Migration experiences

Overview

Australia’s migration experiences, including the changing nature of the policies, from the White Australia Policy to multiculturalism. 

During these lessons students will explore the changing nature of Australia's relationship with England post-WW2. This along with the idea that our population needed to grow in order for the country to thrive, resulted in changing migration policies. As a result, the ethnic composition of Australia's population has undergone several shifts. 

Learning intentions: 

• to gain an understanding of the waves of Australian migration  

• to learn about the factors that have influenced the different waves of migration to Australia. 

Success criteria: 

• analyse sources to glean information about migration data 

• convert migration data into graphs or charts 

• write a description of the main factors that influenced migration to Australia in the post-WW2 period 

• sequence the main waves of migration from the sources. 

Syllabus content: 

The waves of post-world War II migration to Australia, including the influence of significant world events.  

Students: 

• describe the size and composition of Australia’s population in 1945 

• sequence the main waves of migration to Australia in the 40 years following World War II, identifying numbers of migrants and countries of origin 

• identify significant world events which influenced post-World War II migration to Australia, e.g., World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf Wars and the war in Afghanistan. 

Outcomes:  

• HT5-1 explains and assesses the historical forces and factors that shaped the modern world and Australia 

• HT5-3 explains and analyses the motives and actions of past individuals and groups in the historical contexts that shaped the modern world and Australia 

• HT5-10 selects and uses appropriate oral, written, visual and digital forms to communicate effectively about the past for different audiences 

Students will examine Census data from 1901 and 1954 to understand the changing nature of Australia’s population make up. Students will convert the information from the data into graphs to help them understand the information. Finally, they will write a description of Australia’s post-World War II population. … (summary of this lesson sequence)  

Content: 

The waves of post-world War II migration to Australia, including the influence of significant world events.  

Students: 

• describe the size and composition of Australia’s population in 1945 

Outcomes:  

• HT5-10 selects and uses appropriate oral, written, visual and digital forms to communicate effectively about the past for different audiences 

Student will read an article about the waves of migration to Australia. They will use that information, as well as, information from a graph, to identify the factors that led to the different waves of migration to Australia. Students will make an informed judgment about the factor or factors they think had the greatest impact on Australia’s increased migration. 

Content: 

The waves of post-world War II migration to Australia, including the influence of significant world events.  

Students: 

• sequence the main waves of migration to Australia in the 40 years following World War II, identifying numbers of migrants and countries of origin 

Outcomes:  

• HT5-3 explains and analyses the motives and actions of past individuals and groups in the historical contexts that shaped the modern world and Australia 

Students will examine sources and case studies to sequence the waves of migration to Australia. They will interrogate the sources for their usefulness for a historian studying the experiences of Australian migrants. Finally, students will discuss the similarities and different experiences of these migrants to Australia and the factors that led them to believe that migration offered them the best future. 

Content: 

The waves of post-world War II migration to Australia, including the influence of significant world events.  

Students: 

• identify significant world events which influenced post-World War II migration to Australia, e.g., World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf Wars and the war in Afghanistan 

Outcomes:  

• HT5-1 explains and assesses the historical forces and factors that shaped the modern world and Australia 

• HT5-3 explains and analyses the motives and actions of past individuals and groups in the historical contexts that shaped the modern world and Australia