A collaborative project between Westport High School Year 7 high achievers and students from the UNSW Rural Clinical School will take pride of place in council libraries and offices over the next month.
The ‘Future Directions for Port Macquarie’Â project required each Year 7 student to investigate one aspect of the impact of continued population growth on our city and surrounding area. The resulting posters represent 10 weeks of face to face work and online support between the university mentors and high school students.
Council Administrator Neil Porter was so impressed with the collaboration and resulting ideas, he arranged for the display in council facilities.
“I was lucky enough to join 100 or so other guests including MP Leslie Williams and UNSW Rural Clinical School representatives to hear the high school students present their research finding and recommendations,” said Mr Porter.
Throughout the project the university students were able to encourage, challenge and stimulate the high school students to complete their research and presentation on their chosen area, whether it be the future of our koala population, the growth of Port Macquarie Base Hospital or the impact of the Oxley Highway upgrade.
“It was great to see such enthusiasm for learning and the partnerships formed between the students. The university students were able to increase their communication skills by working first-hand with young adolescents and the high school students really appreciated having a study buddy.
“By displaying the final works in our libraries and offices, the broader community can get an appreciation for what great minds we have in our local young people and perhaps develop some ideas for our future,” Mr Porter concluded.
The display will be in Port Macquarie, Laurieton and Wauchope libraries and council offices from July 30 till the end of August.
