Poetry finds a voice in regional Victorian classrooms

A University of Melbourne outreach program is bringing contemporary spoken word poetry into regional Victorian classrooms, giving students new ways to express themselves through performance and creative writing.

Wondering Poet, an initiative of the Faculty of Arts, is a free program designed to expand access to creative learning in rural and regional communities, where opportunities to engage with contemporary poetry can be limited.

Led by poet and facilitator Sas Hall, the program combines spoken word performance with hands-on workshops that encourage students to develop and share their own work.

Spoken word poetry is a performance-based form of poetry intended to be delivered aloud. It uses rhythm, sound and language to engage audiences, often exploring personal experiences and social themes.

The program is visiting schools across the Goulburn Valley this week, including Nathalia Secondary College and All Saints Anglican School in Shepparton, where students take part in a live performance before creating and performing original pieces.

Professor Jennifer Balint, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne, said the initiative highlights the importance of creative expression for young people.

“These sessions demonstrate to students that poetry is a powerful medium for expressing their ideas, passions and perspectives,” Professor Balint said.

“At a time when poetry can be undervalued, Wondering Poet plays an important role in reaffirming its relevance, helping young people to see it as a meaningful and accessible form of expression.

“It’s essential that students in these communities have access to the same creative opportunities as those in metropolitan areas. This program helps make that possible, bringing creative practice directly into classrooms where it can have a meaningful impact.”

Co-designed with educators, Wondering Poet complements classroom learning through curriculum-linked activities, while supporting students to build confidence in communication and self-expression.

The program is part of the University’s Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, which focuses on connecting communities with and through the humanities and encouraging deeper thinking, diverse perspectives and meaningful engagement with the world.

By bringing creative practice into regional classrooms, the initiative supports the exchange of knowledge and ideas between the University and local communities, highlighting the role of the humanities beyond the campus.

Wondering Poet will continue visiting schools across Victoria, with plans to expand nationally in the future.