Economics and business / Year 9 / Economics and Business Knowledge and Understanding

Curriculum content descriptions

The nature of innovation and how and why businesses seek to create and maintain a competitive advantage in the market, including the global market (ACHEK041)

Elaborations
  • identifying the reasons businesses seek to build or create a competitive advantage (for example, to meet the changing demands of a competitive global market and improve their profit margins)
  • investigating the different strategies businesses use to create competitive advantage (for example, research and development, offering a lower-cost product, or by implementing efficient internal operations strategies)
  • discussing whether the adoption of strategies based around corporate social responsibility can increase the competitive advantage of businesses
  • exploring emerging techniques businesses can use to gain an advantage, such as blended marketing, open innovation and use of social media
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Globalisation,  Competitive advantage

Video

Sciencey: Five things you should know about renewable energy

Check out how we make electricity, the different renewable energy sources we have developed and how batteries work. Then, find out about hydro-electricity and why Australia could one day be the world’s biggest exporter of renewable energy. Lastly, discover virtual power plants. Why is it important to focus on renewable ...

Video

A Year on a Farm: producer video

This is a video about operation of an organic orchard near Kalangadoo in South Australia and the commitment to biodiversity of its owners Michelle and Chris McColl. Michelle McColl describes and illustrates the annual cycle of work with the trees and fruit while discussing the economic and agronomical advantages of the ...

Video

Exploring farms that produce our meat and wool:producer video

This is a video about Mayura Station in South Australia and the full-blood Wagyu beef it produces. It is introduced by owner Scott deBruin who explains the origin of Wagyu cattle in Japan; points to the characteristic marbling of its meat preferred by Asian customers; and outlines the importance of high energy grain feed ...

Video

From Citrus to Almonds: video

This is a video [6:25 min] about growing almonds on a property in the Riverland of South Australia and why the owners switched from citrus to almond production. The first part of the video illustrates the characteristics of the property and explains the long-term strategy and business reasons for the switch. The next part ...

Interactive

MoneySmart: MilbaDjunga - how can I start my own business?

The MilbaDjunga secondary unit 'How can I start my own business?' is an interactive online unit developed to support teachers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to teach consumer and financial literacy. It leads students through a step-by-step process to start a small business and is accompanied by teacher ...

Video

Weston Farm - organic farm (Tasmania)

This is a video about horticulturalist and farmer Richard Weston and his success in growing high quality organic food and flowers. It shows scenes of Weston Farm as he speaks of his commitment to quality niche products, the importance of diversification in small-scale farming, and the value of overseas research. He goes ...

Video

Waratah Australis Nursery (flowers) – Batlow, New South Wales

This is a video about plant breeder and nursery owner Brian Fitzpatrick and his work of breeding waratahs. It shows scenes of his activities in the Waratah Australis Nursery as he speaks of the magnificence of waratahs; the stages in the breeding process including hand-pollination and the production of 12,000 seedlings ...

Video

Bruny Island Providore

This is a short clip in which the business owner of a Tasmanian fudge company describes the establishment and development of his confectionery business. Business owner, Michael, explains the production model behind his successful enterprise including the business location, the local sourcing of raw materials, and a world’s-first ...

Video

Finding farms: producer video

This is a video about how lobsters are harvested and processed in South Australia for live export to China. In the first part of the video, Mark Denton, a professional rock lobster fisherman describes how the sustainability of the lobster fishery is ensured; compares and contrasts his work with farming any other form of ...

Video

Salmon Growing in Tasmania: video

This is a video [5:52 min] about large scale farming salmon at Huon Aquaculture in southern Tasmania. It illustrates the the operation of the aquaculture business, its infrastructure, the salmon life cycle and the efficiency levels of salmon production gained. The commentary initially focuses on the importance of aquaculture ...

Video

Exploring the production and marketing of seafood: producer video

This is a video about how wild-caught lobsters are processed for export and barramundi are farmed in two South Australian businesses. The first part is presented by Andrew Laurie, the owner of Sky Seafoods, who shows the work of the lobster fishermen who supply him and how the lobsters are processed. He describes how sustainability ...

Online

Salmon Growing in Tasmania

This is a unit of work on aquaculture with a particular focus on the Tasmanian salmon farming industry. The unit provides a series of structured investigations leading to a design challenge which asks students to create an improved salmon pen. Activities include: an introduction to aquaculture and sustainable farming methods; ...

Video

Meet the Fremantle Port Hostesses

In the 1960s, Marie Novak and Pauline Noble worked for the Fremantle Port Authority as hostesses, welcoming new migrants who arrived by ship. Why were hostesses needed? How do Marie and Pauline describe their time as hostesses? Compare the migration experiences of Marie's and Pauline's families. How did their backgrounds ...

Video

The Snowy Mountains Scheme

How did the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme come to be Australia's greatest economic achievement in the decades following World War II? In this clip, discover what Australia hoped to accomplish through the scheme, and some of the sacrifices that were made for it. Also learn what life was like for migrants from war-devastated ...

Video

The Making of Modern Australia: Aunty Beryl Carmichael on spirit and culture

Ngiyaampaa Elder Aunty Beryl Carmichael speaks in this clip about how important it is that Aboriginal people care for, or nurture, their spiritual self. She discusses the way things are connected and the importance of Dreaming stories. She also explains why she passes on knowledge and cultural heritage to younger members ...

Video

BTN: Australia and Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a war fought between North and South Vietnam in the 1960s and the 70s. How did Australia become involved in this war and how did it ultimately change Australia? Find out about the attitudes of the public to the war in the 1960s and 1970s, and how it shaped the Australian Government's decision to be involved ...

Video

Benalla Migrant Camp

While many postwar immigrants were sent to Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre when they arrived in Australia, others lived at the smaller Benalla Migrant Camp. Like Bonegilla, Benalla is in north-east Victoria. Unlike at Bonegilla, however, many immigrants remained at Benalla for over a decade. Listen as Sabine ...

Video

How did change accelerate?

This 12 minute video is divided into two parts and presents an overview of the rapid development of the modern world. Part 1 presents reasons for the exponential growth in the world's population over the last 500 years including the development of global networks and commerce and the discovery of fossil fuel energy, which ...

Video

BTN: The import of exports!

Is it better for Australia to import or export goods and services? Find out the top countries Australia trades with and the types of things that are typically imported and exported. How is Australia's foreign debt linked to importing goods and services?

Video

Welcome to Bonegilla Migrant Camp

Following World War II, the Australian government was eager to increase the country’s population. The war reminded Australians that their small population would not withstand an enemy invasion. Further, a larger workforce was needed to develop the postwar economy. European people, many displaced by the war and the spread ...