This site enables you to make bookings for many cultural institutions in Canberra through one portal. Bookings can be made two years and one month out. For further information about the variety of MoAD programs, go to our website.

And then go to our MoAD page

If you have any special program requests, including home school groups, please contact us on 02 6270 8282.

Students with specific physical, accessibility or learning needs should be identified at the time of your booking to ensure an equitable learning experience for all. Please access our Learning Narrative here

All programs must be booked and final numbers confirmed a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the booking date including the recommended teacher/adult to student ratios of 1:10. Bookings may be cancelled if a booking remains unconfirmed two weeks out from a visit. Teacher mobile contact details are required for all program bookings.

All programs cost $5 per student. Teachers and adult carers accompanying a school group are free of charge. PACER eligible programs are one hour in length.

https://www.moadoph.gov.au/learning/programs/

Extension opportunities – Free Digital Excursion

Do you have students who can’t visit us onsite for a program?

Do you wish to participate in a pre or post excursion experience with your students – to prepare them for their visit to MoAD and/or to reinforce knowledge learnt when they were onsite?

Do you want to continue to learn more about democracy and active citizenship?  – If so, then join us for a fully facilitated free digital excursion from your own classroom.

We have a number of digital excursions for consideration – for further information and how to book visit MoAD’s digital excursion page.

FAQs

National Heritage Listing is recognition that Old Parliament House is one of the most significant heritage buildings in Australia. As the home of Commonwealth Parliament from 1927 to 1988, it was the setting for many major decisions and events that shaped modern Australia and so symbolizes and reflects the development of Australia as a nation. In order to look after this iconic building we ask:

  • Please leave all food, drinks (including bottles of water), large bags, backpacks, umbrellas, clipboards, iPads/tablets and pens on the bus.
  • Eating and toilet facilities are available in the House of Representatives’ and Senate Gardens on either side of the building.
  • If you are from a local school, please leave large bags at school and only bring lunches in baskets or small containers which can be cloaked until after the program finishes.
  • All school visitors and Museum Educators wear white cotton gloves for the duration of the program.
  • All programs must be booked and are facilitated by a Museum Educator.
  • Entry for school programs is located on the Eastern Terrace of the Old Parliament House building. See map below
  • Group numbers will be counted and PACER forms stamped at the start of your Learning program by a Museum Educator. Each group must present their PACER form for stamping upon arrival.
  • For special program requests please contact Learning directly on (02) 6270 8282.
  • For more information, resources and helpful hints to prepare for your visit please see our website.
  • Be aware that MoAD is a museum open to the public; as such, filming and photography of students may occur. Please alert the Museum Educator with any concerns.
  • For supporting documents including our Certificate of Currency and the MoAD venue and safety information for school excursions, please click here.

The National Electoral Education Centre (NEEC) is also located in our building with a separate entrance opposite the Senate Gardens. Please allow at least 30 minutes travel time between your programs at NEEC and MoAD. The MoAD school entry is via the front terrace.

National Electoral Education Centre (NEEC)

Located in the heart of Canberra’s parliamentary triangle, the National Electoral Education Centre is a must see destination for Civics and Citizenship education. The centre is open weekdays throughout the school year and programs are free. Bookings are essential.

Our curriculum linked programs are 90 minutes in length, with four different options to cater for differing ages and levels of prior knowledge.

Maximum of 45 primary students per session or maximum of 40 secondary students per session (90 min program).

We are located in the Senate Wing of Old Parliament House. The entrance is opposite the Senate Gardens.

More Information

Curriculum links

All programs are conducted by an experienced Electoral Educator and provide curriculum links to units on Democracy, Civics and Citizenship and courses in Australian Studies, Politics and Legal Studies.

Programs

The NEEC offers a range of programs designed to suit various ages and interests. You can choose from:

House of Representatives – This program explores key concepts of representation and voting. Experience the preferential voting system in action by participating in a House of Representatives election scenario. Suitable for all age groups.

