Radio National Breakfast Changing Australia: Russell Kerr and reconnecting disengaged students with hands-on learning
Mar 29, 2026
Russell Kerr, founder of Hands-On Learning and former teacher who reimagined classroom engagement. He recounts taking disengaged students into the bush to build stick furniture and how hands-on projects ignited creativity and confidence. Talks cover scaling the program to 140 schools, balancing practical doing with core academics, and the roles of teachers and artisans in full-day sessions.
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Bush Trip That Reignited Disengaged Students
- Russell Kerr took disengaged students into the bush to make stick furniture and they became visibly engaged.
- Students whittled sticks, chose materials and assembled stools, which gave them immediate pride and a sense of I can do.
Simple Milking Stools Sparked A Movement
- After the bush session students brought home simple milking stools which produced immediate pride and the phrase I can do.
- The quick tangible outcome sparked Russell Kerr's determination to formalise the approach into a recurring program.
Straw Bale Hut Turned Into A School Project
- The first school project after the bush trip was a full-size straw bale hut which ran over months and involved artisans.
- Year 8–9 students worked one day a week with an artisan and teacher, building the hut and reporting huge spikes in attendance and motivation.