Thriving doesn’t happen by chance; it happens when young people are given the right environment to grow.
At The Knox School, the Year 9 CUBE program has been designed with this belief at its core. The CUBE is an elective, project-based learning experience where students step beyond traditional classroom boundaries and into real-world contexts, working with authentic clients and community partners. Based in the Futures Hub, an intentionally untraditional learning space, students are encouraged to explore their interests, uncover their strengths, and pursue learning that feels meaningful to them.
At the heart of every CUBE elective is one key idea: empathy.
Whether students are working alongside aged care residents, collaborating with Knox InfoLink, or investigating biodiversity at Lewis Park wetlands, they begin by deeply understanding the people, environments, and stories connected to their project. This focus on empathy shifts learning from “what do I need to do?” to “who am I doing this for, and why does it matter?”
In the Behind Those Eyes elective, students connect with elderly residents, listening to their life stories and capturing their experiences through biography writing and portrait photography. These interactions build more than technical skills, they foster respect, patience, and genuine human connection. Students learn how to communicate with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and represent someone’s story with care.
In Mission Possible, students partner with Knox InfoLink, a local non-profit organisation supporting members of our community who are doing it tough. Through this work, students gain powerful insights into the realities faced by others in their own neighbourhood. A recent session on social connection highlighted how vital a sense of belonging is for wellbeing. Something many of us take for granted. Students are now using this understanding to design projects that strengthen community connections, working in roles that align with their strengths, whether that’s organisation, web design, cultural inclusion, or communication.
Meanwhile, students exploring the natural environment at Lewis Park wetlands are developing empathy for the world around them, learning to listen to the “voice” of a healthy ecosystem and understanding the importance of protecting it. Here, empathy extends beyond people to place, encouraging students to see themselves as part of a broader, interconnected system.
Halfway through the semester, we are already seeing students thrive in ways not always visible in traditional settings. For some, it’s the excitement of mastering a DSLR camera, experimenting with depth, light, and composition and proudly sharing their work. Others are embracing a new skill they’ve recently learned: field recording, both above ground and underwater. They are applying this skill with growing confidence and clearly enjoying the process, capturing unique soundscapes and perspectives that deepen their connection to the environment and expand their storytelling. For others, it’s the confidence gained from speaking with community members, experts, or local leaders, developing communication skills through real, purposeful interactions.
The CUBE is not about fitting every student into the same mould. It’s about creating the conditions for each student to discover where they excel, to build confidence in their abilities, and to understand how their strengths can contribute to something bigger than themselves.
By placing empathy at the centre and fostering strong social connections, The CUBE is helping students not only learn but connect, contribute, and care.
And in doing so, they are becoming not just better learners, but thoughtful, capable, and compassionate members of their community.
