City Cite - City immersion experience for secondary students

General Information - Parents

Location
City Cite is located on Level 12 of an office building at 474 Flinders Street, Melbourne. The entrance to the building is from Highlander Lane directly across the road from Sealife (the Melbourne Aquarium). City Cite occupies a whole office floor and has been designed with students in mind.

The building is multi use, the first six floors are a commercial car park, which is convenient if you intend to drive into City Cite should your school be offering a Parent Night.. However, for Parent Nights that are scheduled on a Friday in winter it is often less stressful to take public transport and avoid football traffic. See the map showing the location of City Cite.

Safety in the CBD
The Melbourne CBD environment and Public Transport are quite safe for the students to immerse themselves within and navigate around, especially during the day. Given the opportunity, students generally embrace the trust and responsibility that is offered to them at City Cite.

Many schools will invite a Metro Trains authorised officer and/or a youth liaison officer from Victoria Police to speak to students prior to their visit or early in the program. Schools and the City Cite staff will clearly outline safe practices, appropriate behaviour and the expectations of the students.


Mobile Phones & Communication
Students are required to bring a mobile phone when they attend City Cite. Students use their phones for navigation, electronic check-in, recording content and more. Additionally, mobile phones are an important part of City Cite's safety net, allowing easy communication between staff and students. They ensure that if a problem does arise staff can be contacted quickly. The phone does not have to be the most up-to-date. A second-hand phone that can be charged and is in credit is adequate.


If your child does feel anxious, apart from you, they should feel comfortable to talk about their anxieties with school staff at City Cite.

Transport
A big part of the program is that students become comfortable with using public transport in a safe and responsible manner. Emphasis is placed on appropriate transport etiquette. They are learning skills that enhance their independence as they move towards the end of school.


To get into the city via public transport your child will require a valid MYKI card for the duration of their time at City Cite. This can be loaded with MYKI money or a MYKI pass for the appropriate length of time they'll be attending City Cite. Note that you and your child should refer to the MYKI website to calculate the amount of money that needs to be loaded onto the card. If possible have the card registered, because in the case of loss of the card, any money on the card can be transferred to a new card.

City Cite is located within the Free Tram Zone, so once in the CBD, students will not need to use their MYKI. This does not reduce the overall cost of travel for the day for those students travelling into the city, but it  does removes the need to touch on and off in the city.

Lunch /Snacks
We would suggest that you discuss a lunch budget with your child and also encourage healthy eating choices. Many students given freedom will head towards Maccas and the like. There are healthy economical alternatives – a baguette shop or a sushi outlet for example.

It is not necessary for students to buy lunch every day – a cut lunch with traditional lunchbox snacks is an alternative on at least some days. We do note though that one of the attractions of being in the city is the diversity of lunch options!

Daily Pattern
Generally the day will start with a detailed briefing at City Cite. There will then be class activities and varying amounts of group work time. For class activities, students are met and supervised at a venue. When undertaking group work, students will visit locations that they believe are relevant to their topic. They need to give a detailed description of where they are going, to whom they might speak and when they are to return. At the end of the day students will be given an outline of the following day.

Attendance
Contact City Cite or the school’s teachers at City Cite if your child is unable to attend on a particular day. The expectation is in a sense the same as at school – the school should be notified in good time by a responsible adult. The school will have provided you with detailed information about contact information and procedures. If a student is unwell at the start of the day it is preferable that they do not attend.

Final Advice
During the program, the students will be very aware of the increased independence and strong purpose for what they are learning at City Cite. We are aware that returning to school can feel regressive and constraining. We encourage you to highlight the skills that the students have further developed which can support them with their learning in the senior years.


Your child is growing up and this is a time of great change for them and for you. We advise that, to a certain extent, you let go but be supportive. An important aim of the city-based program is to provide an opportunity for students to develop skills and strategies to remain safe now and in later years when they are older and in unsupervised situations.


Further Reading: When Is It Time to Let Go of Our Young Adult Child? by Marvin G. Knittel Ed.D.

A student uses a pen and tablet at City Cite.
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