St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville, students help redesign Dawkins Park

St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville, Stage 3 students were invited to participate in a collaborative community project focusing on the local Dawkins Park around climate change and the use of the park by the community. (17 September 2021)

St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville, Stage 3 students were invited to participate in a ‘real world’ collaborative project with Southern Cross University, Nambucca Shire Council, elders of the local Gumbaynggirr people and other schools in the community. 

The focus of the project was on climate change and centred on Macksvilles Dawkins Park as the Council makes improvements to the park, aiming to draw more people to the space.

In Term 2, students participated in an exciting Project Based Learning unit to investigate the water quality of Dawkins Park Lake and the impact of climate change and urban development. The students enjoyed several field trips to the park to identify and collect data on the living things, and did this with the assistance of Cascade Environmental School and the Council. 

The Term 3 focus shifted Geography and how spaces are used by different groups of people. On one field trip the students met with elders of the local Gumbaynggirr community and discovered what the area meant to them traditionally. The students combined their learning from Term 2 and considered the different people who may use the space to design a 3D model of the park. The students incorporated coding in their design that will provide education on climate change at key spots. 

‘It was so lovely to drive past and see the children engaging in learning out in the community. It would be nice to see the space being used for learning even more,’ said one parent.

‘I feel it was such a privilege to be involved in this community project. The students solved real world problems; they realised they had many teachers, not just their class teachers; and they developed a deeper understanding of and empathy for some of the traditional Gumbaynggirr song lines relating to the area of study. This experience will contribute to the choices they make as they walk on this sacred ground,’ said one teacher. 

‘The children's skills in using the Co-spaces technology is phenomenal. That they can use this type of design app at their age, to map and code a tour is wonderful and I look forward to seeing what else they can achieve using technologies,’ said the SCU Lecturer and Grant Coordinator. 

The students and their families will be able to witness the park evolve and enjoy using this new and improved space in their local community.