Secondary Catalogue

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8 – but why is this day important? What does the day signify? This Miniclip explores the origins of women’s suffrage throughout Australia’s modern history including the granting of voting rights for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous women and the first women in parliamentary roles. It also discusses damaging stereotypes for both girls and boys, the presence of gender inequality that still exists today, and how to celebrate the women in your own life. Show Less

The word ‘Anzac’ holds an important place in contemporary Australian political and cultural consciousness. This video looks into the origins of the Anzac spirit and the role it has to play in shaping modern Australian society. Students will learn about the ways in which the ANZACs are commemorated, and hear a range of opinions on what ‘Anzac’ means for the Australians of today. Show Less

In this short animation, students learn how civil rights lawyer, activist and politician Nelson Mandela helped end apartheid in South Africa and brought a divided country together through showing respect for difference. When children learn about inspirational people who embody key global competencies and traits, like equality, empathy, curiosity and communication, they are inspired to become the change they want to see. Show Less

The gold rush began just over 60 years after Europeans arrived to Australia, but how did this decade transform the cultural, political, environmental, and economic threads of the nation? Ronan takes viewers through the construction of ‘10-mile towns’ which lead to the expansion of settlements throughout the country, the new wealth experienced in communities, as well as changes made to the natural landscape and the impacts on Indigenous connection to land and use of resources. Also explained is the birth of multiculturalism – including how the racism experienced at the goldfields enabled the White Australia Policy, as well as the birth of democracy in our parliament as a result of the Eureka Stockade. Show Less

The democracy all Australians enjoy today began at the goldfields… but how? Ronan guides students through the events that led up to the Eureka Stockade at Bakery Hill in Ballarat. Students will discover that the government’s greed and expensive miner’s license fee led to outrage from the diggers, and the unfortunate death of James Scobie at the Eureka Hotel followed by the acquittal of James Bentley led to growing tension on the goldfields. Discover how Peter Lalor and the Ballarat diggers led a 20-minute battle that shaped Australia’s political system and gave a voice to the people in colonies through parliamentary elections. Show Less

How did the Australian gold rush begin in 1851? Who kicked it off? Where did it occur, and why is gold so valuable? Join Ronan, an Irish digger come to try his hand at striking rich, as he explores the beginning of gold fever in Australia including the role of Edward Hargraves, the countries from which hopeful miners rushed, and the various roles played by Aboriginal Australians during the period. Students will also learn about the locations that put gold on the Australian map including Ballarat and Bendigo, as well as the catalysts that acted as drivers of diggers out of their homes and onto the shores of Australia such as Ireland’s famine. Show Less

Life on the goldfields wasn’t as easy as some thought when they arrived off the boats to begin their luck at gold mining! Join Irish digger Ronan as he explains just what life was like for those in the fields – including the ‘canvas towns’ and the inability of colonies to accommodate such a huge influx of migrants, as well as monotonous food and sweeping illnesses. This episode also looks at what a ‘claim’ is, the role of women in the goldfields, the various jobs that were available, and the widespread racism against the Chinese diggers both by the diggers and the government. Show Less

The Gallipoli campaign was one of the most significant events of World War I for Australian troops. This video introduces the events of the Gallipoli invasion and how the actions of the soldiers there have contributed to the lasting legacy of the ANZACs. Students will learn about what happened at Gallipoli, from the initial landing to major events such as the August Offensive, and the final evacuation and retreat. Show Less

Supporting Great Britain in the Great War meant that Australian troops fought on many battlefields around the globe between 1914 and 1918. This video looks at the theatres of war in which Australian soldiers fought and the conditions they endured there, such as trench warfare. Students will learn about the differences in the nature of warfare in various battles, including Gallipoli, the Western Front and Palestine. Show Less

As a dominion of the British Empire, it was inevitable for Australia to be drawn into the First World War. This video explores Australian attitudes towards enlistment during WWI and how these changed over the course of the war and highlights the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers. Student will understand how public opinion affected Australian participation in the war effort. Show Less

The First World War was fought on a scale never seen before. This video investigates the many and complex causes of this global conflict. Students will learn about the system of alliances that contributed to the powder keg that was Europe in 1914, as well as the spark that ignited the Great War that would embroil nations around the globe. Show Less

Art and spirituality are woven into the fabric of Polynesian cultures. In this video, students will come to appreciate the both distinct and subtle differences between the cultures of different Polynesian nations, the spiritual codes that guide the Polynesian way of life, and the art forms that have been mastered over generations. Show Less

