Key information

  • Locations: Fitzroy Crossing and Broome, Western Australia
  • Eligible students: Business undergraduate and postrgraduate students
  • Cost: Approximately A$1,150
  • Unit code: BUS30029 - Only Business students are eligible

Study tour overview

This 14-day culturally immersive study tour will take you to the Kimberley (Western Australia) to meet and work with local Aboriginal people to help develop their budding business ideas into practical business plans.

During this time, you’ll be taken to numerous cultural heritage sites, where local tour operators and guides will share the cultural history and significance of each site with you.

You will have the opportunity to meet with many local Aboriginal people, visit communities, and learn about ancient Aboriginal culture and how it is still practiced today.

Highlights/tentative include:

12 nights in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia

Meet with clients to understand their business idea from which students develop a business plan. You will be able to meet with locals and visit communities and social enterprises, as invited. As part of the tour, students will sisit five cultural heritage sites:

  • Danggu (Geikie) Gorge
  • Mimbi Caves
  • Tunnel Creek
  • Carpenter’s Lookout
  • Windjana Gorge
     
Two nights in Broome, Western Australia

Free time for students before heading home

Cultural Heritage tour: A boat cruise down Geike Gorge and the chance to hear about local ancestral stories. 

Benefits

This study tour provides you with an opportunity to make a difference by applying what you have learned in your business studies to a real-life situation. You will work with local people to support communities to run successful businesses, so they might enjoy economic stability and prosperity in the future.

This experiential study tour is transformative. You will typically have your eyes opened, realise the friendliness, wisdom and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, and become more enlightened, motivated and appreciative of their world.

You will return home having contributed to communities in a practical way, while developing an appreciation of the Indigenous Peoples of Australia.

Eligibility and selection criteria

  • Undergraduate students must have completed 8 business units (must have MKT10007 or equivalent)
  • Postgraduate students must have completed 4 business or social impact units
  • Applicants will meet in person with Dr Rowan Bedggood (Unit Convenor) to ensure they are fully informed about the program and will fit in with the cultural environment

Other information

There are three workshops held for this unit.

Prior to departure

Two workshops are held prior to departure of the study tour to help prepare students. These are:

  • Workshop 1: provides details about the trip, what to expect, what to bring, how to behave respectfully, cultural tips, etc.
  • Workshop 2: provides details about the work required of students, the assessment items (Business Plan, Filmed Presentation, Reflection Piece)

On your return

One workshop is held once the study tour has returned to help support students with their assessments. This includes:

  • refine business plans
  • prepare presentations – set date for filming in the Swinburne Filming Studio
  • reflection pieces: transforming student journals into a reflection of their experiences and learnings and how they might apply their newly acquired knowledge into producing useful business plans (embracing cultural diversity and nuances).

Program cost includes:

  • All accommodation
  • Transfers in Broome/Fitzroy Crossing
  • Visiting five cultural heritage sites
  • Two dinners 

Additional expenses to consider (not included in program cost):

  • Airfares (Melb-Broome-Melb)
  • Insurance (travel insurance is recommended)
  • Food and amenities
  • Transfer to and from Melbourne Airport

* Program cost is approximate at the time of being listed online and is subject to change.

Information sessions

Register your interest to learn more about this study tour and to be kept updated on upcoming information sessions.

Still not sure?

For further details on this program please contact:

Dr Rowan Bedggood
Senior Lecturer, Study Tour Convenor
+61 3 9214 5896
rbedggood@swinburne.edu.au

Join us on the next tour

Register your interest to join us on the Supporting Economic Development Indigenous study tour and we'll get back to you with the next steps.

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