Currently, students are charged an entry fee of $10 to visit the museum. It was built and founded by veterans of the Vietnam conflict with the aim of preserving its legacy.
Robin Scott, Minister for Veterans, announced recently during a visit to Preston High School that the fees for school groups will be waived for a period of four years. He said travel costs may also be subsidised if the museum visit is the excursion’s main objective, adding:
“It is incumbent on us to ensure future generations understand and value their service – and we are making this easier with in-school visits and free museum trips.”
In addition, the government is also offering secondary schools a chance to hear first-hand from a Vietnam veteran as a guest speaker. Scott said the Learning Firsthand programme was an initiative that encouraged teachers and students to select the Vietnam War as part of their studies.
He said a full suite of resources would be provided to assist them and the initiative will also benefit from the guidance of history and education experts, teachers and Vietnam veterans.
Over the years, printing services have also produced many publications on the conflict which involved 60,000 Australian servicemen.