Society and Environment

In the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians the Humanities and social sciences learning area includes the subjects of history, geography, economics and business and civics and citizenship. The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) will develop this learning area over three phases, due for completion by the end of 2013. In December 2011 ACARA released the full package of online support for phase 1 subjects of the Australian Curriculum which included History. In July 2012 Western Australia will begin a three year implementation process to ensure that schools are well placed to deliver, assess and report on phase 1 of the Australian Curriculum by July 2015.

Comparisons between the Australian Curriculum and WA K-10 Syllabus

Information is available that maps the Australian Curriculum to the K-10 Syllabus. These documents will help teachers to become familiar with the Australian Curriculum. This information may be used to identify what content to include, omit or modify in teaching and learning programs. Given the advisory nature of the WA K-10 Syllabus, the extent of change required is likely to vary within and between schools.

Disciplines

Curriculum Framework outcome	Australian Curriculum subject
Time, continuity and change Culture Natural and social systems	History
Place and space Natural and social systems Culture Resources	Geography
Natural and social systems Resources	Economics and Business
Natural and social systems Time, continuity and change Place and space Culture	Civics and Citizenship
Investigation, communication and participation (social inquiry)	Embedded in all subjects
Active Citizenship

Mapping the Australian Curriculum

Mapping the Australian Curriculum: History is a new online resource which will help teachers identify areas they may choose to focus on as they become familiar with the Australian Curriculum. This advisory support resource provides an overview of each Australian Curriculum area and makes clear the key differences between the K-10 Syllabus and the content (descriptions) of the new curriculum.