Curiosity Labs is a dedicated weekly learning session at Shirley Smith High School, held every Tuesday afternoon from 1:50pm to 3:30pm. It provides students with purposeful time to explore ideas, develop questions, investigate issues that matter to them and make meaningful connections between their learning and the world around them. Designed to complement learning across the Australian Curriculum, Curiosity Labs provides a space for students to develop the Australian Curriculum General Capabilities and Cross-Curricular Priorities, including critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, ethical understanding and intercultural understanding. Through inquiry, collaboration and authentic learning experiences, students are encouraged to become curious connected learners who understand that learning extends well beyond the classroom.
Years 7 and 8: Inquiry and Identity
In Years 7 and 8, Curiosity Labs is centred on individual and collaborative inquiry. Students engage in semester-long units that progressively broaden their understanding of themselves, their community, their nation, and their place in the world.
Year 7 begins with I Am Shirley Smith High School, providing students with an opportunity to understand the history, values and aspirations that underpin their school. Students explore the life and legacy of Shirley Smith and investigate the people, ideas and causes that shaped her contribution to Australian society.
The second unit, I Am Canberra, encourages students to investigate Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory as the place in which they live and learn. Students develop a deeper understanding of their local community, its history, environment, institutions and people, while considering how communities are shaped and how they themselves can contribute.
I Am Australia broadens this perspective, inviting students to investigate Australia's history, identity, culture, and place in the world. Through inquiry, students consider the diverse experiences that shape our nation and develop an understanding of their own position and responsibility as young Australians.
The final unit, I Am the World, expands students' thinking beyond national boundaries. Students investigate global issues, cultures, perspectives, and challenges, developing an understanding of their role as global citizens and considering how young people can contribute to positive change.
Across these units, students develop a deep understanding of the significance of Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri peoples to our school and its broader community. They are encouraged to engage respectfully with First Nations perspectives, histories, knowledge, and connection to Country, recognising the importance of these perspectives in understanding who we are as a school and as a community.
Year 9: Careers
In Year 9, Curiosity Labs transitions from a primary focus on inquiry and identity towards career exploration and future pathways. Students engage in semester-long learning experiences designed to help them develop a clearer understanding of their interests, strengths, and aspirations. They investigate a broad range of careers and consider the knowledge, skills, qualifications, and experiences required to pursue different pathways. Students explore the range of options available beyond high school, including college, university, CIT, vocational education and training, employment, work experience, and volunteering. They consider how their senior secondary learning can be intentionally shaped to support their future goals and begin to develop an understanding of how different choices can lead to different pathways. Practical skills are embedded throughout the program. Students learn about financial management and budgeting, develop resumes, practise job interviews and explore the expectations and skills associated with the workplace. The focus is on helping students make informed decisions about their futures while recognising that pathways are not always linear and that there are multiple ways to reach a desired destination.
Year 10: Preparing for Life Beyond School
In Year 10, Curiosity Labs becomes an important bridge between secondary schooling and students' next steps.
Term 1 provides students with the opportunity to complete the ACT Road Ready course, supporting their preparation for responsible participation in the community as future drivers.
Across the remaining three terms, students have opportunities to personalise their learning and develop the independence, confidence, and practical skills required for life beyond Shirley Smith High School. Depending on their individual goals, students may engage in work experience, paid employment, volunteering, or focused study skills and learning support. Students are explicitly taught strategies for managing their time, organising their workload, preparing for assessment, developing independent study habits, and taking greater responsibility for their own learning. These skills support students not only in their transition to college, but also in further education, employment, and adult life.
Curiosity Labs also provides dedicated opportunities for students to explore college pathways and prepare for transition. Guest speakers and representatives from post-school education providers contribute to students' understanding of their options, while learning experiences support students with college transition, subject selection, and planning for their next stage of education.
Developing Curious Connected Learners
Across Years 7 to 10, Curiosity Labs reflects Shirley Smith High School's commitment to developing Curious Connected Learners. The program deliberately evolves with students. In the early years, students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate their identity, and understand their place within their community and the wider world. As they progress through the school, they begin to connect their interests and strengths with possible futures. By Year 10, they are increasingly equipped to make informed choices, manage their learning independently and take purposeful steps towards life beyond school. Curiosity Labs is therefore not simply an additional learning session. It is an intentional part of the Shirley Smith High School experience, providing students with the knowledge, capabilities, confidence and agency to understand themselves, engage with their community and shape their own future.