Which subjects are available in the

senior secondary Australian Curriculum: How are the senior secondary Australian
Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)? Curriculum: HASS subjects structured?

The Australian Curriculum: HASS offers three senior The senior secondary Australian Curriculum: HASS subjects
secondary subjects: specify content and achievement standards:

Ancient History covers the period from the development of • The content describes the knowledge, understanding and
early human communities to the end of late antiquity (around skills that are to be taught and learned within each subject.
AD 650). It equips students with the skills to deal with written • The achievement standards describe the quality of learning
and archaeological sources and conflicting interpretations. (the depth of understanding, extent of knowledge and
It enhances students’ understanding of the key institutions, sophistication of skill) expected of students who have
structures and features of societies in the ancient world. studied the content for the subject.
The Ancient History curriculum also contributes to an
understanding of issues related to the nature of the evidence The curriculum is designed to be taught over a two-year
and the ethical study, ownership and conservation of the period. Each senior secondary subject is organised into four
past. units with the final two units designed to be cognitively more
challenging than the first two.
Modern History covers the period from 1750 through to
the early 21st century. It equips students with the skills to Content has been specified for each unit, and achievement
evaluate the significance of events, movements, individuals standards are described for each pair of units (Units 1 and 2;
and groups that have shaped the modern world. It enhances Units 3 and 4).
students’ understanding of revolution and conflict, and
continuing efforts to secure world peace. The curriculum also includes a rationale and a set of aims for
the subject, a description of how the subject is organised,
Geography focuses on further developing student how general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities are
understanding and appreciation about the complexity of represented, and a glossary of key terms.
the world and the diversity of its environments, economies
and cultures. Students investigate and analyse a range
of challenges and associated opportunities from a local
to a global scale including rapid change to biophysical
environments, the sustainability of places, environmental
risk, and the consequences of international integration.

australiancurriculum.edu.au
How do the senior secondary HASS How do the senior secondary HASS
subjects align with the F-10 Australian subjects differ from those in states and
Curriculum? territories?

The senior secondary HASS subjects continue to develop ACARA continues to work with each of the state and
student learning through the same strands, knowledge and territory curriculum, assessment and certification authorities
understanding and inquiry skills, that form the F-6/7 HASS to determine how senior secondary courses are aligned
and Years 7-10 History and Geography curricula. with their local courses in terms of content, achievement
standards and the timeline for implementation.
The two history subjects have a complementary focus
on key concepts that underpin the discipline of history, For further information contact your local authority.
including evidence, continuity and change, cause and effect, Link to state and territory authorities here:
significance, empathy, perspectives and contestability.
ACT ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies
The same set of historical skills is included in both senior
NSW NSW Education Standards Authority
secondary history subjects and provides a common focus
NT Northern Territory Board of Studies
for the teaching and learning of content in the Historical
Qld Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
knowledge and understanding strand of each subject.
SA SACE Board of South Australia
Tas. Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and
The Historical knowledge and understanding strand in
Certification
Ancient History expands the concepts and contexts for
Vic. Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
historical study. There is particular attention to the methods
WA School Curriculum and Standards Authority
of archaeologists and historians, the impact of individuals
in ancient times, and the evidence for how people lived in
ancient societies. Which national and international curricula
and research was drawn upon to develop
The Historical knowledge and understanding strand
in Modern History develops the history of the modern the senior secondary HASS subjects?
world studied at Years 9-10. There is particular attention
to significant developments and their far reaching In developing the senior secondary Australian Curriculum
consequences, the history of nations, tensions and conflicts for HASS, ACARA reviewed state and territory History and
of international significance, revolutionary change, and Asian Geography curricula and the work was further guided by
and Australian history. key international references including curricula from Canada
(Ontario), Finland, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the
Both subjects further develop key inquiry skills through the United States.
Historical skills strand, with a greater focus on the skills
associated with critical thinking, the analysis of sources, As part of ACARA’s curriculum development process and its
historical interpretation and contestability. focus on quality curriculum, the senior secondary Australian
Curriculum subjects were reviewed by international experts
In Geography, the Geographical knowledge and and curriculum authorities from around Australia.
understanding strand includes investigation and application
of the underpinning concepts in greater depth and provides
opportunities for geographical study in a wider range of
contexts at a variety of scales, from local to global.

The Geographical inquiry and skills strand further develops

Each senior secondary HASS subject continues to develop

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