Welcome to the State Library of Western Australia's Education e-Newsletter, helping you keep up-to-date with what's happening with our education program, events and resources at the State Library. As a subscriber you will receive your copy of the e-Newsletter in your inbox every quarter. If our Education e-Newsletter has been forwarded to you by a friend or colleague, and you would like to continue receiving up-to-date information from the State Library education team, you can subscribe here. You can 'like' us on Facebook and 'follow' us on Twitter.

From Dirk Hartog’s landing at remote Cape Inscription in 1616 to our present migrant connections, Dutch Journeys to the Western Edge draws stories from our collections in the State Library.

This free exhibition runs from Friday 24 June to Sunday 25 September in the State Library’s ground floor gallery.

It is supported by our Suitcases: Stories of Migration workshop, which will include a suitcase exploring the life of Dutch immigrant, Nonja Peters.

We will be hosting a free professional learning workshop at 4.30 - 6:30pm on Wednesday 29 June, to launch this exhibition and supporting educational activites. Bookings essential via Eventbrite.

My name is Irena Sikorska and I'm an education officer at the State Library. I was initially a high school English teacher, but took a different path a little later with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. Despite having an interesting portfolio and the opportunity of completing an overseas posting in Southeast Asia, I found I missed working in education and so re-steered my career again to more closely align with my true passions.

Now I have the good fortune of working in a dynamic team of education professionals. We are committed to supporting teachers to equip their students with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively navigate their way through life. 

I look forward to meeting you and your students very soon at the State Library of Western Australia!

For more information on the workshops we facilitate, check out our website.

If you were migrating to a foreign country, what would you take in your suitcase? Suitcases: Stories of migration is a new addition to our suite of educational workshops which explores the lives of a range of migrants to Western Australian shores. It supports the Australian and Western Australian HASS curricula for Years 5 and 6.

During the workshop, we talk about why people migrate and what a migratory experience might be like. Students then work collaboratively in small groups to explore a variety of State Library collection pieces, including photos, ephemera and newspaper articles, to piece together the story either of one individual's journey to Western Australia, or a group, such as Vietnamese refugees or the Group Settlement Scheme. Students uncover the many ways migrants have contributed to our lives today.

For further information about this workshop, and to book, please complete a booking request form, phone (08) 9427 3202 or email your request to ed@slwa.wa.gov.au

When did your ancestors arrive in Western Australia and where did they come from?

Passenger lists of arrivals to WA can be found on the 3rd floor of the State Library. These authentic primary source materials can be used to uncover the movements of a number of well known figures throughout our local history. They provide students with a taste of how to search for and access primary sources and what these can tell us about events from the past.

The State Library website contains a wealth of resources for students to use when they undertake research projects, including photos, maps, news articles and ephemera.

Are your upper school students looking for somewhere quiet, convenient and packed full of past papers and study guides? Why not suggest they visit the 1st floor of the State Library, where resources and a group study area are available for senior school students to use.

The State Library education team (from left to right):  Tricia McKenzie, Irena Sikorska, Kate Akerman

For more information on our education workshops please call (08) 9427 3202 or email your request to ed@slwa.wa.gov.au.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Tricia, Irena and Kate
Education Team
State Library of Western Australia