The Australian Curriculum

As the 2012 school year commences the Australian Curriculum developed by Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is now well on the way to being implemented in four subject areas - English, History, Science and Maths. Implementation commenced in 2011. The Australian curriculum is being developed in three phases with the first phase now being implemented. For more information about the development of the Australian Curriculum phases go to http://acara.edu.au/curriculum/curriculum.html

Response to the Australian Curriculum

Through the work of the Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA) a coordinated development process where extensive negotiation with stakeholders and interest groups took place. In October 2010 The Australian Curriculum Coalition (ACC) prepared a paper for all State and Territory Education Ministers. The paper was drawn from the common elements of submissions made by member organisations of ACC to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) on the first draft of the Australian Curriculum. Common view on the Australian Curriculum ACC Paper.

In 2007 ACSA convened the Curriculum Standing Committee of National Education Professional Associations (CSCNEPA) to ensure a comprehensive and wide reaching dialogue with stakeholders on the implementation of a twenty first century curriculum for Australian schools. The membership of CSCNEPA was made up of the Chairs and Directors of fourteen national professional associations. From this wide consultation CSCNEPA produced a working paper titled: Developing a twenty-first century school curriculum for all Australian students.

CSCNEPA also produced a paper:  Aligning curriculum with the goals of schooling: developing a Twenty-first Century School Curriculum for All Australian Students which by Peter Cole. This paper takes a fresh look at the way that curriculum in the post-compulsory years (Years 10-12) is structured and delivered in schools.

Keeping up-to-date with ACARA

ACARA is responsible for:

• A national curriculum from Foundation (eg prep) to Year 12 in specified learning areas.
• A national assessment program aligned to the national curriculum that measures students’ progress.
• A national data collection and reporting program that supports:
  1. analysis, evaluation, research and resource allocation; and
  2. accountability and reporting on schools and broader national achievement.

View the ACARA Act

The ACARA Board

The ACARA Board was announced in May 2009. Professor Barry McGaw AO is the Chair of the Board and Mr Tony Mackay is the Deputy Chair of the Board.

• View the complete ACARA Board membership
• View ACARA Executive

Australian Curriculum UPDATE

View the ACARA Update. For monthly updates go to:

http://www.acara.edu.au/news_media/acara_update_archive.html

Important publications from the Australian Curriculum

The Australian Curriculum Standards Foundation to Year 10 in Maths, English, Science and History

The revised Shape of the Australian Curriculum document (2011) and the individual subjects Shape of Maths..., English..., Science... and History... are now available from the ACARA website. The  overarching document is available here by clicking:

The shape of the Australian Curriculum