Australian Curriculum

The hands-on adventure activities within ORteens and the STORM App are designed to complement the Year 9 and 10 Australian Curriculum, promoting Personal and Social Capability through resilience-building challenges and Health and Physical Education by emphasizing the benefits of physical and mental well-being. 

They foster Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, and Intercultural Understanding by encouraging diverse problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and empathy. These activities also touch on scientific principles, historical context, effective communication, practical mathematics, and geographical understanding. 

The below points display the wide range of subjects that the ORTeens Program and the STORM App incorporate;

  • Personal and Social Capability: Developing resilience and self-management skills.

  • Health and Physical Education: Understanding the benefits of physical activity and mental well-being.

  • Critical and Creative Thinking: Solving problems and thinking outside the box.

  • Ethical Understanding: Making ethical decisions and acting with integrity.

  • Intercultural Understanding: Respecting diversity and fostering empathy.

  • Science: Applying scientific principles in real-world contexts.

  • History: Learning from past challenges and achievements.

  • English: Communicating effectively and reflecting on personal experiences.

  • Mathematics: Applying problem-solving skills in practical situations.

  • Geography: Understanding human interaction with environments and facing global challenges.

Engaging in this multifaceted approach significantly enhances the personal growth journey that the STORM App aims to facilitate.

The ORTeens program and STORM App, aligned with the Australian Curriculum, provide a holistic approach to student development. They foster Personal and Social Capability by encouraging resilience and self-management through hands-on activities. 

Personal and Social Capability

The ORTeens program and STORM App bolster Personal and Social Capability in line with the Year 9 and Year 10 Australian Curriculum by providing scenarios where students can develop their self-awareness and manage their emotions. Through activities like the Wheelchair Challenge Course and the Drop Line Experience, they learn to face fears, build empathy, and practice self-reflection. These activities also cultivate interpersonal skills, allowing students to work effectively in teams, communicate, and build relationships. By navigating these challenges, teens enhance their social awareness and develop skills to engage respectfully with a diverse range of individuals and communities.

Health and Physical Education

The ORTeens program and STORM App address the Health and Physical Education component of the Year 9 and Year 10 Australian Curriculum by engaging students in physical activities that promote both physical health and mental well-being. These experiences are crucial for teaching students about the human body's capabilities, the importance of physical fitness, and the mental resilience that comes from overcoming physical challenges. The program's activities, such as kayaking and rock climbing, require cardiovascular strength, coordination, and endurance, tying directly into the curriculum's focus on physical development and health education. Additionally, the program encourages nutritional understanding, lifestyle management, and the development of personal skills that contribute to lifelong health and well-being.

Critical and Creative Thinking

The ORTeens program and STORM App enhance Critical and Creative Thinking in alignment with the Year 9 and Year 10 Australian Curriculum. The program’s adventure activities, such as the Water Bike Challenge, require students to employ critical thinking for problem-solving and decision-making. It encourages analytical thinking in assessing risks and understanding the consequences of actions during physical challenges. Creative thinking is stimulated as students navigate new situations and devise innovative solutions. This approach to learning helps students to think independently and express their creativity in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts, preparing them for complex real-world problems.

Ethical Understanding

The ORTeens program and STORM App foster Ethical Understanding as outlined in the Year 9 and Year 10 Australian Curriculum by guiding students through scenarios that require them to consider ethical considerations and the impact of their actions on others. Activities such as group kayaking and the Wheelchair Challenge Course encourage students to think about inclusivity, fairness, and the rights of individuals with disabilities. These experiences aim to deepen students' understanding of ethical concepts and practices, enhance their ability to make reasoned ethical decisions, and develop a respect for cultural diversity and human rights.

