News Secondary
4 September 2026
Alhamdullilah, our five-day Canberra Experience was an unforgettable journey filled with learning, friendship, and personal growth. Students had the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and explore some of Australia’s most significant national sites while creating memories that will last well beyond the trip.
Throughout the week, students visited Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, Museum of Australian Democracy, High Court of Australia, Questacon, National Museum of Australia, and National Archives of Australia. These experiences brought learning to life and deepened students’ understanding of Australia’s Civics and Citizenship.
Students also explored Canberra’s natural landscape beauty at the National Arboretum, Australian National Botanic Gardens and during the Mount Ainslie Trail walk, where they encouraged one another through the challenge and enjoyed spectacular views of the capital.
Most importantly, the Canberra Experience was also about the bonds created during the experience. Time spent together at the Masajids, praying, participating in Halaqas, reflecting, and sharing meaningful conversations strengthened students’ sense of Islam, brotherhood and sisterhood, and belonging. Moments of play, laughter, shared meals and friendly game competition also allowed students to form new friendships and strengthen existing ones.
Reflections from a Year 9 student The five-day Canberra Experience felt like a big group gathering where everyone slowly became closer without even trying. Waking up at 4am for Fajr was hard, but because we were all struggling together, it turned into something we laughed about. The bus rides were always fun, with people talking, joking, and playing nasheeds, and every park stop somehow became a whole photoshoot. After Isha Salah, we’d go to the playground or play sports at the mosque, which ended up being the part everyone looked forward to the most. At night we’d visit each other’s cabins, build connections, and just enjoy being around each other. The Mount Ainslie Walk, which everyone complained about at first, became one of the funniest and most memorable things we did. The Parliament roleplay had us acting like politicians. Questacon was full of interactive things that were fun. The food provided kept us energised and fuelled us for the busy daily schedule. By the end of the Experience, we had made new connections with other students from other classes, and it also made the current connections with friends stronger.
The five-day Canberra Experience felt like a big group gathering where everyone slowly became closer without even trying. Waking up at 4am for Fajr was hard, but because we were all struggling together, it turned into something we laughed about. The bus rides were always fun, with people talking, joking, and playing nasheeds, and every park stop somehow became a whole photoshoot.
After Isha Salah, we’d go to the playground or play sports at the mosque, which ended up being the part everyone looked forward to the most. At night we’d visit each other’s cabins, build connections, and just enjoy being around each other.
The Mount Ainslie Walk, which everyone complained about at first, became one of the funniest and most memorable things we did. The Parliament roleplay had us acting like politicians. Questacon was full of interactive things that were fun.
The food provided kept us energised and fuelled us for the busy daily schedule. By the end of the Experience, we had made new connections with other students from other classes, and it also made the current connections with friends stronger.
The five days reminded us that some of the most valuable learning happens through shared experiences and whilst we are away from the classroom. Students returned with greater knowledge, stronger friendships, deeper connections with their teachers and an appreciation for Islam, community and one another.