Where Learning Meets Life: Walking With Others

By Dean of Identity and Community, Lachlan Heshusius

At Lauries, we know that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms. It happens when young people step outside their comfort zones, meet people with different life experiences and begin to see the world with fresh eyes. That’s exactly what our Year 10 ‘Inclusive Community’ Immersions are all about.

Earlier in Term 3, every Year 10 student at Lauries took part in an immersion experience that invited them to step outside the familiar and walk alongside people whose lives and stories opened their eyes in new ways. These immersions brought to life the Edmund Rice Touchstone of Inclusive Community- helping our boys see beyond themselves, grow in empathy and begin to understand what it means to live with hope-filled solidarity. These programs are not simply excursions; they are powerful encounters that encourage our boys to listen deeply, serve humbly and return ready to make a difference in our community.

Students joined one of five immersion streams, each offering a unique opportunity to connect with people and stories that inspired courage, empathy and respect.

At the Margins

In Brisbane’s CBD, students partnered with St Vincent de Paul to learn about homelessness in our own city. They walked the streets with open eyes, noticing details we often overlook- public spaces where people sleep, the challenges of accessing food or shelter, the importance of something as simple as a safe place to rest. Guided discussions on affordable housing, inequality and dignity helped them connect these observations to the bigger picture.

Through prayer, conversation and reflection, the boys came to see that homelessness is not an abstract issue but something that affects real people with names, stories and hopes. Many left asking themselves: What does it mean to help create a city where every person belongs?

Beyond Barriers

On campus, guest mentors from unOther led powerful activities designed to break down assumptions about disability. Students tried adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball and blind cricket, gaining a firsthand sense of the challenges many people live with each day. Identity exercises and group discussions moved them beyond stereotypes, opening up conversations about inclusion, language and respect.

These activities helped students listen deeply to voices often overlooked and appreciate the resilience, talent and humanity of people with disabilities. Many returned to class determined to help foster a school culture where every person feels seen, valued and included.

42for42 Community Garden

At the veterans’ community garden, students spent time in service and conversation. Shoulder to shoulder with veterans and volunteers, they dug garden beds, planted seedlings and tended the land while sharing stories and laughter. For many, it was the first time they had heard directly from veterans about their service and sacrifice. The garden became a living classroom where inclusion grew naturally; in a conversation over the soil, in shared laughter and in the respect shown for those who had given so much.

Who Is My Neighbour

This asked students to look across differences of faith, culture and history with respect and courage. At the Queensland Holocaust Museum, they listened to Holocaust survivor Dr Peter Kraus who shared his incredible story and reflected on the devastating cost of prejudice and hatred. These powerful stories challenged them to recognise the importance of standing up for justice and dignity in their own lives.

Later, they were welcomed into Holland Park Mosque, where they observed prayer, listened to the Imam and learned about Islamic traditions. For many, it was their first time stepping into another faith community. Together, these experiences encouraged students to build bridges, practise hospitality of heart and honour the dignity of every neighbour.

Walking on Country

Guided by First Nations voices, articular Uncle Joe Kirk, students walked significant sites across Meanjin/Brisbane, including Barrambin and Boundary Street. At each site they listened to stories of culture, resilience and truth-telling. The immersion challenged them to reflect on how we remember the past and what reconciliation asks of us today. By walking on Country, the boys were reminded that the land itself speaks; and that they are part of a larger story calling them to awareness, responsibility and hope.

Each immersion ends with students reflecting on what they’ve seen and heard and committing to a small action they can bring back into everyday life. It may be a new way of including others at school, speaking up for someone who feels left out or simply listening more deeply to those around them. For parents and families, these experiences are about more than just a few days away from school. They are a chance for your sons to grow into young men who see beyond themselves, who value every person they meet and who understand that their choices- big or small- can help build a kinder, fairer world. 

In these volatile times, when the world cries out for peace, how might we live the Gospel call to ‘love your neighbour’ by stepping out, listening deeply and building bridges of hope?