New Tasmanians Learn Skills to Enjoy the Bush
On December 12th, Get Outside with Community hosted a training day, Exploring Tasmania Safely. Our audience were students from the Young Migrant English Programme at TAFE, who were finishing up their study responsibilities for the year and looking forward to summer holidays. These students come from diverse cultural backgrounds, with most newly arrived in Tasmania and others who have been here for up to 2 or 3 years.
We met at Taroona Beach, where the 60 participants divided into groups to meet the challenges of the day. Tasks included bushwalking, the safe clothing relay, animal identification, putting up a tent, trip planning, fire safety, and discussions on the risks and joys of getting outside in Tasmania.
It was a glorious day, and the students enjoyed seeing the endless possibilities for exploring Tasmania. Learning about how to see Tasmania’s wild places while making sure everyone is safe, and that we leave no trace, were key themes of the day.
“I would love to explore this whole island and really see this place and be a Tasmanian” said one participant, clearly inspired to connect with Tasmania and a sense of home. And that is what Get Outside is for – connecting to place and to each other. A big thank you to the TAFE Y-MEP teachers, TPWS, and one of the fabulous Get Outside leaders, Lah Paw Htay.