The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) is Australia’s national audiovisual cultural institution. We collect, preserve and share Australia’s audiovisual culture and heritage. The NFSA’s collection includes not only film, video and audio recordings, but also contextual materials such as costumes, scripts, props, photographs and promotional materials. It is a diverse, dynamic and often surprising repository, ranging from items inducted into the UNESCO Memory of the World register to sporting matches, game shows and advertising jingles.
The NFSA’s Learning and Media Literacy team creates free curriculum- aligned educational
experiences that engage audiences across K-12. Utilising our rich national AV collection, the NFSA focuses on developing critical media literacy skills for our modern world and explores Australian AV history and culture.
We offer both on request digital excursions and on demand content. Read about our current offerings below and follow the links to book your excursion and access pre and post-excursion resources.
On demand
Register to receive a link to the excursion as well as pre- and post-excursion activities and detailed curriculum links.
TV: Then and Now
Travel back to 1956, when television first arrived in Australia.
In this 30-minute interactive digital excursion, students will explore how watching TV in the past compares to today. They will investigate how television technology and viewing habits have changed over time, take part in drawing and discussion activities, and imagine life as a child growing up in the early days of Australian TV.
Through this experience, students will consider the following key inquiry questions:
- What was different about TV and how people consumed TV shows in the past?
- How has TV as a medium changed since its arrival in Australia in 1956?
Year levels: K-2
Duration: 30 minutes
Australian Curriculum alignment: HASS Foundation, HASS Year 1, HASS Year 2, English Year 1, English Year 2, Design and Technology Years 1 and 2
Australian Curriculum outcomes: AC9HS1K02, AC9HS2K02, AC9E1LY02, AC9E2LY02
Lights, Camera, Archive
Join us as we lift the curtain on the collection and work of the NFSA. We take students
behind the scenes to follow how media is collected, preserved and shared at Australia’s
national audiovisual (AV) archive. Along the way, students will discover the collection and
meet the passionate people behind the scenes whose diverse careers are integral to the
NFSA. Students to think critically about Australia’s past, the role of AV media in shaping
national identity, and the power of storytelling.
With dynamic visuals, surprising insights and engaging stories, this excursion supports
several learning areas across the Australian Curriculum.
Year levels: 3-9
Duration: 15 minutes
Australian Curriculum alignment: HASS Year 3, HASS Year 4, Health and Physical Education Year 5 and 6, Media Arts Year 5 and 6, Civics and Citizenship Year 7, Civics and Citizenship Year 8, Civics and Citizenship Year 9
Australian Curriculum outcomes: AC9HS3K02, AC9HS4K09, AC9HP6P01, AC9HP6PO5, AC9HP6P10, AC9AMA6E01, AC9HC7K04, AC9HC8K05, AC9HC8K06, AC9HC9K06,
General Curriculum priorities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Information Communication Technology
On request
Book your class in for a FREE, one-to-one digital excursion with a member of our Learning team. These excursions are available to book on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Media and Me: Primary
In this free, 30-minute digital excursion, students build critical media literacy skills as they explore how media shapes their world. Students will investigate the techniques used to capture attention, stir emotions and persuade audiences through hands-on analysis of media from the NFSA collection.
Students will explore:
- How do different forms of media influence us?
- What techniques do creators use to engage and persuade?
- What does it mean to be a media-literate citizen?
Year levels: 5-6
Duration: 30 minutes
Australian curriculum alignment: English Year 6, HASS Year 5, HASS Year 6, Health and Physical Education Year 6
General Curriculum priorities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Information Communication Technology
Australian curriculum outcomes: ACELY1713, ACHASSK118, ACHASSK147, ACPPS057
Media and Me: Secondary
In this free 30-minute digital excursion, students will develop critical media literacy skills by
examining how the media they consume influences their perceptions of the world.
Focusing on purpose and representation, the session draws on rich examples from the NFSA collection.
Students will analyse how creators use techniques to grab attention, evoke
emotion, and influence audiences. They will also explore how different forms of
representation in media shape society’s understanding of people, cultures, and events.
Key inquiry questions include:
- What techniques do media creators use to engage and persuade?
- How does representation in media influence the way we see the world?
Year levels: 9-10
Duration: 30 minutes
Australian curriculum alignment: English Year 9, Civics and Citizenship Year 9, English Year
10, Civics and Citizenship Year 10, Health and Physical Education Years 9 and 10
Australian Curriculum outcomes: AC9E9LA02, AC9E9LA08, AC9E9LY01, AC9E9LY02,
AC9E9LY03, AC9HC9K06, AC9E10LA03, AC9E10LA07, AC9E10LY01, AC9E10LY03, AC9E10LY04, AC9HC10K05, AC9HP10P01, AC9HP10P05
Digital resources
Explore our curated collections and educational websites. These resources will enrich your teaching and learning programs across a range of key learning areas.
Contact details
Phone: (02) 6248 2008
Email: learning@nfsa.gov.au
Website: www.nfsa.gov.au/learning
Bookings: www.nfsa.gov.au/form/digital-excursion-bookings