This programme considers the aftermath of the Holocaust immediately following the war, when the full extent of its evil finally came to light. The plight of European Jews continued into the post-war period, with most unable to return to their homes and facing long and, at times, fruitless journeys to seek refuge overseas. Students will also learn how the pressure for a Jewish state intensified during this time, culminating in the formation of Israel. Show Less

Exploring the rise of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany and the spread of Nazi control across Europe, this programme looks at how and why the Jewish people went from being distrusted and blamed for Germany’s ills, to being violently vilified through events such as Kristallnacht, to finally being rounded up for mass extermination. Intended for viewing by audiences from middle secondary and older, this background to the Holocaust will help students to contextualise one of the worst atrocities in human history. Show Less

The Holocaust was carried out at such a scale that the world took time to come to grips with the enormity of it. But, incomprehensibly, the Holocaust was not the last atrocity of its nature to be committed. Concluding the series, this programme outlines more recent attempts at genocide and takes students through the significance of coping with and commemorating the Holocaust many decades on, and long into the future. Show Less

How much did the Allies know of the horrors being committed against European Jews at the hands of the German Nazis, and were they in a position to act against them as they were occurring? This programme considers this unsettling question before exploring the Allied response after the war, when the full and harrowing extent of the Holocaust was revealed. A close examination of the Nuremburg Trials provides students with insight into the considered legal process of Nazi retribution. Show Less

The first settlers to Polynesia’s many islands were met with unique environments, flora and fauna that were unlike those they had migrated from. How they managed these natural resources over the centuries has not always been sustainable. Focusing on the disastrous environmental consequences on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), students will learn about the complex historical relationship between people and place in Polynesia. Show Less

Polynesia’s islands take the formation of a huge triangle in the Pacific Ocean, but how people came to call these islands home is a long-debated topic. In this video, students will learn about the unique geography of Polynesia and meet the people throughout history who have attempted to solve the mystery of Polynesian migration. Show Less

For the Polynesian island nation of Rapa Nui, the giant Moai statues possess a strong, spiritual power, called ‘mana’. This video explores the way that Rapanui spirituality is expressed both artistically and through the cultural tradition of the Birdman competition, ‘Tangata Manu’. Show Less

With grand visions for a stable, peaceful empire, Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall in his name spanning the width of northern Britainnia, demarcating the north-west frontier of the Roman empire. As this video explores, Hadrian's wall was mighty in proportion, not only as a defensive structure, but also as a physical reminder of the Roman empire's strength and power. Diagrams and purposeful narration make this a valuable resource for students of senior Classical Studies and History courses. Show Less

The City Dionysia was a religious festival and celebration of Athenian culture and its pinnacle event, a competition of the dramatic arts, was held at the Theatre of Dionysus, birthplace of Greek tragedy. Seating 15,000, including dignitaries from afar, the theatre staged plays which payed homage to Greek history and mythology and provided often outspoken commentary on politics and justice. An ideal resource for students in senior Classical Studies and History courses, this video explores the cultural significance of Athenian theatre and how it spread across the Greek world. Show Less

Athenian art and culture flourished under the leadership of Pericles, who wanted to create a society that history would remember. The Parthenon serves as one of the civilisation's most remarkable structures and evidence that Pericle's wish for a lasting Athenian legacy came true. Using primary and secondary sources, this video will help students in senior Classical Studies and History courses to understand why and how the Parthenon was constructed, the intricacies of its sculptures which are indicative of Athenian style, and its enduring significance. Show Less

Built to seat over 250,000 spectators, Circus Maximus was referred to by one Greek historian as "one of the most beautiful and admirable structures in Rome." The chariot racing that took place there was the epitome of Roman entertainment but, as this video explores, also served to distract the Roman public from important matters of civic life, placating them with the spectatcle. Using primary and secondary source materials, this video is an ideal accompaniment to senior Classical Studies and Ancient History courses. Show Less

In this short animation, students learn how American aviation pioneer Amelia Earthart showed flexibility to overcome multiple challenges and obstacles in her determination to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. When children learn about inspirational people who embody key global competencies and traits, like equality, empathy, curiosity and communication, they are inspired to become the change they want to see. Show Less

When Mao Zedong announced China’s second five-year plan, the Great Leap Forward, in 1958, it promised a Communist utopia based on collectivisation of agricultural property and production, and industrialisation where everyday citizens produced steel. But, as this video reveals, it spawned a catastrophic, widespread famine. The Party had to change tack, and Mao’s influence waned, but for how long…? Show Less