Civics and citizenship / Year 9 / Civics and Citizenship Knowledge and Understanding / Citizenship, diversity and identity

Curriculum content descriptions

How and why individuals and groups, including religious groups, participate in and contribute to civic life  (ACHCK079)

Elaborations
  • researching the work of a non-government organisation (NGO), philanthropist, community group or religious group and how and why they contribute to the Australian community
  • exploring the concept of ‘the common good’ using examples of how religious groups participate to foster interfaith understanding or social justice
  • investigating why a particular group advocates for change (for example, in relation to gender equity)
  • exploring the various ways that individuals can contribute to civic life (for example, by volunteering their services to charities and service groups, becoming a Justice of the Peace, making submissions to public enquiries, attending public meetings, serving on local government bodies and providing voluntary help at schools and nursing homes)
  • discussing how the Australian Honours System recognises, celebrates and says thank you to those who make a difference and serve others
  • investigating how the Australian Honours System works, including the types of awards and how they are announced and presented
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Active citizenship,  Religious faiths,  Not-for-profit organisations

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 ...

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.

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. ...

Interactive

Discovering democracy: parties control parliament

Interact with a slideshow of images and text to explore the role political parties and independents have in Australia. Learn about some of fundamental principles underpinning the major parties. Complete a related task.

Course

A sensory experience

This is a website about how the treatment and mainstream understanding of deaf and blind people has changed overtime. Students are invited to engage with the stories of individuals, events and artefacts of deaf and blind communities such as the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria. The resource includes links, images, ...

Interactive

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 chronological infographic, a video (4:11 min) with audio description and ...

Interactive

Making a difference

This resource consists of four case studies that explore issues of civics and citizenship at local, state, federal government and international levels and encourage students to plan their own civic acts. The local and state government case studies are most suited to a middle-years' audience while the federal and international ...

Video

Stateline TAS: Aunty Ida West: Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, 1995

This 3-minute clip explores challenges faced by Aboriginal people in the 20th century including the denial of culture and language. Students are introduced to Tasmanian woman Aunty Ida West and learn about her background and the life experiences that forged her as an activist, ambassador, and eventually a prominent Elder. ...

Text

Teaching active citizenship guidance for teachers

Active citizenship is a teaching approach that uses active learning to equip students to take informed action aimed at making a positive difference in their communities. This guide has been co-constructed with British teachers and researchers to distil principles and practical advice about what constitutes an effective ...

Text

Secret Postcard Project

This lesson plan provides ideas for raising money for a local or national charity with a whole school arts project. Use it to support learning in Civics and Citizenship about how individuals and groups can make a positive difference in their community.

Text

Organ donation

This is a UK-based resource exploring facts around organ donation. It could be used in a Civics and Citizenship context to look at ways that individuals make contributions to the community, and ways that the actions of individuals and groups are publicly supported or celebrated. The lesson can also be used to start a sculpture ...

Text

Active Citizens: Globally connected, locally engaged

While this is designed for use with adults, some of the learning activities are suitable for use in secondary classrooms. Find learning activities exploring identity, cultural understandings, managing difference and conflict.

Interactive

Across Land and Sea: Muzafar’s True Story

This interactive resource explores the experiences of a former refugee from Afghanistan, Muzafar Ali, who has worked as a political and human rights analyst. The resources explore the experiences of a refugee or displaced person in countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia and Australia. The site includes video clips, photos ...

Text

Australian Constitution Centre Resources

Find detailed lesson plans for appropriate levels of schooling supporting topics such as the Rule of Law, Representative Democracy, Australian identity, federation and the Constitution, Australia’s legal system, the Courts and the Australian Justice System, The Constitution and the Making of Law in Australia, The High Court ...

Video

Key concepts in Civics and Citizenship Levels 3–10

These six videos for teachers unpack key concepts in Civics and Citizenship highlighting perspectives of current primary and secondary teachers and students. Find videos relating to both content and effective pedagogies. Each video is accompanied by questions that can be used to prompt discussions to support teachers’ thinking ...

Text

Western Australia: A Centenary of Change 1918 - 2018

This resource has been developed to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the conclusion of World War I. The resource aims to support teachers from Foundation through to Year 10 in integrating 100 years of West Australian history into the HASS curriculum.

Course

Commemorating Anzac through engaging learning

This resource supports quality teaching and learning through specific curriculum learning opportunities to engage students, as well as enhancing whole school and community interactions and events commemorating Anzac. Part of the Bringing communities together series in response to the NSW State Anzac Centenary.

Video

The Australian Dream: History and truths

This resource explores the history of Australia and the effects that past government policies and actions have had on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The video clip highlights how, as a country, Australians find it difficult to talk about the uncomfortable truths of our history. It also explores the responses ...

Video

Get involved

Explore the ways ordinary Australians can get involved in the work of Parliament with this short video (6:25 min). Find out how you can get informed about the work of the Parliament, the role of petitioning and ways to participate in parliamentary inquiries.

Interactive

Interactive posters - Parliamentary Education Office

Explore the key features of Australia’s system of government and the Australian Parliament with these interactive posters. Topics include Australia's Constitution, forming the Australian government, and making Australian law. Each poster is supported by teaching notes and student resources including interactive activities ...