The Australian Curriculum is designed to develop successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. It is presented as a progression of learning from Foundation - Year 10 that makes clear to teachers, parents, students and others in the wider community what is to be taught, and the quality of learning expected of young people as they progress through school.
Students bring to school a wide range of experiences, abilities, needs and interests. They have a natural curiosity about their world. Their desire to make sense of the world provides a platform to plan and review their learning through interactions with others, experimentation, scaffolding, explicit teaching, practice and play in the classroom and beyond.
The Australian Curriculum across Years 3–6 assists students to develop their ability to take positive action for well-being; relate and communicate well with others; pose questions and solve problems; make informed decisions and act responsibly. It engages students more purposefully with the discipline knowledge, understanding and skills of the eight learning areas of the Australian Curriculum.
In Years 7–10 the Australian Curriculum supports the deepening of knowledge, understanding and skills in all eight learning areas. The curriculum continues to prepare students for civic, social and economic participation and personal health and well-being whilst providing increased opportunities for students to make choices and specialise in learning of particular interest.
Implications for teaching, assessing and reporting
The Australian Curriculum defines a solid foundation in knowledge, understanding, skills and values for all Australian children. It recognises that children are different: they develop at different rates, have different learning preferences and areas of interest, and have different aspirations.
State and territory curriculum and school authorities are responsible for the implementation of the Australian Curriculum in their schools, in line with system and jurisdictional policies and requirements. They make decisions about the extent and timing of take-up and translation of the intended Australian Curriculum into the curriculum that is experienced by students.
