Civics and Citizenship 7-10 / Year 10 / Knowledge and understanding / Citizenship, diversity and identity

Curriculum content descriptions

the challenges to and ways of sustaining a resilient democracy and a cohesive society in Australia and/or in our region or globally (AC9HC10K05)

Elaborations
  • identifying the key characteristics of cohesive, democratic societies, such as cooperation, inclusion, respect and peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the importance of an active and informed citizenry
  • considering threats to Australian democracy and other democracies, such as the influence of vested interests, organised crime, corruption and lawlessness, and the impact of social media on the quality of civic debate about controversial matters
  • locating and discussing a range of possible threats to the resilience of democratic societies globally, such as extreme polarisation of views and a breakdown in social consensus, and the reasons for the rise of non-democratic forces such as extremist groups with no commitment to democratic values
  • examining how our Western democratic heritage and values such as freedom of speech support participation in public debate about controversial issues; for example, the date of Australia Day, the Uluru Statement, reconciliation and truth-telling, or the call for a treaty between First Nations Australians and the Australian Government
General capabilities
  • Personal and social capability Personal and Social capability
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Political corruption,  Organised crime,  Conflict resolution,  Direct action,  Role of the press

Video

Tour of NSW Government House

This resource is a YouTube playlist containing a series of videos taken as a group of senior high school students are given a guided tour of NSW Government House in 2010. The tour covers primary sources such as architecture, furniture and images significant to the history of Australia and NSW.

Interactive

Discovering democracy: what sort of nation?

Interact with a slideshow of images and text to explore what has influenced the sort of nation Australia is and how it has changed over time. Complete a related task.

Interactive

Discovering democracy: a democracy destroyed

Interact with a slideshow of images and text to explore, through the demise of democracy in Germany in 1933, how the justice system can be used for undemocratic purposes. Complete a related task.

Video

In My Blood It Runs: Right to self determination

After many decades of working with the colonial Commonwealth Government of Australia, Yolngu Elder and renowned leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu argued (as many First Peoples do) that it's in their best interest to establish independence, politically and economically, from the colonial state. "We, the united clans of east Arnhem ...

Video

In My Blood It Runs: First Nations education

While watching this clip, consider Article 14 of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods ...

Text

The Conversation: class in Australia collection

This collection of short articles critically examine the topic of class in Australia, asking whether it exists and examining relationship between class and aspects such as health, where you live, gender, income inequality and others. The articles support student investigations and in-depth studies of issues relevant for ...

Video

NSW Governor Marie Bashir – 2010 speech to students

This resource is a YouTube playlist containing a series of videos from a speech the NSW Governor Marie Bashir gave to senior high school students at Government House in 2010. She speaks on a range of topics, including the Australian system of government, the history of Australia and NSW, and her life. She also answers ...

Downloadable

Aboriginal change makers

Aboriginal history, self-determination and identity are examined in this teaching and learning eBook. The book draws on the lived experience of First Nations peoples drawing on historical record, cultural protocols and community connections to explore perspectives on traditional culture and leadership in the face of colonisation. ...

Video

Big deal

Big Deal investigates the role of money in Australia’s democracy and explores some of the reasons people’s trust in democracy is declining. Host Christiaan Van Vuuren speaks to current politicians, former politicians, journalists, community members and a lobbyist in a quest to understand how rules around political donations, ...

Text

Drug Crime and the Law

This sequence of four lesson ideas focuses on the concept that Australia's social wellbeing is enhanced when individuals understand the behaviours and laws associated with being responsible citizens, and report signs of illicit criminal drug activity to the appropriate authorities. This resource provides the opportunity ...

Online

Australian reported crime victims since 2010 - dataset

This is a dataset that provides statistics about crimes reported by victims from 2010 to the latest year of available data. It is periodically updated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The dataset is in MS Excel format.

Video

Rogue nation, 2009: NSW in 1819, convict gulag or place of opportunity?

This clip is an excerpt from the 2009 documentary 'Rites of passage', the second of a two-part series entitled 'Rogue nation'. The clip begins with historian Michael Cathcart providing contextual information about England in the early 1800s. He says that in the midst of the industrial revolution, millions of people were ...

Text

Wildlife crime and the law

This sequence of five lesson ideas focuses on the concept that Australia's biosecurity and environmental wellbeing are enhanced when individuals understand the behaviours, rules and laws associated with being an environmentally responsible citizen. The resource provides students with the opportunity to explore how Australia’s ...

Online

Get Voting

This website provides a step-by-step guide to running an school elections such as student leadership positions. The five-step process provides practical advice on preparation and a variety of downloadable resources. The forms can be customised and include nomination forms, ballot papers, how to vote cards and tally sheets ...

Online

Magna Carta: The story of our freedom

This is a resource about the Magna Carta (Great Charter) agreed between King John and his rebellious barons in 1215 and its influence on the development of human rights and democratic freedoms to the present day. The resource consists of: an animated infographic ‘Tell the story’ with hyperlinks to further information; an ...