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Dateline - June 6th, 2006
Australian School Children to Learn More About RSL


More than 900,000 Australian school children will now have the opportunity to learn more about the achievements of the RSL and the impact it has had on millions of Australians, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bruce Billson, said when he launched the RSL 90th Anniversary Youth Program today.

“The RSL and its members have played a significant role in shaping Australian values. The spirit of mateship, helping others and serving our nation were born from the service and sacrifice of members of the RSL,” Mr Billson said. “This program will play an important part in promoting and preserving Australian values and instilling a sense of pride and loyalty among young Australians.

The RSL, together with Ryebuck Media, developed the education program for high school students to enable young Australians to draw inspiration from the RSL, acknowledge the contribution and impact of the league, and suggest ways the league can be sustained and developed in the future.

The program includes three main components:

 
~ a series of curriculum units published in Studies education magazine, which is sent free to all secondary schools three times a year. The units will address the history of the RSL and its changing role and the impact of the RSL on shaping Government policy.

~ a national education website Serving the Nation in War and Peace, which focuses on the history of the RSL, citizenship, leadership and family history. The interactive site also includes wartime voices and cartoons of the wartime era.

~ a special anniversary CD-ROM Serving the Nation in War and Peace, which includes an interactive timeline on the history of the RSL, case studies of leadership from a range of conflicts and video interviews with veterans.


“I encourage all young Australians to seize this opportunity to learn more about one of our nation’s greatest treasures – the veteran community – and why their contribution has been so significant,” Mr Billson said.