Global opportunities for service and learning
Haileybury is proud to be able to offer students a world of opportunities that can truly make a meaningful difference in their lives and to others.
The Pre-Senior Explore and Expeditions program in Year 9 is designed to give students valuable learning experiences outside of the day-to-day classroom environment. The Explore program centres around students selecting an area of interest they wish to learn more about, in locations as diverse as Panama, India, New Zealand and Queensland. The Expeditions program focuses on physical activities such as canoeing, cycling and trekking, in locations such as Cambodia, Spain and Central Australia. Social Justice is a core educational pillar at Haileybury, with service and social justice components incorporated into every trip.
“Every aspect of these journeys is intentional, with clear educational outcomes. While there are plenty of physical and intellectual challenges built in, it is the social justice component that often has the most profound impact,” explains Amy Di Gregorio, Travel Operations Manager.
These trips provide students with valuable opportunities to understand the positive impact they can have on the world around them. For some, it is their first time encountering inequality or witnessing the effects of actions and inactions first-hand, fostering new understandings and personal growth along the way.
“Each year, we are finding more meaningful ways for our students to give back, to witness, engage with, and genuinely contribute to communities and causes that matter. It is about more than just exposure. It is about helping shape them into thoughtful, informed global citizens,” says Amy.
2025 Explore & Expeditions program highlights
Beach clean-up
Far North Queensland, Australia
In June, a group of Year 9 boys travelled to Far North Queensland and participated in a beach clean-up alongside Parley Australia, a not-for-profit organisation tackling environmental threats to our oceans. Forty Haileybury students collected over 160 kilograms of marine debris from just one site.
“That is not just a learning moment, that is real impact,” explains Amy. “Even more inspiring is where that debris ends up. Parley partners with global companies like Adidas, who repurpose marine plastic (the debris that we collect) into sneakers, and American Express, who use it to manufacture recycled credit cards.” Other materials are recycled into items such as sunglasses and shopping bags.
Salaam Baalak Trust
Dehli, India
A group of Year 9 boys had the opportunity to visit the Salaam Baalak Trust in Delhi, an organisation that supports homeless children living on the streets of one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Following the tour, the students spent time with children living in the Delhi slums, many of whom had never met a Westerner.
“A small but unforgettable moment came when our boys handed out McDonald’s burgers to the children. Something so normal for our students, available at the tap of an app, was a completely new experience for many of these kids. It was a moment that opened our students’ eyes to just how different everyday life can be,” says Amy.
As Ethan, Year 9 stated, “The difference between parts of India versus where I live was a very eye-opening experience and I am very grateful and fortunate to be in the position I am in.”
The Year 9s also visited a community-run free kitchen, making a donation which helped to fund more than 6,500 meals.
Water tank construction
Hang Kai, Vietnam
In Vietnam our girls’ groups led a regenerative community service project in the rural village of Hang Kai which focussed on the construction of a water tank that is vital to providing water to the community.
The goal of the project was to help future-proof the local’s livelihoods by improving their water infrastructure.
“Our students took on the challenge with energy, determination and resilience. Working in intense humidity, they laboured for up to seven hours a day, digging, lifting, mixing and building, contributing directly to a structure that will have a lasting impact for years to come,” says Amy.
The trip also gave students a new perspective on their world. As Jeanette, Year 9, said, “Some people aren’t as fortunate as us. We should never take even the simplest things for granted, like getting to eat full meals every day or getting to sleep in your own bed.”
Treak Community School
Treak, Cambodia
In Cambodia, another group of Year 9s visited the Treak Community School, a grassroots educational initiative that provides free schooling to children from disadvantaged communities. During their visit, the students contributed to several hands-on, long-term improvement projects at the school. These included making plastic eco-bricks, which will be used in the construction of a new classroom and amenities block.
“Across two mornings, the group broke records, producing over 468 plastic bricks. They also completed two sections of a beautiful community mosaic and spent time engaging in lessons and activities with local students,” explains Amy.
Dujiangyan Panda Research Centre
Chengdu, China
In China our students had the rare opportunity to engage in one of the world’s most iconic conservation efforts, the Dujiangyan Panda Research Centre in Chengdu.
“It was an unforgettable experience not just watching these gentle giants up close but actively supporting their care. Our students rolled up their sleeves and helped prepare ‘panda bread,’ a specially formulated nutritional supplement for the pandas, and assisted in sorting and preparing bamboo leaves for feeding,” says Amy.
Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
Rotorua, New Zealand
In New Zealand, students visited the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, helping to support a scholarship for a Māori student to attend the institute, someone who, without this financial support, may not have had access to this culturally rich education.
Earth Sanctuary
Alice Springs, Australia
In Central Australia our students had the privilege of partnering with Earth Sanctuary in Alice Springs, an organisation with the motto ‘Think globally, act locally.’
Earth Sanctuary is a leader in sustainable tourism and environmental education, and Haileybury students participated in discussions around renewable energy, climate action and sustainable environmental management.
Homelessness support
Melbourne, Australia
In Melbourne, Year 9s partnered with The Good Box, an organisation that creates care packages for people experiencing homelessness. Our students attended a presentation on homelessness in Melbourne, giving them a better understanding of the causes, challenges and daily realities of homelessness. They also helped to pack boxes with practical essentials like warm socks and toothbrushes.
Every year we strive to make students’ experiences more meaningful, “because if we expect our students to grow, we must be willing to grow and evolve too,” says Amy.
“Time and time again, I see the transformation in our students. I see them return with more empathy, more courage, more awareness of the world beyond their own,” she explains.
