Humanities

The Humanities includes Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Geography and History.

The Humanities provide a framework for students to examine the complex processes that have shaped the modern world and to investigate responses to different challenges including people’s interconnections with the environment.

In Civics and Citizenship and Economics and Business, students explore the systems that shape society, with a specific focus on legal and economic systems. Students learn about Australia’s role in global systems, and are encouraged to appreciate democratic principles and to contribute as active, informed and responsible citizens.

In History and Geography, students explore the processes that have shaped and which continue to shape different societies and cultures, to appreciate the common humanity shared across time and distance, and to evaluate the ways in which humans have faced and continue to face different challenges.

Civics & Citizenship

Australia’s political system and how it enables change. Students examine the ways political parties, interest groups, media and individuals influence government and decision-making processes. They investigate the features and principles of Australia’s court system, including its role in applying and interpreting Australian law. Students also study the purpose and work of the High Court. Students also examine global connectedness and how this is shaping contemporary Australian society. They investigate the values and practices that enable a democratic society to be sustained.

History

Students study the making of the modern world from 1750 to 1918. It covers the period of industrialisation and rapid change in the ways people lived, worked and thought, the era of nationalism and imperialism, and the colonisation of Australia which was part of the expansion of European power. The period 1750 – 1918 culminated in World War I 1914-1918, the ‘war to end all wars’. 

Geography

Students consider changes in the characteristics of places and the implications of these. They consider significant spatial distributions and patterns and evaluate their implications, and consider interconnections between and within places and changes resulting from these, over time and at different scales. This further develops their understanding of geographical concepts, including place, space and interconnection.

Students’ conceptual thinking is developed through the following sub-strands:

Biomes and food security focuses on investigating the role of the biotic environment and its role in food and fibre production. Students examine the biomes of the world, their alteration and significance as a source of food and fibre, and the environmental challenges and constraints on expanding food production in the future. 

Geographies of interconnections focuses on investigating how people, through their choices and actions, are connected to places throughout the world in a wide variety of ways, and how these connections help to make and change places and their environments. 

Economics & Business

Students consider how the Australian economy is performing and the importance of its interactions and relationships with the Asia region and the global economy in achieving growth and prosperity. This includes the significance of trading relationships in supporting prosperous outcomes for the economy and the business sector. Students consider the performance of the Australian economy and the business sector and how these might be measured in different ways. They examine why and how Australian businesses seek competitive advantages in different markets. Students examine the role of innovation and its influence on business success. Students explore the way the work and business environment is changing in contemporary Australia and globally, and the implications this has for current and future work and the work of entrepreneurs. They investigate the ways that enterprising behaviours and capabilities can be used and developed to improve the work and business environments.  

• Visual Diary 

• Group work

• Research project

• Research essay

• Topic tests

• Source Analysis

• Case studies