Home - ACU (The Australian Catholic University)

Site Navigation

SDFX207 Community Engagement Program

0 cp
Co-requisite SDFD221 Creating Inclusive, Safe and Supportive Schools

The Community Engagement Program aims to assist preservice early childhood, primary and secondary educators to understand and value diversity in its many forms enabling them to cater for diversity more effectively. The placement in a community agency, where the preservice educators contribute to the functions of that agency, enhances the development of their understanding of the contextual factors that impact on the way in which people live their lives. The Community Engagement Program is premised on an understanding that learning is enhanced through exposure to a variety of other individuals and contexts, particularly those that present different forms of knowledge, experiences, and attitudes. To enhance critical examination, promote reflective practices and challenge established beliefs, preservice educators are offered unfamiliar, problematic experiences which break the continuity of experiences of cumulative socialisation that often date back to their school years. Participation encourages preservice educators to extend their understanding of the pluralistic and accessible array of non-formal educational settings such as hospitals, prisons and community centres that offer legitimate and authentic experiences for learning, and should therefore be recognised and valued. Further, it enables preservice educators to listen to the voices of marginalised people and, through reflection, allow such experiences to impact on their personal and professional lives as engaged citizens.

Sub-site navigation