Referendum – The Constitution is Australia’s founding legal document and only the people of Australia have the power to change it. Discover how the Constitution is changed by voting in a referendum scenario and counting the votes. Suitable for all age groups.

Senate – If you have already covered the basics of preferential voting and the House of Representatives, why not practice voting in a Senate election and investigate the proportional system used to elect Senators? Suitable for secondary, tertiary and adults. Also suitable for late primary students who have already covered the House of Representatives in class.

Eligible Elector – specifically designed for young people / adults who are soon to be (or are already) eligible voters. This program explores the concept of representation in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Participants will experience voting and scrutiny in both houses of government. Suitable for senior secondary, tertiary and adult groups.

Bookings

All sessions are of 90 minutes duration and commence at half hourly intervals from 8am to 4:30pm (Mon-Fri).

Sessions are free-of-charge.

To make a booking at the National Electoral Education Centre please visit Book Canberra Excursions.

Students with specific physical, accessibility or learning needs should be identified at the time of your booking to ensure an equitable learning experience for all. A social narrative resource is available.

All programs must be booked and confirmed on Book Canberra Excursions at least two weeks prior to the booking date. Failure to confirm a bookings may result in programs being cancelled.

Extension Opportunities – Get Voting

Democracy Rules – Democracy Rules is the AEC’s flagship online education offering for schools and provides background knowledge to enable teachers to confidently lead students in electoral education. It includes a 150-page teaching guide, printable activities for students, online interactive games and seven animated videos. Each topic has been aligned to appropriate year levels and content descriptions in the Australian Curriculum, and there are topics suitable from upper primary to upper secondary students. Access Democracy Rules online from the AEC for Schools website.

Media Literacy in Democracy: Women’s Suffrage in Australia – Understanding the power of persuasion, the impact of bias and understanding the influence of modern news and social media is vital in strengthening and supporting our democracy. Media Literacy in Democracy aims to explore critical media literacy and the importance of investigating where information comes from online, and does this through exploring the historical issue of women’s suffrage in Australia. The resource includes a teacher guide, critical analysis worksheets and templates. Access Media Literacy in Democracy online from the AEC for Schools website.

On the Day

Student numbers must not exceed capacity (45 students max per primary program, 40 per secondary program). Larger groups should book multiple sessions to ensure all participants are able to take part.

Photos are permitted with one strict exception, advised during the program.

Access to the NEEC is found at the right hand side of the building, opposite the Senate Rose Gardens. (see map above)

Schools also visiting the Museum of Australian Democracy are recommended to allow 30 minutes between programs at either institution.

A teacher is to accompany students at all times. Leaving a group unsupervised will result in the program being terminated.

Storage is limited, please leave bags on the bus.

For more information, teacher resources, Certificate of Currency, Risk management plan visit our AEC for Schools website.

The Australian War Memorial

The purpose of the Australian War Memorial is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war or on operational service and those who have served our nation in times of conflict. Its mission is leading remembrance and understanding of Australia’s war time experience.

Maximum of 110 students per session (45 min program).

More Information

Education programs draw on the Memorial’s extensive collection of objects, artworks, photographs and personal stories. Students experience interactive discussion in the Memorial’s galleries with trained Education staff, and have opportunities to participate in commemorative activities. All programs are linked to the Australian Curriculum learning statements for HASS (History, Civics and Citizenship), English, Visual Arts, and Science and Technology.

Booking Details

For further information regarding school visits, including how to book, Education program information, planning your visit, and pre and post visit ideas please visit

School Visits | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)

The Memorial has developed many classroom learning resources including Virtual Excursions, available for use on the website.

Classroom Resources | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)

Virtual excursions | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)

Written Evidence

Schools must attach written evidence when submitting an online application.

Include evidence of an email confirmation of reservation in each institution or email confirmation that requested bookings are not available.

Written receipts from either the national institutions or the Book Canberra Excursions (clear screen shot of this) is acceptable.

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