SSABSA Chief Executive Dr Janet V. Keightley writes on . . .

What it means to be an Australian

The Redeveloped Australian Studies Curriculum

Print version is available in pdf format.

All students doing the SACE will gain a better understanding of Australian culture under the Australian Studies curriculum statement launched during the July holidays - thanks to a previous cohort of students who recommended changes to the subject. Through consultation, students emphatically called for schools to equip them with the general knowledge about Australia necessary to understand their local community, and from there, the world. As of 2003, students (who must complete at least one Stage One unit of Australian Studies) will be learning from a vigorously relevant curriculum statement. Several schools have taken the 'fast-track' option of teaching the new Australian Studies in 2002.

(Interested parents, students and teachers can find the new Curriculum Statement and also a wealth of information about the many resources and study plans available on the SSABSA website at www.ssabsa.sa.edu.au).

While introducing curriculum that gives students learning experiences towards a better understanding of the diverse nature of Australian society, SSABSA has also been careful to give teachers solid guidelines about how the course might be taught and assessed.

The subject's two sections consist of an Overview of Australian Society and Issues for Australians. The website give examples of contemporary books, movies, poems and songs that might be used, but teachers and students are free to explore further - in fact, encouraged to do so.

The essential goal is to develop students' ability to be active citizens in Australian society, and to understand how issues of cultural diversity, social justice, equity and social cohesion change over time. It will also help them consider sustainable futures for Australia, contemporary issues, ideas, opinions, perspectives, roles of indigenous Australians and also how Australia can influence and be influenced by global relationships.

A real insight into the exciting possibilities was shared by Indigenous Studies and Australian Studies teachers who attended the Sharing the Space conference hosted by Yunggorendi First Nations Centre, the Flinders University Australian Studies Program and the International Australian Studies Association in July.

The Conference and Teachers' Forum offered five approaches to a 'shared' Australia: stories, rites and sites; local, regional and global spaces; physical and temporal space; knowledge and representation; treaty, negotiation and reconciliation. One of the forum's goals was to consider these ideas in relation to the new 2003 Australian Studies framework, generating approaches for teaching and learning next year. The sessions were a great example of teachers sharing and gathering ideas.

   SSABSA Chief Executive Jan Keightley, Curriculum & Assessment Officer Bronwyn Telfer
and Project Officer Stephen Inglis at the 'Austudies' launch.

On that busy agenda I had the privilege of officially launching the new curriculum statement, after which SSABSA officers Bronwyn Telfer and Stephen Inglis explained the changes and demonstrated course structure and organisation. They also explained how they can assist schools to get 'best value' out of the curriculum and support materials.

I then had the memorable pleasure of opening Watch this Space, a travelling exhibition of contemporary Indigenous South Australian art works at the Flinders Art Museum, which will 'rotate' its stimulating artworks through South Australian schools - initially Aberfoyle Park, Christies Beach, Reynella East, Urrbrae and Unley high schools. The works come with study notes for their visits, reflecting the issues covered in the new Australian Studies statement.

It was a perfect illustration of learning areas being combined in new and exciting ways for the students of today.