AGTA 2011 Conference

Keynote presentations

Tim Costello: AGTA patron’s inaugural presentation – ‘Geography’s place in every student’s education’

Thursday 13 January 2011

Reverend Tim Costello AO
CEO of World Vision and AGTA Patron

“We need young Australians who can learn from the past and be critically aware of the issues facing the world in the present and the future. Geography challenges students to investigate, question, evaluate and apply their learning to the world in which they live. It involves hard, critical thinking, the development of important knowledge and skills and an engaged, involved outlook; a desire not merely to observe the world but to change it for the better.”

As CEO of World Vision Australia, Tim leads an organisation which supports the Australian community sponsorship of 400,000 children overseas. Tim has long been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse.

Tim studied law and education at Monash University, followed by theology in Switzerland and at the Melbourne College of Divinity. He has been a Baptist Minister in St Kilda, and in the city at Collins Street Baptist Church. Tim continued serving the local community by successfully running for Mayor of St Kilda in 1993. He also founded Urban Seed, a not-for-profit Christian outreach service for the urban poor.


In 2004 Tim was named Victorian of the Year; in 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO); in 2008 he was awarded the Australian Peace Prize. He is listed by the National Trust as a 'National Living Treasure'. In 2010 Tim accepted the invitation to be the AGTA Patron.

I could go on and on about Tim’s community involvement, activism and commitment to his fellow man, but it will suffice to say that he is a man widely recognised and respected for his humility and humanity and we are extremely pleased that he has accepted to be the AGTA patron.

That brings me to the observation that he is not a geographer! Tim tells me that he won the Year 12 geography prize at Carey Grammar but…  However AGTA recognises that Tim is an individual who has worked tirelessly as a local and global citizen and whilst not a geographer in the academic sense, through his humanitarian work, advocacy on a broad range of social issues and present work around the globe with World Vision, he demonstrates in practice what we as geography teachers see the reasons why we want all young people to know and embrace geographical knowledge and understanding.

As the Australian Curriculum: geography shaping paper states that geography enables students to “become thoughtful and active local, national and global citizens, and to understand how they can influence the futures of places.”
Tim embodies these sentiments and AGTA looks forward to working with him in the future to promote geography in the community around Australia as a necessary, relevant and dynamic area of learning for all.