...engaging students in learning through social change.

...supporting teachers to implement key aspects of the Tasmanian and national curricula for primary & secondary.

Imagine the difference it would make if every school student was an active community leader. ruMAD? supports over a thousand schools nationally in making this vision a reality.
 

Key features | Benefits of ruMAD? | Program to date | Levels of 'MADness' | ruMAD? in Tasmania | School Support | Funding | Origins of ruMAD?

ruMAD? is owned by the Education Foundation (a division of the Foundation for Young Australians) and delivered in Tasmania by the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning on behalf of and in partnership with the Education Foundation.

ruMAD? is an award-winning national educational program that helps students identify and act on issues important to them.

ruMAD? is a flexible framework easily integrated into any school curriculum, focussing on student engagement, organisation and decision-making. (It is not an extracurricular activity. Click here for further details on how the ruMAD? Program fits closely with the Tasmanian Curriculum)

ruMAD? is based on a belief that young people can make real change happen in the world.

ruMAD? encourages young people to gain the confidence, skills and inspiration to work for a fairer world by initiating, researching, planning, organising, activating and evaluating real-life projects in their local community.

ruMAD? empowers students to take responsibility for their learning through an inquiry approach, designed to assist them to develop a deeper understanding of the community issues they tackle. It is an example of a ‘thinking curriculum in action’.

The ruMAD? process starts with students identifying shared and important values as a group, and community issues that are inconsistent or in conflict with those shared values. Students then explore possibilities for action through various levels of involvement in social change projects, and lead the planning and implementation of their chosen projects.


Key features of ruMAD?

• Values-focused and inquiry-based
• Student-led, participatory and democratic
• Authentic learning based on real-life issues
• Encourages social change not charity (sustainable)
• Provides visible outcomes for students and the community
• Supports learning outcomes for teachers and schools

Benefits of ruMAD?

ruMAD? makes a difference…

To students by:

• engaging them in issues of social justice, the environment, tolerance and cultural diversity;
• challenging them to act as change-makers in their community;
• helping them express their views, become critical thinkers and develop life, learning and leadership skills; and
• improving engagement, motivation, behaviour, self-confidence, literacy and numeracy skills.

To teachers by:

• providing a structured process to engage students in inquiry-based learning;
• supporting them with training, curriculum materials, resources, mentoring and community networks; and
• facilitating improved communication and teacher/student relationships.

To schools by:

• improving student engagement in learning;
• assisting with the implementation of key components of the Tasmanian Curriculum;
• providing opportunities for local, state and national recognition;
• setting the scene for new community partnerships; and
• placing them at the heart of the community.

To communities by:

• connecting them to young people and schools;
• inspiring greater social cohesion and building capacity; and
• creating real and lasting change.

The Program to date

• Since the inception of the Program, over 50,000 young people in 150 schools around Australia have participated - 12,500 in Tasmania.
• During the past five years, over 1,000 ruMAD? Youth Ambassadors have trained to spread the word to other young people in Tasmania about how they can make a difference.
• In 2009, 32 Tasmanian schools participated in some aspect of the Program (2005, 14 schools).
• In 2009, three Tasmanian schools had ruMAD? teachers for 1 day a week.

MAD activities reflect the great diversity of student interests. In Tasmania these have included: raising awareness and funds for developing countries (for projects such as poverty reduction, water, landmine victims, street children, and fair trade); environmental clean-ups; tree planting; energy and water conservation; promoting organ donation; celebrating Indigenous culture; improving mental and physical health for youth; animal welfare; caring for children with disabilities, the sick and elderly; and creating local opportunities for rural youth.
 

If you are interested in being involved in ruMAD? in Tasmania contact:
Helen Hortle, Jeremy Picone or Karen Reid
Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning 
4 Battery Square, Battery Point, 7004
Ph 03 6223 1025 or 0400 824 261
Email rumad@afairerworld.org

Levels of MADness

There are five ways that schools can be involved, starting with a small commitment through MAD Day and building up to major change…

MAD Day: On this day students take on a one-day activity that gets everyone thinking about making a difference. For example, students might brainstorm the things they are most concerned about and think of a positive action they could take. Schools already implementing a MAD Project or MAD Foundation use the MAD Day to celebrate their achievements.

