Religion and World Views: Pilot Program

Written by Mrs Anne Zugan (Head of Faculty - RVE)

28 May 2026

Recently, I had the opportunity to serve as a panel speaker, sharing my experiences with the Religions and Worldviews (RWE) Pilot Program, delivered in Yr 7D, at Aitken College during term 1.

The presentation took place as a breakfast meeting attended by a range of project supporters, including donors, board members, and key stakeholders connected to the initiative developed through Faith Values, and included an address by Tim Costello AO, Strategy and External Relations Lead for the project.

The purpose of the panel was to provide insight into the implementation and impact of the pilot program within classroom contexts.

The Religions and Worldviews program is designed to align with the Australian Curriculum while engaging students in exploring significant and complex questions. These include inquiries such as: What are worldviews? What’s right and what’s wrong? And, how can we live together respectfully in a diverse society?

The program aims to develop students’ capacity for critical thinking, ethical reflection, and respectful dialogue.

Faith Values, the organisation behind the initiative, is an Australian not-for-profit that works collaboratively with multi-faith and academic groups to support educators in delivering high-quality Religions and Worldviews Education (RWE). It also serves as the secretariat for the Multifaith Education Collaboration (MFEC), promoting social cohesion and religious literacy across Australian schools. Through this work, Faith Values supports teachers in fostering inclusive and respectful classroom environments where students can engage with the diversity of beliefs, traditions, and perspectives that shape Australian society.

During the panel, a colleague from Ivanhoe Girls Grammar and I were interviewed about our experiences implementing the pilot units in our classrooms. Reflection was offered on both the opportunities and challenges presented by the program, including the ways in which students responded to exploring complex ideas around identity, belief, and purpose.

We also highlighted how the units encourage student voice, inquiry-based learning, and deeper engagement with content that is both personally meaningful and socially relevant.

Overall, the experience was a valuable opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of the program and to share practical insights from a classroom perspective.

It also reinforced the importance of the Religion and Values Education program here at Aitken College, as we continue to equip students with the understanding, empathy, and critical thinking skills needed to navigate an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.