Christian College Principal Mathilda Joubert defends school camps

Fewer students are going on school camps and excursions, as the rising cost of living and increasing wages make the rite-of-passage unaffordable. Are camps too expensive? Vote in our poll.

Christian College Year 8 students on school camp.

Fewer students are going on school camps and excursions, as the rising cost of living and increasing wages make the rite-of-passage unaffordable to schools and families.

Lachlan Mackenzie, who operates Common Ground Project in Freshwater Creek, noted a significant decline in schools visiting the region for day excursions and programs.

“The feedback we’re getting from schools is that the bus prices are the biggest hurdle,” Mr Mackenzie said.

“Especially for regional schools that have a long way to travel.”

In 2023, the Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) introduced a “time in lieu” provision ensuring teachers were entitled to compensatory time off for hours worked outside their regular schedule.

Geelong Christian College executive principal Mathilda Joubert said the time in lieu provision had made it significantly more difficult for many schools to keep camps in the curriculum.

Ms Joubert said for schools like Christian College, that the provision did not apply to, other rising costs were causing camps to become too expensive for families.

“We believe the educational value of camps is just so significant that we have chosen to absorb those costs,” she said

“Another major cost is the buses.”

Christian College Executive Principal Mathilda Joubert on school campy with Christian College Year 8 students.

She said in a time when students were more anxious than ever, the value of camps needed to be in the forefront of every school’s decision-making process.

“The mental health problem is getting worse and worse among young people,” she said.

“They don’t get these opportunities to develop the resilience anymore.”

All-Star Kids Geelong founder and chief executive Duncan MacRae, who runs holiday programs and works with camps in the area, said he had been considering starting a company providing third-party leaders to go on school camps in place of teachers to offset the costs associated with the time in lieu provision.

“A provider to come in … and provide the staff who have the relevant qualifications and experience,” he said.

“Whether that be running camps or day programs.”

All-Star Kids director Duncan MacRae with Sloan, 3, Pearl, 4 and Tilly, 4. Picture: Alison Wynd

“In Geelong, you know we’ve got some great camp facilities out towards like Lorne and Anglesea.

“But they’ve seen a huge drop in bookings.”

Ms Joubert said engaging third party providers to operate camps could be a good solution for schools

“Schools could look at working together, ‘Let’s buy a bus together’ or ‘Let’s buy our own campsites’,” she said.

Ms Joubert, who was on a year 8 camp at the time of the interview, said another solution was for principals to get outdoors themselves.

“As I’m talking to you I just saw a koala!” she said.

“It’s an opportunity to learn away from books.”

Originally published as Christian College Principal Mathilda Joubert defends school camps