Students at Rokeby High decided that their MAD Day should be a day for the community to come together in celebration and to help those less fortunate. Students designed, created and organised activities, including community stalls, international cuisine, fashion parades, drama performances, music, and fair-ground stalls. An evening art auction was held, supported by many artists who donated artwork, raising $3,800 for local and global projects.

Read more about Rokeby High's ruMAD? experience!

MAD Project: These require a longer-term commitment with more detailed research, planning and involvement. The project may be developed and implemented over a whole year or on an ongoing basis. Projects make a significant difference in their school or in the local or global community.

In 2009, grade 5/6 students at Gagebrook Primary School chose to support people in need. Guest speakers from organisations working with sick children, the aged, and people with disabilities visited the school; students also made regular visits to these organisations to develop a greater understanding of those in need. Students then used this understanding to create resources for their chosen organisations, such as knee blankets, books, and games, and also raised funds for them.
Read more about Gagebrook Primary's ruMAD? experience!

ruMAD? Youth Ambassador: At the annual Youth Action Conference, students celebrate their MAD achievements and learn about being an ambassador for community action. A key aim of the Conference is for students to make contact with others working for a fairer world.   

In 2009, two Conferences were held in Tasmania: Rokeby High hosted 175 students in the south and Queechy High hosted 157 students in the north:

“Excellent. I found it interesting and I got a lot out of it.”
“…fun and rewarding”         “…interesting and inspirational”
“…Great! We did a lot of hands on and interesting activities.”
“…an eye opening experience”         “…excellent and absolutely educational”

Read more about the Conferences and being a Youth Ambassador.

MAD Foundation: Students commit to raising funds and granting monies to community organisations within their local communities and ensure that their money is truly making a difference. Foundations are yet to be implemented in Tasmania.

Melbourne Girls’ College established the first MAD Student Foundation in Victoria in 2001. The girls raised $2,500 through sausage sizzles and other events. These funds were matched by Charles Lane and The Myer Foundation. By 2003, the Foundation had developed such a profile that the school was inundated with community applications for funding. (Foundations have not yet been introduced to Tasmania.)

ruMAD? Social Enterprise: Student-led business with a difference. (NEW - details coming soon!)

ruMAD? in Tasmania

ruMAD? is only delivered in Tasmania by the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning.

The program supports the Tasmanian Curriculum, particularly the responsible citizenship strand of the Society and History curriculum. It has been given in-principle support by the Education Department of Tasmania:

“The ruMAD? Program … provides a best practice framework for education in values and responsible citizenship, allowing significant connections to be made with the Tasmanian Curriculum Framework.”
Memorandum of Understanding, Tasmanian Department of Education and the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning signed 2008

“I want schools to be connected to their local communities. I see the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning as a key player in advancing this agenda.”
The Hon David Bartlett, Premier and Minister for Education

The Australian Education Union has also given its support:

The Union believes that ruMAD? is a valuable educational program that will greatly benefit Tasmanian students, teachers and the wider community.  The Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning has our full support in bringing the program to Tasmania.
Chris Lane, State Manager

The Centre introduced the program to Tasmania in 2005. Since then more than 12,500 students have been involved in MAD activities. Read more on-line about MAD Activities and case studies from MAD Schools in Tasmania.

 

School Support

The Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning fully supports Tasmanian teachers implementing the ruMAD? Program. The Centre’s new focus is to facilitate funding for teachers in schools. In 2009, Rokeby and Queechy High Schools and Gagebrook Primary School had dedicated ruMAD? teachers for 1 day a week. Other support provided to all schools registered for ruMAD? includes:

• Professional development: Teacher training sessions held regionally or at individual schools. Download latest PD flyer

• Curriculum materials: Suggestions for lessons, MAD ideas and resources.

• ruMAD? Schools’ Coordinator, Education Officer and Program Manager: The Centre staff are available as mentors, to provide training, resources and ideas.
  

