The challenges are open all year round, and prizes are awarded each month.

Sitting down at your desk and studying has probably never ranked top of anyone’s “favourite things to do” list…ever. But sometimes there’s just no avoiding the fact that you have to knuckle down and do the hard yards. Fortunately, there are ways that you can study and learn while having a bit of fun at the same time (or at least make the whole process a bit less more enjoyable). Here are our top 10 ways to study that aren’t boring.

Join homework clubs or study groups

A bit like going to the gym, some days you just don’t have the motivation to study. But joining a class and getting the motivation you need from others can be really helpful. You might also find it more fun and engaging than being alone at your desk.

Watch documentaries

Some people (like me) love nothing better than a great doco. If that’s the case for you, you could search for some documentaries related to your subjects and settle in for a good watch. And if watching a documentary isn’t generally your idea of fun, why not give it a try? It could:

• Grow your knowledge of real-world issues and topics.
• Help you to improve your interdisciplinary thinking by introducing you to subjects you might not usually think about.
• Improve your creativity, problem-solving, and social justice skills.
• Increase your general knowledge.

Sometimes even watching a fictional movie can be helpful. For example, if you’re studying English Literature and there’s a movie based on the book you’re reading, or if you’re studying history and there’s a movie about the event or era you’re studying, a movie could improve your understanding and bring the events to life for you.

One small caveat: watching any random TV show, documentary, or movie and telling yourself or your parents that it’s “study” won’t cut it – you’ll have to be selective and look for relevant, reliable, and informative content.

Deep dive online

In September 2020, teens were reported to spend an average of 14.4 hours each week online. So why not make some of that time productive? If you can overcome the temptation to go off-track, there are heaps of helpful tools, tips, and topics to dive into on the internet. You might like to watch video explainers, find practice test or exam questions, or even browse forums where other students have discussed your subject.

(Spending time scrolling through social media and chatting to your mates don’t count as productive, unfortunately.)

Do projects or presentations

Researching and putting together a project or presentation will do more than just help you learn about your topic. You’ll also be developing these key skills:

• Creativity
• Analytical and critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork and collaboration (if it’s a group project)
• Communication
• Tech knowledge
• And plenty of other skills too!

If you find these kinds of activities motivating, why not incorporate them into your personal study time? You could write blogs, make videos, write a letter (e.g. to your local politician or council), create infographics, design a poster…the options are endless.

Competitions are also an easy way to put your knowledge to the test and challenge yourself (and you might even win some cool prizes too).

Go places

The classroom isn’t the only environment designed for learning. You could visit museums, libraries, galleries, theatres, or go along to educational and career talks. If you’re interested in politics, for example, you could take a tour of a Government or Parliament House. Or if law is more your scene, you could sit in the public gallery during a hearing. There’s no better way to learn than experiencing things first-hand.

Sign up for things that interest you

You could get a lot out of going along to workshops, joining a club, heading off on a camp, completing short courses and microcredentials, or participating in holiday programs. There are some that you might have to pay for, but others could be free.

Look on council websites, browse social media, search sites like Eventbrite or Humanitix, ask your teachers and parents, take a peek in the newspaper, or check the notice board at your local shopping centre to find events happening near you. (You might also like to check out our very own events calendar too.)

Make it a game

These days there are thousands of apps designed to “gamify” learning. And with plenty of free options out there, you have nothing to lose by giving some a try and seeing if they give your studies a bit of a boost.

If you want a bit of a break from technology, you could also get your hands on some good old-fashioned board games or a deck of cards. Depending on your choices, games could help to:

• Improve your memory
• Boost your cognitive skills
• Increase your processing speed
• Develop your logic and reasoning
• Improve your critical thinking
• Increase your spatial reasoning
• Advance your verbal and communication skills
• Extend your attention and concentration span
• Teach you problem-solving skills
• Grow your confidence
• Enhance your decision-making

Time spent on games can be a fun way of winding down, spending time with family and friends, as well as having the nice perk of developing some of the skills listed above.

Work smarter

Sitting down to study for hours after a long day at school is not appealing to many people. So why not work smarter and spread out your study sessions? You could use time spent travelling in the car or on the bus, free periods at school (if you can resist the urge to chat to your mates), or while you’re waiting for an appointment to hit the books and do a little revision.

