The Expedition program has been our flagship for over 15 years. We take school students on an overseas journey to stretch their boundaries, learn about themselves and make a contribution to a small community.
Antipodeans Abroad founder, Colin Carpenter, organised his first school expedition to the Himalayas over 30 years ago and we've been doing it ever since. An expedition to a developing country allows students to hone personal skills outside the classroom setting. In doing so we work closely with teachers to develop tailored educational experiences for their students.
Leadership and Learning Outcomes
Antipodeans Abroad Leaders
Risk Management and Procedures
Planning and Preparation
Fundraising
LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Antipodeans Abroad adopts a leadership model that challenges students to participate in, and help organise all aspects of their expedition. This journey is not a mainstream tour with teachers as sole organisers – our students play a role in preparing their own adventure.
In the lead up to, and during their expedition, students are encouraged to make real decisions affecting their team. They shape their itinerary, plan their community project and manage their expedition, fostering leadership and teamwork skills. These are skills that positively influence their school, family and personal life. Students gain confidence and independence, they learn self-reliance, decision making and communication skills that will stay with them for life.
Antipodeans Abroad expeditions students help to:
- Set expedition goals and targets
- Plan and organise project, trek and itinerary
- Delegate roles and responsibilities
- Manage team budget
- Plan accommodation and transport
ANTIPODEANS ABROAD LEADERS
Each expedition team is accompanied by an experienced and professional, Australian based, Antipodeans Abroad Leader. Leaders are responsible for logistics, safety, supervision, learning outcomes and student leadership skill development. Our Leaders are appointed 6-8 months prior to departure and are always equipped with Wilderness First Aid qualifications. Leaders are also police-screened and have extensive experience in leading Australian students in the outdoors.
Teachers can assist in deciding which Antipodeans Abroad Leader will best suit their expedition team, projects and goals. Each Leader will work closely with students and teachers during the preparation period of their expedition, reviewing experiential learning outcomes and encouraging team bonding. The presence of the Antipodeans Abroad Leader allows teachers to focus on school issues and pastoral care, comfortable in the knowledge that they have a professional and experienced Leader to manage any emergency scenario.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURES
The risks associated with our expeditions are managed through appropriate safety systems, clear emergency procedures and lines of communication developed over 20 years operating in the field. These include:
- Supervision by professional, trained and qualified Antipodeans Abroad Leaders.
- Extensive pre-departure preparation involving team training weekend, travel simulation training day, teachers medical and emergency procedures training day, equipment evenings and numerous student teacher and parent meetings.
- Constant monitoring of day-to-day risk pre-departure and during an expedition experience.
- Staff on call in our Australian head office 24-hours a day during the course of all expeditions
- All Leaders carry extensive medical kits for each team and we see medical consultation through the TMVC (Travellers Medical and Vaccination Clinic)
- The Antipodeans Abroad comprehensive travel and medical insurance policy includes cover for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) travel advice. Personal negligence liability for all team members and casualty evacuation is also covered
- Contact with Australian embassies in all countries visited ensures every expedition is well supported in any emergency.
- Antipodeans Abroad is independently owned and operated in Australia. All operations and emergency procedures are overseen from our Sydney office. Teachers and parents will know, and will have met, the Expedition Operations Manager. Importantly, we are not part of a large international tour company based overseas should any emergency event occur.
PLANNING & PREPARATION
Most teams ideally have 12 to 18 months to prepare their expedition although a shorter lead time is possible. This allows students adequate time to fund their travel expenses. It also allows time for students and teachers to develop a sense of team in preparation for their expedition experience.
What is the role of Antipodeans Abroad?
We will launch the expedition at school with an assembly presentation for students, followed by a Parents Information Evening and 1st team meeting. An Expedition Manager, appointed to the team, will then meet with the students at least once a term to plan the itinerary, community project and fundraising. Additionally we will hold a weekend training course and travel simulation day, a teacher’s emergency procedure and medical briefing day, a meet-the-leader evening for parents and a risk management meeting with school staff.
Fundraising is a key part of the experience. A fundraising booklet is given to every student when they sign up to an expedition team. Students work and fundraise away from school to help offset the cost to parents.
We work with teachers and students every step of the way. It's our aim to make the challenging seem less so.
For more information, please call us on (02) 9413 1522, email explore@antipodeans.com.au or go to How to Apply