"I am always happy to try something new and willing to try anything to get the students to read more. It was easy to set up and the case looked exciting!"Hamish Jefferys - Teacher Librarian, John Therry Catholic College
The Challenge
Like many school libraries, John Therry Catholic College was looking for ways to drive student engagement and get more students through the door. The library team wanted something that would spark genuine curiosity across all year levels, from Year 7 through to Year 12, and build reading and critical thinking habits in the process.
Why The Detective Experience
Hamish Jefferys, the school's Teacher Librarian, is a strong advocate for game-based learning. The interactivity of the program was a major draw, offering something that felt genuinely different from traditional library activities. The setup was straightforward, and the investigation itself looked immediately engaging for students.
"My favourite moment was having a flurry of students come to the library in-between periods to see the new piece of evidence because it was such an important piece of information for the case."
What Changed
The library saw a significant increase in foot traffic once the investigation gained momentum. While the initial uptake was slow, word spread naturally among students, and within a few weeks the buzz was undeniable. Students were actively asking when the next piece of evidence would drop.
Having a Year 7 homeroom group embedded in the library created a natural hub for conversation around the case. Students were reading, questioning, debating, and most importantly, choosing to come to the library voluntarily.
What's Next
Based on the success of the initial run, Hamish has committed to making The Detective Experience a permanent fixture in the school calendar. The investigation will now run as a whole-school event every year in Term 4, giving each new cohort of students the same experience of collaborative inquiry and evidence-based reasoning.