Australian Curriculum
ACARA is responsible for the development of the Australian Curriculum from Foundation* to Year 12. The development of the Australian Curriculum will occur over three broad timeframes and is guided by two key documents; the Melbourne Declaration on Education Goals for Young Australians and the Shape of the Australian Curriculum. This page provides information on: |
The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians
ACARA’s work in developing the Australian Curriculum is guided by the 2008 Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians.
The Melbourne Declaration commits "to supporting all young Australians to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens", and to promoting equity and excellence in education. The Australian Curriculum will "equip all young Australians with the essential skills, knowledge and capabilities to thrive and compete in a globalised world and information rich workplaces of the current century." The Australian Curriculum will be accessible to all young Australians, regardless of their social or economic background or the school they attend.
The Shape of the Australian Curriculum
The development of the Australian Curriculum is guided by the Shape of the Australian Curriculum. This document is approved by education ministers to guide the development of the Australian Curriculum.
The first version of the shape paper was published in May 2009, to guide the development of the Australian Curriculum for English, Mathematics, Science and History.
At its October 2011 meeting the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs endorsed a revised version of the Shape of the Australian Curriculum v3.0. The shape paper provides a policy background for the implementation of the first phase of curriculum development and guides the further development of Australian Curriculum. The revised version provides information about:
- The design of the whole curriculum and implementation of the F-10 Australian Curriculum
- Achievement standards and their relationship with curriculum content within the Australian Curriculum
- The provision of curriculum for students with disability.
Validation of the Foundation to Year 10 Australian Curriculum
The Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) endorsed the Foundation to Year 10 Achievement Standards for English, Mathematics, Science and History at their meeting on 14 October 2011.
Please click here to view the MCEECDYA media release where education ministers from each state and territory endorsed the achievement standards.
Version 2.0 of the Foundation to Year 10 Australian Curriculum for English, Mathematics, Science and History with the revised achievement standards can be found on the Australian Curriculum website at: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au.
A validation report documenting the Foundation to Year 10 Achievement Standards can be downloaded here.
Phases of curriculum development
ACARA has identified three broad phases of curriculum development:
- Phase 1 – development of the Australian Curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history
(F-10 published 2010; 11-12 in development) - Phase 2 – development of the Australian Curriculum for geography, languages and the arts
(in development from 2010) - Phase 3 – development of the Australian Curriculum for the remaining areas identified in the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (in development from 2011)
The Foundation to Year 10 Australian Curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history is now available online. Please click here.
*The term Foundation Year has been used as a nationally consistent term for the year of schooling prior to Year 1 for the purpose of the Australian Curriculum. It does not replace the equivalent terms used in states and territories – Kindergarten (NSW/ACT), Prep (QLD/VIC/TAS), Pre-primary (WA), Reception (SA) and Transition (NT).
