The Melbourne Holocaust Museum welcomes the strengthening and enhancement of Holocaust education in Victoria, as announced by the Deputy Premier and Education Minister, James Merlino.
Holocaust survivors will be heartened to learn that Holocaust education will be better supported by the government, particularly in light of recent antisemitic incidents in schools.
In response, MHM Museum Director, Jayne Josem, said, ‘it is a significant moment when a government supports an educational solution to help solve the troubling societal problems of antisemitism and racism. The lessons of the Holocaust are frighteningly relevant today. Learning about the Holocaust enables students to understand the dangers of prejudice in society and, crucially, how they as individuals can make a difference.’
Josem said: ‘We relish the opportunity to work with VCAA to develop curriculum and create tailored education resources to better meet the needs of Victorian teachers and students. How was the Holocaust humanly possible? This is a complex question and we need teachers to feel confident in addressing this challenging topic with their students.’
The Melbourne Holocaust Museum is a leader in Holocaust education with 23,000 students visiting the museum each year. Our expert educators have a wealth of knowledge in Holocaust education. The Elsternwick museum houses many original artefacts and documents from the period, including eyewitness accounts of the events of the Holocaust.
Josem added, ‘It is vital to engage school students with the lessons of the past, so that they can make connections to the world today. We look forward to working with VCAA and our key Jewish community partners such as Gandel Philanthropy and Courage to Care and others, to create powerful educational resources with an Australian focus.’