Instead of spending big chunks of time studying, you’ll have more free time to chill out, play sport, catch up with friends and family, and just do more of what you enjoy.

Teach others

If you have solid knowledge in a subject or two, you could earn some pocket money and revise everything you’ve been learning by tutoring other students who need a little help.

Teaching other people is a great way to determine how much you know, and see where there might be gaps in your knowledge. Even if you don’t want to commit to formal tutoring, why not ask a parent, sibling, or even a friend to sit down and let you “teach” them something?

Gain skills

If you have a test coming up, your time is probably best spent revising for it – but if you have a little time to spare (even just 10 minutes per day), why not start learning a new skill?

You could learn to touch type – this will be helpful for school and life in general. Or you could study up on the basics of coding, start learning a new language, teach yourself to cook…your options are nearly endless!

Looking for more ideas?

We have heaps of other blogs on our website here, packed with ideas to help you get motivated and stay focused.

Like everyone else, students lead busy lives; so the idea of fitting volunteering into your jam-packed schedule can be tricky. But evidence shows time spent volunteering has many benefits – not just for the people being helped, but the volunteer themselves too. So what are some of the main benefits of volunteering for students? Let’s take a look.

Learn about a career you’re considering

Work experience can sometimes be hard to find, and can also feel like it lacks a sense of real responsibility or experience. Conversely, volunteering opportunities can be easier to find and allow you to test-drive potential careers without the commitment of a proper job.

For example, if you choose to volunteer in an aged care facility, it might be because you’re considering a job in health or social work. If you volunteer for Landcare, you might be interested in careers where you can work outside, such as landscaping, agriculture, or even environmental science.

Time spent volunteering provides real-world first-hand experience of the industry, and could help spark your interest (or rule out unsuitable careers). Unlike work experience, you can volunteer over many weeks, months, or even years and build up a solid bank of experience – this can give you more certainty when choosing a career down the track.

Find something you’re passionate about

Regardless of the benefits, volunteering is still a big commitment and requires you to willingly give up your precious time. So it’s important that you feel strongly enough about the cause to really want to make a difference, rather than just doing it because it looks good on your resume.

Being truly passionate about something helps you gain more from the experience. And connecting your passion to your career can also help you feel more fulfilled and happy in your day-to-day work.

If you aren’t sure how to find volunteering opportunities that align with your interests, ask yourself some questions like these to kick-start the process:

• What do you enjoy doing?
• What causes are important to you?
• Do you want work with children or animals?
• Do you mind getting your hands dirty?
• Would you like to be part of a team or do you prefer to work alone?
• What skills do you have to bring to a volunteer role?
• What skills are you interested in developing?

Develop important workplace skills

Unlike school, sport, or other extra-curricular activities, volunteering placements are usually run more like traditional workplaces. You’re expected to turn up on time, take instructions from people who are not educators, and achieve set goals.

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to build communication and teamwork skills in a work-like environment. You’ll need to listen to instructions, potentially deal with clients or customers, and work alongside other volunteers. This level of accountability is difficult to replicate within the more sheltered school environment.

Volunteering placements that take place on a regular basis could also lead to you advancing in your role, and you could even become responsible for training new volunteers.

All of the skills you develop while volunteering will be useful in the workplace. Additionally, you can confidently add them to your resume knowing you have real evidence to back up your claims. This makes it a win-win for you and your potential new boss – employers usually regard volunteering experience very highly.

Build an understanding of the world (and yourself) outside of school

Volunteering often allows you to come face-to-face with existing problems and needs within the community. It can also help you develop an appreciation for your own opportunities and circumstances. Spending time in the community, gaining first-hand experience of the issues that affect people around you, can be truly character-building.

Unlike school, many volunteering roles often allow you to test-drive multiple different tasks and types of work. This way you can find which ones resonate with you the most.

For example, if you volunteer with a homeless charity, you may find you prefer to spend time talking to clients and providing that much-needed human interaction. Alternatively, you may find your strengths lie in sourcing food and goods to supply to clients, or in caring for their animals, or in handling the social media for the volunteer group.

