Immersions
Immersion \Im*mer"sion\, n. [L. immersio; cf. F. immersion.]
... The state of being overhelmed or deeply absorbed; deep engagedness. [1913 Webster]
Our Immersion Program is unique a model of active citizenship that allows participants to learn, via experience, what it means to be part of a global community. Your hosts include local elders, artists and craftspeople, cultural leaders, members of Paliament, community workers and every-day village people. To be 'shown around town' by the people who live in it is an opportunity rarely available to general tourists or business travellers.
Immersions are open to adults interested in engaging with social justice and human rights issues by participating in the lives of the local communities you will visit. Embrace the daily life, and engage with local communities, culture and history while you work alongside highly creative community development projects.
'Experiential learning' is the educational principle that some insights may require personal experience, and ‘doing’ combined with thinking. Face-to-face encounters that you will experience in an Immersion Program can greatly assist in your comprehension of such matters as human dignity, community and justice.
“... redefining ‘travel’ within a social justice, human rights and ecological framework. It is a unique way of discovering people, places, cultures and story that focuses on the most significant justice issues of our time while managing the cultural impact of foreigners.”
Each Immersion Program involves a cross-cultural preparation course tailored to suit each location, and a post immersion debriefing emphasizes personal growth and transformation. Download the Immersion Programs Brochure (PDF 340.11Kb) or read more about the Objectives and Philosphy of Immersions.
2009 - 2010 Immersion Schedule and Locations:
| Location |
Month | Cost | Duration | Departure dates and other info |
| India | Jan '09 | $3200 - $3900 | 3 weeks | India Immersion |
| Jan '10 |
$3500 - $4100 |
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| Tanzania | June '09 | $5995 - $7295 | 3 weeks | Tanzania Immersion |
| June '10 | $6295 $7395 |
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| Timor-Leste (East Timor) | June '09 | $2495 - $3295 | 3 weeks | Timor-Leste Immersion |
| June '10 | $2695 - $3495 | |||
| Indigenous Australia | Sept '09 | $2295 - $2995 | 2 weeks | Broome Immersion |
| Sept '10 | $2495 - $3295 | |||
| Perth & Poverty |
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| Secondary Students | May '09 | $100 | 4 days | Perth & Poverty Immersion |
| April '10 | $110 | |||
| Adults | Dec '09 | $100 - $350 | 4 days | Perth & Poverty Immersion |
| Dec '10 | $110 - $375 | |||
All those who complete a trip are invited to join an ongoing network of Immersion ‘graduates’. This group’s activities include a bimonthly social gathering at the Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice, Fremantle. Immersion graduates receive advance booking privileges for life at ERISJ seminars and professional development courses.
Travel Advice - how to ensure a safe and healthy trip
We want you to enjoy your immersion experience. Please check our advice on how to achieve this.
Contact Immersions Coordinator Khristo Newall for more information.
