The Community Inquiry program equips students with skills that will help them thrive in the rapidly changing workplaces of the future.

From Year 7-9, students engage in our Community Inquiry program which challenges them to investigate real-world, local problems alongside teachers and community members, using the three themes of Sustainability, Wellbeing and Social Justice to spark their ideas.

With a focus on teamwork skills and using the Stanford Design Thinking Framework, students are given the opportunity to develop in the Victorian Curriculum’s general capabilities: Personal & Social Capability, Ethical Capability, Intercultural Capability and Critical & Creative Thinking. 

Students use Design Thinking to find and address a ‘problem that matters’ with the assistance of our diverse and generous Footscray community and investigate possible solutions. These experiences lead into our middle years Year 9 Community Inquiry city and local program and senior school electives. The focus on the general capabilities supports students’ wellbeing and academic success across their schooling. 

At FHS, our ongoing work in developing these Inquiry programs centres on developing skills for the future. Our programs are designed to develop students’ ability to thrive when there is uncertainty, with skills such as problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, creativity, personal and social skills, decision making and collaboration at the heart of every program.