Learning that multiple solutions and roles are required within a single workplace could expand your understanding of the world of work and yourself.

Access networking opportunities

It’s no accident that the most exclusive university scholarships offer integrated networking opportunities as part of the package. We often find ourselves relying on our networks, particularly in the professional world.

Understanding the importance of networking and knowing how to develop connections early on means you can use your networks for everything, from securing part-time work to finding internships, sourcing referrals, and even finding new clients down the track.

Your time spent volunteering will also allow you to meet people who could one day be the key to finding your next position or opportunity. 

The benefits aren’t limited to your career

Volunteering also comes with several benefits for students outside of job finding and skill building. It could help you:

• Feel more confident
• Raise your self-esteem
• Find purpose and meaning
• Know you are a part of something important
• Improve your physical and mental health

It’s important to remember that you get the most benefits from volunteering when you’re doing it for the right reasons. You’ll find it much more fulfilling and rewarding if you’re truly doing it for others, not just for yourself.

Find out more

There are heaps of benefits to volunteering for students – it can help you gain valuable skills and experience, and learn more about yourself as a person and your place in the world. If you want to read more, we have lots of other ideas and tips to spark your interest on our website here.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales invites budding artists between the ages of 5 and 18 to submit a portrait for the Young Archie competition.

The portrait must be of a person who is special to you – someone who is known to you and who knows you and plays a significant role in your life.

Finding the perfect work experience placement can feel overwhelming. With so many options out there, how do you know which one is right for you? Whether you’re dreaming of working with animals, designing video games, or anything in between, we have some tips to help you choose the right work experience placement for you.

Think creatively about your options

Sometimes your dream placement might not be available right away. Let’s say you want to work at a zoo – but there aren’t any zoos nearby, or their placements are all booked up. Don’t worry! There are usually lots of alternative options that can give you similar experience and skills.

For example, if you’re interested in working with animals, you could try:

• Local animal shelters
• Veterinary clinics
• Pet grooming services
• Wildlife rescue centres
• Council animal management teams

The skills you learn in these places could be just as valuable for your future career.

Choosing between in-person and virtual placements

These days, you can do work experience either in-person or virtually. Both options have their benefits, so ask yourself these questions to help decide:

In-person placements

• Can I reliably get to and from the workplace each day?
• Am I comfortable working face-to-face with new people?
• Would hands-on experience benefit me more in this field?

Virtual placements

• Do I have a reliable computer and internet connection?
• Am I good at working independently?
• Would this give me experience with digital tools used in the industry?

Do your homework before committing

Before saying yes to a placement, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into. Here’s what to check:

• What hours you’ll need to work
• What to wear (is there a dress code?)
• What you need to bring
• Who you’ll be working with
• What kinds of tasks you might be doing

Remember: as a work experience student, you should mainly be observing, asking questions, and working on practice tasks – not doing the work of paid employees.

Speak up if something doesn’t feel right

If you’re ever uncomfortable or concerned about your placement, you definitely don’t need to stay quiet. Talk to a supervisor or manager at your placement or your school’s work experience coordinator – your wellbeing and safety always come first!

Ready to start looking?

Remember, work experience is about learning and exploring – so don’t stress too much about choosing the “perfect” placement. At the end of the day, any experience can teach you valuable skills for your future career.

Want to explore work experience opportunities? You can find heaps more information on our website here.

Take the leap towards a rewarding career path. Our teaching-intensive, research-informed approach to teaching quality will give you the perfect foundation to learn how to make a positive difference to future generations of secondary and higher education students.

The Open Day Lite runs from 12pm until 3.30pm and provides you with an opportunity (along with your family and friends) to look around our campus, ask questions at our subject drop in and chat with our staff and students to get your questions answered. The Open Day will offer the opportunity to find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The Open Day Lite runs from 12pm until 3.30pm and provides you with an opportunity (along with your family and friends) to look around our campus, ask questions at our subject drop in and chat with our staff and students to get your questions answered. The Open Day will offer the opportunity to find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The Open Day Lite runs from 12pm until 3.30pm and provides you with an opportunity (along with your family and friends) to look around our campus, ask questions at our subject drop in and chat with our staff and students to get your questions answered. The Open Day will offer the opportunity to find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.