Australian Curriculum Panel

The Australian Curriculum sets consistent national standards to improve learning outcomes for all young Australians. ACARA acknowledges the gap in learning outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their non-Indigenous peers. It recognises the need for the Australian Curriculum to provide every opportunity possible to ‘close the gap’.

Professor Mark Rose from RMIT chaired a panel and discussion about strengths and weaknesses of current curriculum approaches.

 

The Australian Curriculum is working towards addressing two distinct needs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education:

• that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are able to see themselves, their identities and their cultures reflected in the curriculum of each of the learning areas, can fully participate in the curriculum and can build their self-esteem
• that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority is designed for all students to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.

New Science elaborations addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

In response to feedback from community and educators, ACARA has developed 95 new elaborations to help teachers to incorporate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum: Science.