Out of sight, but not out of mind

In recent weeks, the news cycle has been dominated by the war in the Middle East. Yet, amid this intensity, another historic event briefly entered the headlines: the Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, completing a 10-day journey around the moon before its crew capsule splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.

But let me ask you this: before Artemis II nudged its way into the news cycle, had you ever really thought about the “other side of the moon”? Did you know that we only ever see one face of it from Earth? We glance up occasionally, especially when the moon is full, but rarely do we consider what lies beyond our view.

This is a classic example of “out of sight, out of mind” – a phrase coined by English playwright John Heywood in 1562. Heywood used it to capture a simple but enduring human truth: when something is not directly visible or present in our daily lives, we tend to forget it, dismiss it, or underestimate its importance. Artemis II reminded us that there is always more beyond what we see – and that what lies beyond can matter deeply.

I reflected on this idea and realised that it applies just as much here on Earth as it does in space. Consider our lives in metro Sydney. Apart from the occasional drive to the Central Coast, the Southern Highlands, Canberra, or the snowfields, how often do we truly think about the communities we pass along the way? How often do we consider the lives, challenges and perspectives of people living outside our urban centres?

For many of us, those communities exist just beyond our line of sight – another world, not unlike the far side of the moon.

At Courage to Care, our overriding mission is to ensure that these communities are anything but “out of sight, out of mind”. Our team of educators and volunteers travels to schools and communities across regional and rural NSW, delivering programs that challenge discrimination, racism and antisemitism. We teach young people the importance of being “Upstanders” rather than bystanders – individuals who take action when they witness injustice, rather than ignoring it.

We do this by immersing students in a unique 90-minute program which covers Holocaust history, courage, heroism and personal reflection. In the 2025 school year over 12,000 students had this experience.

In September 2025, Courage to Care NSW entered into a landmark cooperation agreement with the Sydney Jewish Museum. This collaboration was designed to maximise the strengths of both organisations. The museum provides an immersive experience that helps visitors understand the consequences of hatred and the enduring importance of Holocaust remembrance. Courage to Care brings anti-discrimination education directly into schools through incursions and exhibitions that inspire students to act.

Under this agreement, the Sydney Jewish Museum focuses on metropolitan Sydney, while Courage to Care concentrates exclusively on regional areas. It is a practical and strategic division of effort – one that ensures broader reach and deeper impact. Together, we are aligning our work while maintaining our independence, strengthening educational responses to prejudice across the state.

For most students we encounter, the Jewish community itself is “out of sight, out of mind”. In regions where few Jewish people live, there is often limited opportunity for direct engagement or understanding. This absence can create a vacuum – one that misinformation and stereotypes are all too ready to fill. Our role is to bridge that gap.

Through repeated, age-appropriate engagement from primary through to high school, we help students understand not only the historical consequences of discrimination but also their own responsibility in shaping a more inclusive society. We educate through Holocaust survivor testimony that being an Upstander is not an abstract ideal; it is a humane and principled choice. Those ideals are, in many ways, at the heart of what it means to be a good Australian citizen.

A society built on Upstander behaviour is one that refuses to tolerate discrimination. By contrast, the bystander – someone who sees injustice and does nothing – is effectively putting “out of sight, out of mind” into practice. That is not the Australian way.

Courage to Care exists to ensure that distance – geographical or social – does not lead to disconnection or indifference. Our 60 volunteers work tirelessly to fill the gaps in understanding, to challenge prejudice and to foster empathy. Our contribution is recognised at the highest levels, including through participation in the antisemitism envoy’s education roundtable.

Yet, despite our impact, we remain an organisation that many people have never heard of. Why? Because much of our work takes place out of sight – in the regions where one-third of NSW’s population lives.

The lesson of Artemis II is not just about space exploration. It is a reminder to look beyond what is immediately visible, to consider what lies outside our daily experience and to recognise its importance. Because what is out of sight should never be out of mind.

Tom Curtis is the chair of Courage to Care NSW.