Intercultural Understanding

The ORTeens program and STORM App promote Intercultural Understanding in line with the Year 9 and Year 10 Australian Curriculum by engaging students in activities that expose them to a variety of cultural perspectives. This might include tasks that require cooperation with peers from diverse backgrounds, discussions on global issues, or reflection on the cultural significance of certain activities. These experiences help students to appreciate cultural diversity, develop open-mindedness, and build communication skills across cultural divides, thereby fostering a sense of global citizenship and cultural empathy.

Science

The ORTeens program and STORM App align with the Science aspect of the Year 9 and Year 10 Australian Curriculum by incorporating activities that require scientific thinking and application. For instance, the Water Bike Challenge might involve understanding buoyancy, physics, and environmental science. Kayaking and outdoor navigation incorporate aspects of earth sciences and geography. These activities not only enhance understanding of scientific concepts but also encourage a practical application of science in real-world scenarios, fostering a deeper appreciation and curiosity for the subject.

History

In the ORTeens program, visiting the Brisbane Powerhouse, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, and the Naval Stores offers students a dynamic way to experience history outside the classroom, deeply aligned with the Australian Curriculum's focus on historical knowledge and understanding.  The Brisbane Powerhouse, a tramway power station in 1928, symbolizes Brisbane's industrial past and subsequent cultural renaissance, having been repurposed into a vibrant arts and cultural center in 2000. It stands as a testament to the city's adaptive reuse of heritage-listed sites.

The Kangaroo Point Cliffs, used by the Turrbal people and later as a quarry by convicts in the 1820s, hold layers of Brisbane's history, from its Indigenous heritage to its penal colony days. Today, they serve as a recreational space, illustrating the shift from industrial use to community enjoyment.  

The Naval Stores, constructed in 1887, were originally built to house ship equipment and later served as a World War II command center. Their preservation and current use for leisure and educational purposes highlight Brisbane's dedication to conserving historical structures while repurposing them for contemporary use.

By engaging with these historically significant sites, students gain insights into the social and economic changes over time, the evolution of urban landscapes, and the importance of heritage conservation. This hands-on exploration fosters an appreciation of local history, understanding of past struggles and achievements, and recognition of the value of preserving historical landmarks for future generations.

English

The ORTeens program and the STORM App offer a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to personal development for Year 9 and Year 10 students, aligning with the English curriculum's focus on communication, reflection, and critical thinking. The program's adventure activities and journaling aspects encourage students to articulate experiences, practice narrative writing, and develop analytical skills. Moreover, the STORM App's journal serves as a platform for self-expression and language mastery, while the hands-on activities enhance understanding of literary themes like resilience and character development through real-world experiences. The collaboration with Riverlife Adventure Centre, Vertigo Brisbane Powerhouse, and Sporting Wheelies enriches the program with diverse perspectives, promoting inclusivity and broadening the educational experience beyond traditional classroom settings.

Mathematics

The ORTeens program and STORM App can complement the Mathematics curriculum for Year 9 and Year 10 students through activities that require critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. For instance, the Water Bike Challenge involves principles of physics and engineering, which require mathematical thinking for design and navigation. Activities like rock climbing and kayaking integrate practical applications of geometry and measurement in assessing distances and angles. The planning and execution of activities within the program may also involve budgeting and time management, offering real-life contexts to apply numerical and financial literacy skills. These experiences support the curriculum's goal to develop mathematical understanding, fluency, problem-solving, reasoning, and analytical skills in an applied setting.

Geography

The ORTeens program and STORM App aligns with the Geography component of the Year 9 & Year 10 Australian Curriculum by incorporating activities that enhance spatial awareness and mapping skills. For example:

  • Outdoor navigation challenges where students use maps, compasses, and the STORM App to traverse different terrains, teaching them how to interpret topographic maps and understand cardinal directions.

  • Adventure tasks that involve identifying geographical features and understanding their significance, fostering an appreciation for natural landscapes.

  • Excursions that focus on real-world applications of geographical knowledge, such as examining the impact of tourism or conservation efforts on local environments, allowing students to see the practical implications of human-environment interactions.