Our police officers go to work day in and day out not knowing what they will confront in the line of duty, or whether they will return home safely at the end of their shift.

On Friday, it is important that we acknowledge those officers who have lost their lives as a result of their policing career. But we must also pay our respects to our local men and women in blue who work tirelessly to keep us safe from harm every day.

History teachers from across NSW are being invited to walk the battlefields and trenches of the Western Front as part of the 2018 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship tour.

From today, all teachers across the state can apply to participate in the 2018 tour. Successful applicants will join 20 students, other teachers and a tour historian on the educational and commemorative trip retracing the footsteps of the Anzacs for the centenary of the Battle of Hamel.

The 13-day tour will give students the opportunity to experience Australia’s military story first-hand in Ypres, Passchendaele, the Somme and Flanders in Belgium.

The group will also participate in commemorations at cemeteries and memorials, as well as visiting battlefields, museums and other sites relevant to the Anzac tradition.

Accompanying teachers will provide supervision for the students during the tour, support their learning experience and enrich their own teaching practices on return so classrooms across NSW can reap the benefits of the tour.

The 2018 pilgrimage to the Western Front would encourage a new generation of students to better understand the service and sacrifice of our Anzacs on battlefields half a world away from home.

Most travel and accommodation costs associated with the tour will be covered by Veterans Affairs. Teachers will continue to receive their usual salary while accompanying the student group.

Applications close on 23 October 2017. For further details please go to www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/education or phone 8061 9288 / 1300 838 233