• Global Learning Resource Library: Built up over 24 years the library has books, kits, DVDs, magazines, posters and games on a wide range of global issues.
  

• A Fairer World (www.afairerworld.org) has pages about ruMAD? in Tasmania – information, resources and MAD stories. There are also sections on global issues, taking action and “local heroes”.

• A Fairer World Youth (youth.afairerworld.org) provides resources and space specifically for young Tasmanians.

• The national ruMAD? website (www.rumad.org.au) provides inspiring stories of MAD activities from around Australia.
  

• Networks: The Centre has extensive networks with other organisations working for a fairer world. These include:

Amnesty International (Tas)	Make Poverty History
Anglicare Tasmania	Migrant Resource Centre
Anti-Poverty Week	Mines Victims and Clearance Trust
Australian Education Union (Tas)	National Industry Association for Disability Services
Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative	Oaktree Foundation
Australian Volunteers International	Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
Bahay Tuluyan	Otesha Project
Brightside Farm Sanctuary	Oxfam Australia
Caritas Australia	Red Cross Australia
Foundation for Young Australians	RESULTS Australia
Global Poverty Project	Sustainable Living Tasmania
Hobart Dogs’ Homes	Tasmanian Council of Social Service
Hobart Peace Coalition	TEAR Australia
Hobart Women’s Health Centre	United Nations Association of Australia
Human Rights Week	Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons	Working It Out
Justice Action Network	World Vision Australia
Local councils (youth development)	Youth Network of Tasmania

 

Funding

ruMAD? in Tasmania is currently supported by the Tasmanian Community Fund. Since 2005, the  Tasmanian Program has been funded by a number of other organisations including the Tasmanian Community Foundation,  the Elaine Haworth Trust (managed by the Perpetual Foundation), Hobart Rotary Club and Vodafone Foundation. This funding allows the Centre to provide schools with training, support and curriculum resources. The ruMAD? Conferences have received funding or in-kind support from:

Hobart City Council
Brighton Council
Launceston City Council
Community Support Levy
Department of Education
Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage & the Arts
Bridgewater Police & Community Youth Club
Australia Post
Tasmanian Community Foundation - Youth in Philanthropy
University of Tasmania
Red Cross Australia
EcoTasmania

Origins of ruMAD?

ruMAD? was first piloted in Victoria in 2001. It was instigated by the Stegley Foundation, developed by a wide-ranging consortia of educators and has been funded by a number of philanthropic organisations.

The Stegley Foundation commissioned the development of an education program to inspire a culture of philanthropic action among young people.

The definition of philanthropy used by the Stegley Foundation is not the currently understood meaning of giving money away for charitable purposes - that is, the wealthy giving to the poor and disadvantaged. It has a broader meaning based on its historical definition as literally "the love of humankind".

Philanthropy - (noun)
1. For the love of humankind (American Heritage Dictionary)
2. Giving away of money (Oxford Dictionary)
3. Desire to improve the social, material and spiritual welfare of humanity through the giving and sharing of our time, talent and treasure (ruMAD? definition)

The program was written by David Zyngier, a lecturer and researcher in the area of student engagement, particularly for at-risk students, and Claire Brunner, a youth facilitator who has worked with young people from juvenile justice to the National Youth Round Table and Youth Summit 2020. David Zyngier, a former school principal, challenges educators to look at their teaching practice and how they, and their students, get connected to the real world.

Zyngier and Brunner were assisted in the development of the Program by a taskforce including representatives from Victorian curriculum associations, the Victorian Department of Education and Training, the Catholic Education Office and the independent education sector, teacher unions, Australian aboriginal and ethnic organisations, the Victorian Council of Social Service and the Victorian Local Governance Association.

What eventuated from these wide-ranging influences was ruMAD? - a social justice education program based on a high level of student participation, real-life problems and connection with the local community.

“The Program emphasises student engagement and participation, expecting young people to take up roles of real value, and celebrating their achievements as they have fun.”

“Participants in ruMAD? Projects learn through their actions that by working together with other like-minded people they can overcome enormous barriers and achieve remarkable results for themselves, their community and for others.” David Zyngier, co-author of ruMAD?