Frequently Asked Questions
Background on the development of the Australian Curriculum
- Why develop an Australian Curriculum? What are the benefits?
- What is the scope of the Australian Curriculum work?
- How will the Australian Curriculum be a world-class curriculum?
The structure and development of the Australian Curriculum
- What process has been followed to develop the Australian Curriculum?
- How will the Australian Curriculum be published?
K-10 Australian Curriculum
- How is the Australian Curriculum organised?
- What are achievement standards and how have they been developed?
- Does the draft Australian Curriculum represent the whole curriculum that is to be taught to students?
- How different is the Australian Curriculum from the curriculum currently taught in each state and territory?
- How is the curriculum mapping exercise being undertaken?
- How will the Australian Curriculum take into account the differing school entry age arrangements?
- How does the draft English, mathematics, science and history curriculum take account of, and build on, the Early Years Learning Framework?
- To what extent does the Australian Curriculum take account of the fact that Year 7 is the last year of primary school in some jurisdictions and the first year of secondary school in others?
- How will the Australian Curriculum affect the placement of Year 10 across the states and territories?
Senior secondary Australian Curriculum
- When will the senior secondary Australian Curriculum be available?
- How will the Australian Curriculum for the senior secondary years affect current state and territory curriculum arrangements, including certification?
- Are there indicative hours for each of the senior secondary courses?
- What are the assumptions about prior learning for the Australian Curriculum senior secondary courses?
- How are the courses similar or different to what currently exists in the states and territories?
- When will draft achievement standards for the senior secondary curriculum be available?
- What will the draft achievement standards for the senior secondary curriculum look like?
- Will there be any further development of the senior secondary Australian Curriculum?
- Is the set of courses in each learning area meant to meet the full range of student needs and interests?
- What flexibility is there for students to move between courses in the senior secondary years?
- Given that there is only curriculum content available for consultation, will there be another opportunity to comment on curriculum content once achievement standards are developed?
General capabilities and cross-curriculum dimensions
- What are the general capabilities and cross-curriculum dimensions?
- What is ACARA doing to support the inclusion of these in the Australian Curriculum?
- How will the Australian Curriculum take into account the diverse needs of students and ensure the curriculum is accessible for all students?
- How has ACARA included the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the draft Australian Curriculum?
Consultation on the Australian Curriculum
- When will I be able to view the draft Australian Curriculum?
- How can I get involved in the consultation on the draft Australian Curriculum?
- What will happen to the feedback that ACARA receives on the draft Australian Curriculum?
- What can I provide feedback on for the draft senior secondary Australian Curriculum?
- Where can I provide feedback on the draft senior secondary curriculum?
- Will I be able to view the draft K-10 Australian Curriculum when providing feedback to the draft senior secondary Australian Curriculum?
Implementation of the Australian Curriculum
- When will the Australian Curriculum be implemented?
- Will ACARA specify required hours of instruction for learning areas?
- What curriculum support material and professional learning support will be provided to assist the implementation of the Australian Curriculum?
- Will schools be able to continue to offer alternative curriculum?
- What will happen to existing state and territory courses that schools currently offer, some of which are not contained within the senior secondary Australian Curriculum?
- What will happen to existing state and territory assessment and certification requirements for the senior secondary years?
