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Free School Holiday Activities

These activities are designed for primary-aged children and run during the New South Wales school holidays. Students will receive an interactive presentation on banknote security features and get a closer look at the new Next Generation Banknotes. They will also be taken on a guided journey through the Museum and learn about the history of Australia and its historic figures.

Summer Session Times

Registrations of interest to attend the Summer School Holidays are now open. Registrations will close Friday, 10 January, 5.00 pm.

Upcoming sessions for children in Kindergarten to Year 2:

  • Monday, 20 January, 10.00 am – 11.30 am
  • Wednesday, 22 January, 10.00 am – 11.30 am
  • Friday, 24 January, 10.00 am – 11.30 am

Register for K–Y2 session

Upcoming sessions for children in Year 3 to Year 6:

  • Monday, 20 January, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
  • Wednesday, 22 January, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
  • Friday, 24 January, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm

Register for Y3–Y6 session

Important information: Offers for attendance to school holiday sessions will be sent via your listed contact email 3–5 business days before the event. As this is a highly subscribed event we cannot guarantee your child will be offered a place for this school holiday period.

Cost

Free

Venue

Reserve Bank of Australia Museum
65 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000



School Holiday Program FAQs

Do parents or guardians stay with the children?

If your child is confident being without a parent or guardian, you are welcome to leave them for the session, returning to collect them from the museum foyer at the end of the session. You are also welcome to sit in for the program duration if you would like to. If there are any issues and your child is unattended, you will be contacted via the phone number you have provided.

Why can’t my infants aged child (K-Y2) and primary aged child (Y3-Y6) just attend the same session?

Our school holiday sessions are separated by age to ensure children are provided with the best levels of engagement. The content in each session is aligned to infants and primary learning stages and they will be provided with different resources during their visit. We recommend you enrol your children in the most age-appropriate group. If you have children attending both sessions, we recommend nearby cultural institutions to explore with any children waiting for their session. Nearby are marked on our interactive Sydney Cultural Kilometre map.

Cancellation

Should you no longer be able to attend our program we recommend replying to your confirmation email with ‘CANCEL’. This will ensure your details are added to our priority contact list for the next school holiday period. Bookings that are ‘no show’ on the day will not be placed on this list. All registrations that do not receive an offer to attend a session the immediate school holiday period will also have their details added to the priority contact list.

Can I bring other family members who are not attending the program? (e.g. babies, toddlers, teenagers)

Yes, we can accommodate for extra people to sit in during the program. We would encourage parents or guardians bringing babies and toddlers to provide adequate supervision so other children are not disturbed during the session.

Can I bring a pram?

Yes, the museum has pram access.

What if I arrive on the day without an offer of attendance for my registration?

Our sessions are popular and we are careful to ensure a fair enrolment process. We will NOT accept children arriving on the day who have not been offered attendance for that session. We have a maximum capacity for each session to ensure safety of all children. Should you no longer be able to attend our program we recommend replying your confirmation email with ‘CANCEL’. In the event of cancellation, your details will be added to our priority contact list for the next coming school holidays.

What do I do when I arrive at the Reserve Bank Building?

The museum is located on Ground Floor and to the left as you enter the main building. No security access or ID is required to enter the museum. On arrival at the museum please notify staff of your arrival and collect a name tag for your child. No food or drink is permitted in the museum area, so we recommend consuming any food or drinks before or after your session (water is permitted).

What will the children be doing on the day?

The session will consist of approximately 40 children who will be split into two groups and rotated through different activities and stations around the museum. Each session runs for approximately 90 minutes. Sometimes the sessions do run over time. (Infants sessions times 10.00 am – 11.30 am, Primary session times 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm). They will use a treasure map to explore the museum, which follows Australian history as reflected through our banknotes. They will also learn about the innovative new security features on our Banknotes and how banknotes are made. Children will also get creative, with an opportunity to design their own banknote. Children will also receive a resource kit to take home to continue learning about Australia’s banknotes.

What to bring?

Children are not required to bring any materials for the program. We recommend bringing any necessary medication or medical materials should your child require.

Cost

This program is a free educational service offered by the Bank.

Why was my other registration for a different session not chosen?

We are careful to ensure a fair enrolment process. Due to high demand for the sessions, we only offer attendance to the first submission for each child. Should you no longer be able to attend our program we recommend replying to your confirmation email with ‘CANCEL’. In the event of cancellation, your details will be added to our priority contact list for the next coming school holidays.

I registered interest for more than one child. Why weren’t all my children offered places?

Offers of attendance are reviewed to ensure siblings or advised friend groups attend on the same day. If you do not receive confirmation for all your associated registrations within the next 24 hours, please reply to your confirmation email listing the names of the child/children requiring confirmation.

My older/younger child has not been offered attendance for the session requested on the same day. Why weren’t all my children offered places?

Offers of attendance are reviewed to ensure siblings or advised friend groups attend on the same day. If you do not receive confirmation for all your associated registrations within the next 24 hours, please reply to your confirmation email listing the names of the child/children requiring confirmation.

Getting to the Museum

Please read 'Getting Here' section of the Visit page.

Group Visits

Please read 'Group Visits' section of the Visit page.