Teachers Famil opens opportunities for North Queensland

North Queensland was seen in a whole new light recently as a group of educational staff participated in a unique teacher’s famil, hosted by the Overlanders Way.

A result of the Overlander’s Way Education Tourism Travel Itineraries launched earlier this year, the famil gave participating teachers and educational staff a unique insight into the possibilities of school and educational tours throughout the North West, specifically geared towards the school-aged market.

Overlander’s Way Chair and Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch said the famil was a wonderful opportunity for those in the education sector to experience firsthand the beauty of the outback and see the potential in sharing the experience with school aged children, many of whom have never had the chance to explore outback Australia.

“There is so much potential and benefit for school and educational groups to tour this part of Australia. We have spectacular scenery, wonderful history, and an outback culture that is impossible to replicate without experiencing first-hand,” Cr McCulloch said.

Cr McCulloch said the famil covered everything from travel arrangements and costs, accommodation and catering options, tours, activities, and points of interest.

The group began their tour in Cairns and toured spectacular sights such as Cobbald Gorge in the Gulf Savannah, Porcupine Gorge, Flinders Discovery Centre in Hughenden, participated in fossil digs in Richmond, visited Julia Creek, Cloncurry and Adels Grove, and got a taste of mining history in Mount Isa while visiting the underground Hard Times Mine.

St Andrews Catholic College staff member Wendy Tisbury said she recognised the benefits of bringing students to the outback after participating in the tour.

“If it wasn’t for the famil, I would have had no idea what was available in the outback, nor would I have seen the opportunities that it can bring to our students,” Ms Tisbury said.

“The locations we were taken to were perfectly suited to curriculum elements that we cover in our year 7 and 8 subjects.  I can’t thank you enough for opening my eyes to what is out there and how I can utilise it in my department and College”

Several packages will be available to the education sector including ‘Ancient Fossil and Eco Discovery Tour’, ‘Nature’s Bounty and Outback Heroes Tour’, ‘Stories of the Overlanders Way Tour’, and ‘Stations, Dinosaurs, and Underground Treasures Tour’.

This famil has been made possible by Tourism Events Queensland, the Overlanders Way subcommittee members, and MITEZ.