VCE Programs

Overview

All program times include a half an hour session in the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre Aquarium. Details of each program are below the overview table.

Biology

Area of Study

MFDC Programs

Unit 1: How do organisms regulate their functions?

Area of Study 2: How do plant and animal systems function?

Area of Study 3: How do scientific investigations develop understanding of how organisms regulate their functions?

Adaptations – an act of survival

Fish Dissection

Investigating a Rocky Shore

Investigating a Community: Tube worms

Marine Biology Cruise

Dynamic Dunes - Sand dune investigation

Unit 2: How does inheritance impact on diversity?

Area of Study 2: How do inherited adaptations impact on diversity?

Area of Study 3: How do humans use science to explore and communicate contemporary bioethical issues?

Sex in the Sea

Investigating a Community: Tube worms

Adaptations – an act of survival

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay Mudflats

Marine Biology Cruise

Outdoor & Environmental Studies

  

Unit 2: Discovering outdoor environments

Area of Study 1: Investigating outdoor environments

Area of Study 2: Impacts on outdoor environments

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay Mudflats

Swan Bay Canoe Explorers

Sustainable fishing

Rockpool Ramble: adaptations and human impacts

Marine Biology Cruise

Biodiversity of the Sea: shore snorkel

Dynamic Dunes - Sand dune investigation

Unit 3: Relationships with outdoor environments

Area of Study 1: Historical relationships with outdoor environments

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay Mudflats

Swan Bay Canoe Explorers

Sustainable fishing

Biodiversity of the Sea: shore snorkel

Dynamic Dunes - Sand dune investigation

Unit 4:Sustainable outdoor relationships

Area of Study 1: Healthy outdoor environments

Area of Study 2: Sustainable outdoor environments

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay Mudflats

Swan Bay Canoe Explorers

Sustainable fishing

Biodiversity of the Sea: shore snorkel

Dynamic Dunes - Sand dune investigation

Environmental Science

  

Unit 1: How are Earth’s dynamic systems interconnected to support life?

Area of Study 1: How are earth’s systems organised and connected?

Area of Study 3: How do scientific investigations develop understanding of how Earth’s systems support life?

Investigating a Rocky Shore

Investigating a Community: Tube worms

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay Mudflats

Dynamic Dunes - Sand dune investigation

Unit 2: What affects Earth’s capacity to sustain life?

Area of Study 1: How can we manage pollution to sustain Earth’s systems?

Plastic Planet

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay Mudflats

Unit 4: How can climate change and energy impacts of human energy use be managed?

Area of Study 1: How can we respond to climate change?

This Island Earth

Geography  

Unit 1: Hazards & Disasters

Area of Study 1:  Characteristics of hazards

Area of Study 2: Response to hazards and disasters

This Island Earth

Plastic Planet

Laboratory

Investigating a Community: Tube-worms

An incredibly diverse community of animals can be found living amongst and with a colony of native tube-worms. This community is investigated in the laboratory to "test" the ecological concept of pyramids of numbers and provides students with the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of food webs and energy transfer.

Session is 2 hours.

Sex in the Sea

Students will investigate the reproductive methods of a diverse range of marine animals and plants, including some bizarre reproductive methods that allow organisms to cope with their living conditions. There will be opportunities for students to collect gametes from some organisms and to investigate both sexual and asexual reproductive methods.

Session is 2 hours.

Fish Dissection

Students will compare the body structure, gut contents, internal organs and specialised structures of a number of different fish species. The information collected by students throughout their dissection will provide insights into fish habitat, food chains, adaptations and reproductive strategies.

Session is 2 hours.

Adaptations: An Act of Survival

Students will investigate a variety of structure-function relationships in living marine animals and plants. Students will identify different organisms’ structural, physiological and behavioural adaptations for survival and have the opportunity to view and handle a diversity of living and preserved animals and plants in the aquarium and laboratory.

Session is 2 hours.

This Island Earth

Changes to ocean temperatures, currents, winds, rainfall and more frequent extreme weather events are being observed across South East Australia. The impacts of these changes on world fisheries are presenting significant risks and new opportunities, particularly in "hot spot" areas across the globe. Students will investigate various scenarios in our aquarium and laboratory including climate change, introduced species, ocean acidification human impacts and management plans.

Session is 2 hours.

Field

Plastic Planet

Until recently plastic pollution presented scientists with a crisis that was invisible to the human eye. Students will collect qualitative data utilizing transect and quadrat techniques on micro and macro plastics across the Queenscliff Foreshore.

Session is 2.5 hours.

Investigating a Rocky Shore

Students will investigate the patterns of distribution of animals and plants on the Barwon Heads rock platform using transect lines and quadrats. There will also be an opportunity to compare the marine life found on the Barwon Heads sandstone rock platform to that found on the basalt boulder rock platform.

Session is 2.5 hours.

Rockpool Ramble: adaptations and human impacts

Students will discover the fascinating animal and plant life of the rocky shore and will develop an understanding of the adaptations which allow these organisms to cope with such extreme conditions. Human impacts and their effect on rocky shore organisms will also be examined and discussed.

Session is 2 hours.

Dynamic Dunes : sand dunes investigation

During this field excursion, students will investigate sand dune succession and the coastal processes responsible for shaping sand dunes. The focus of the session for biology students will be classification and adaptations of dune plants, and for geography and environmental science students, erosion and human impacts.

Session is 2 hours.

