Information for parents and teachers
Educational focus
The study tour encourages students to explore:
- the shared wartime history of Australia and Japan
- the Battle of Okinawa and its continuing significance
- remembrance, reconciliation and peacebuilding
- Japanese and Okinawan culture
- Australia’s contemporary relationship with Japan
- international cooperation and regional partnerships
- the NT’s role in Australia’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific.
The program is designed to encourage critical thinking, cultural understanding, confidence and leadership.
It can also expose students to future study and career pathways including international relations, defence, diplomacy, government, history and other fields connected to Australia’s engagement with the region.
Student supervision
Students will travel as a group and will be accompanied by experienced adult chaperones throughout the study tour.
Further information about supervision, travel arrangements, accommodation, insurance, medical requirements, passports, consent and student wellbeing will be provided to the parents and carers of selected students before travel.
Travel costs, consent and student responsibilities
The Northern Territory Government will cover the cost of the study tour for selected students, including:
- return international airfares
- accommodation, tours, meals and transport in-country
- activities included in the study tour program
- travel insurance
- travel to and from Darwin before and after the study tour, if required.
Students are responsible for having a valid passport and provide their own spending money for personal purchases.
As students will be travelling overseas as representatives of the NT, they will be expected to behave responsibly, follow the directions of their chaperones and meet the standards of behaviour set for the study tour.
Parent or guardian legal consent for overseas travel will be required for every selected student.
Further information about consent, travel documentation and other requirements will be provided to families following selection.
Supporting a student to enter
Teachers and families are encouraged to discuss the opportunity with Year 9 students who may be interested.
Students do not need specialist knowledge of military history or international relations to enter.
The competition is intended to identify students who can demonstrate curiosity, thoughtful ideas, clear communication and an interest in learning more about Australia, Japan and our region.
Students should complete their own entry, although teachers and families can help them understand the competition requirements and encourage them to develop and communicate their ideas.
Entries must be the student’s original work and must not be generated using artificial intelligence or other automated tools.