Nathalia Secondary College students Nate Seath and Konnar Stell getting creative with the help of workshop facilitator Sas Hall.
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Students across the Goulburn Valley learned about the power of words at free poetry workshops run by the University of Melbourne this week.
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The program visited local schools, including Nathalia Secondary College and All Saints Anglican School.
Called Wondering Poets, the program aims to expand access to creative learning in rural and regional communities by giving students new ways to express themselves.
Led by poet and facilitator Sas Hall, Wondering Poet combines spoken word performance with hands-on workshops that encouraged students to develop and share their own work.
Nathalia Secondary College English and drama teacher Melanie Schols said that as it was a small rural school, students did not always get these opportunities.
“They learnt that poetry can be fun and that it is within their skill set,” she said.
“Sas made poetry relevant to the students, and this will benefit them greatly in their schooling and beyond.”
University of Melbourne Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Jennifer Balint said the initiative highlighted the importance of creative expression for young people.
“At a time when poetry can be undervalued, Wondering Poet plays an important role in reaffirming its relevance,” Prof Balint said.
“It’s essential that students in these communities have access to the same creative opportunities as those in metropolitan areas.
“This program helps make that possible, bringing creative practice directly into classrooms where it can have a meaningful impact,” she said.
Wondering Poet will continue visiting schools across Victoria, with plans to expand nationally in the future.
Nathalia Secondary College students Haylee O’Dwyer and Dylan Morgan stand alongside Wondering Poet facilitator Sas Hall and Nathalia Secondary teacher Melanie Schols at Broken Creek.
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