What is the History Roadshow?

The History Roadshow is a free program of presentations tailored to regional Victorian students of History in Years 11 and 12. The program aims to provide VCE students with rich curriculum-related opportunities to engage with academic and professional historians.

Click HERE for background information about this long-running and successful program.

What's happening in 2020?

We are aware of school closures between March and June, and of the measures that the Victorian and Australian governments are taking to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Our customary tours to regional centres are simply not possible in the current environment. We are keen, however, to deliver the program to VCE History students in 2020 despite the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With guidance from teachers in regional and rural schools, we hope to offer the History Roadshow program later this year - perhaps via webinars, or as the customary face-to-face experience, or via a mix of these methods. 

We plan to contact teachers towards the end of Term 2 or early in Term 3, to explore options for delivering the program.

Dr Rhiannon Evans from La Trobe University presenting on Ancient Rome
to students gathered at the Christian College in Geelong, September 2017.

2018 - 2020 program

The History Council of Victoria Inc. (HCV) is funded by the Strategic Partnerships Program of the Department of Education and Training of the Victorian Government to deliver the History Roadshow over three school years: 2018, 2019 and 2020. 

How does the face-to-face program operate?

The program is guided at all times by the HCV's Child Safe policy.

Click HERE to download 'Information for Schools', a PDF booklet about the 2019 History Roadshow program. It was delivered in face-to-face mode at locations that served as regional hubs for schools in the surrounding districts. The booklet provides information for teachers, schools and host venues. 

A separate booklet, 'Information for Presenters', is also available. Potential presenters can request it from the HCV - see details at the foot of this page.

The venue for each History Roadshow tour is selected by the HCV and may be a school, a university campus or another suitable venue. When the venue is not a school, the HCV will ensure that it has a Child Safety policy and that policy (or a link to its online location) will be provided with the Booking Form for the event. 

The HCV uses a Risk Assessment matrix to analyse and manage its own risks. Some identifiable risks are specific to the HCV’s delivery of the History Roadshow program. For the information of schools and teachers, the HCV has prepared a Risk Assessment that lists the risks, impacts and mitigation strategies associated with a scheduled tour; click HERE to download the Risk Assessment as a PDF. 

What was the itinerary last year?

Click HERE to see details of the program in 2019 and in previous years. 

What do the tours offer?

Highly experienced university lecturers and professional historians offer dynamic presentations directly relevant to the VCE history curriculum in Global Empires, Twentieth Century History, Ancient History, Australian History and Revolutions. Participating teachers commented:

The presenter was so knowledgeable and engaging.

The presenter's energy and enthusiasm was infectious and he provided a realistic perspective.

A wonderful overview of the successes of the time period.

A variety of primary sources provided.

I liked the lecture style presentation and providing a taste of university life.

Ideas / views / approach of a different teacher.

The presentation was good for reinforcing information as well as providing new insights.

A fantastic opportunity for students to access information from leading academics which is not available elsewhere.

Associate Professor Adrian Jones from La Trobe University
presenting at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College.

Interested in being part of a History Roadshow tour?

Expressions of interest are welcome at any time from:

• Potential presenters with specialist knowledge in an area of the VCE History curriculum
• Teachers wishing to bring their students to a History Roadshow tour, and/or to join the email list for information about future tours
• Supervisors of Distance Education students enrolled in a VCE History subject
• Potential host venues (i.e. schools and other venues wishing to host a History Roadshow tour)

Host venues

Venues must be located in a regional centre outside the Melbourne metropolitan area.

A host venue should:

• Have at least three venues available for parallel sessions throughout the day - preferably with data-projection equipment available
• Be willing for schools in the region to attend the History Roadshow at its premises
• Nominate a person to liaise with our Executive Officer by email and phone, so that the tour can be organised efficiently

A host school should:

• Be teaching at least two VCE History subjects in the semester when the tour is scheduled

It is also helpful if a venue can arrange:

• Car-parking spaces for the presenters 
• Administrative assistance in organising a light lunch for the presenters and teachers from participating schools

At the start of each year, we identify tour locations, host venues and likely dates. We then recruit presenters to match the curriculum needs of schools in the region. Promotion of tours is via this webpage, and by direct email to teachers in the relevant regions of Victoria.

For more information and to register your interest in the History Roadshow, please contact:

Margaret Birtley
Executive Officer, History Council of Victoria Inc
Mobile: 0418 814 957
Email: info@historycouncilvic.org.au

The History Roadshow is developed and delivered by the History Council of Victoria with funding from the Victorian Government's Department of Education and Training Strategic Partnerships Program.