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay Mudflats

This field exploration will provide students with opportunities to investigate the mudflat ecosystem of Swan Bay - a marine reserve of international significance. The animals and plants found in the microhabitats associated with Swan Bay will be studied.

Variations to this session can include investigation of animal adaptations or human impact studies.

Session is 2 hours.

Biodiversity in the sea: Shore Snorkel

During the snorkel, students will be immersed in the beauty of Victoria's marine diversity. Our snorkelling program will assist your students to become competent snorkelers while providing a memorable experience.

Session is 2.5 hours.

Swan Bay Canoe Explorers

Learn the basics of canoeing while discovering some of the wonders of Swan Bay. This activity involves using canoes to access one of this regions most important fish nurseries and an internationally significant wader bird habitat.

Session is 2.5 hours.

Marine Biology Cruise

Students will discover a host of marine life both above and below the surface of Port Phillip Bay. While on board a small sledge is deployed which samples material from the bottom of the Bay. This is then sorted by students on the deck of the boat and can include crabs, seastars, seahorses, sponges and some fish as well as lots of seaweeds. Our cruise takes us across the Bay to a colony of Australian Fur Seals and we call in at Popes Eye Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park to view the colony of Australasian Gannets that breed there. The focus of this cruise can include animal and plant adaptations, classification, biodiversity, human impacts and issues affecting the Bay.

Session is 2.5 hours.

Sustainable fishing

Port Phillip bay has a long history of fishing, develop your students’ sustainable fishing skills and knowledge while out on the bay. All gear is provided.  If you would like to take your catch home, please bring ice and a cooler or catch and release.

Session is 2.5 hours.

Global Fishing

Our state's fisheries resources are managed by The Victorian Fisheries Authority within an ecologically sustainable development (ESD) framework - to ensure fish now and for the future. Gain awareness and understanding of strategies used to manage Australia's and Victoria's fisheries. Students can participate in a variety of options, choose from a presentation on fisheries management, a Port Phillip Bay boat trip and/or a field trip to explore a local fish nursery habitat.

Price and length of program determined by options selected.

Please note

  • Minimum costs apply to all activities.
  • We are happy to tailor a session or an extended program to meet your needs if required.
  • All session times include a 1/2 hour session in the MFDC aquarium.
  • All field activities are weather dependent and we reserve the right to cancel for safety reasons.
  • Prices are subject to change
  • Weekend surcharges apply

Costs for VCE activities

VCE

   

Activity

Activity Time

Price
(includes GST)

Cost per additional student

LABORATORY

   

Investigating a Community: tube worms

(Session is 1.5 hrs in the laboratory; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$450.00

(for up to & including
25 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Sex in the Sea (Session is 1.5 hrs in the laboratory; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$450.00

(for up to & including
25 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Fish Dissection

(Session is 1.5 hrs in the laboratory; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$450.00

(for up to & including
25 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Adaptations: An act of survival

(Session is 1.5 hrs in the laboratory; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$360.00

(for up to & including
20 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

This Island Earth

(Session is 1.5 hrs in the laboratory; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$360.00

(for up to & including
20 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of 30 students total)

FIELD

   

Plastic Planet

(Session is 2 hrs in the field; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2.5 hours

$450.00

(for up to & including
25 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Investigating a Rocky Shore Transects and quadrats at Barwon Heads

(Session is 2 hrs in the field; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2.5 hours

$450.00
(for up to & including
25 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18
(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Rock Pool ramble: adaptations and human impacts
(Session is 1.5 hrs in the field; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$360.00

(for up to & including
20 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Dynamic dunes : sand dunes investigation (Session is 1.5 hrs in the field; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$360.00

(for up to & including
20 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Investigating an Ecosystem - Swan Bay mudflats (Session is 1.5 hrs in the field; 30 mins in the aquarium)

2 hours

$360.00

(for up to & including
20 students
.
One MFDC educator)

$18

(for each additional student up to a maximum of
30 students total)

Global fishing

 

price determined by options selected

-

All YEAR LEVELS.

Activity

Activity Time

Price
(includes GST)

Cost per additional student

Marine Biology Cruise : Marine life in
Port Phillip Bay


(Session is 2 hours on the boat and 30 minutes in the centre)

2 hours 30 mins

$780.00
(One MFDC educator)

Flat rate for groups of
up to 27 participants

 

Swan Bay Canoe Explorers

Note: Teachers may be included in the ratios depending on personal canoe experience and competence.

(Session is 2 hours in the field and 30 minutes in the centre)

2 hours 30 mins

-

Flat rate for groups of
up to 8 participants

 

$360.00
(One MFDC educator)

Flat rate for groups of
up to 8 participants

Teacher : Student Ratio
1:8
Max ratio

 

$720.00
(Two MFDC educators)

Flat rate for groups of
up to 16 participants

Teacher : Student Ratio
2:16
Max ratio

 

Biodiversity in the Sea: Shore snorkel

Note: Teachers may be included in the ratios depending on personal snorkel experience and competence.

2 hours 30 mins

-

Flat rate for groups of
up to 10 participants

 

$360.00
(One MFDC educator)

Flat rate for groups of
up to 10 participants

Teacher : Student Ratio
1:10
Max ratio

 

$720.00
(Two MFDC educators)

Flat rate for groups of
up to 10 participants

Teacher : Student Ratio
2:20
Max ratio

 

Sustainable Fishing (boat based fishing)

(Session is 2 hours on the boat and 30 minutes in the centre

2 hours 30 mins

$850.00
(One MFDC educator)

Flat rate for groups of
up to 15 participants

all gear and bait provided; assistance with (fishing)