Parent information

General capabilities within the Australian Curriculum make up a set of knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that can be developed through all the learning areas.

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Information and communication technology competence
• Critical and creative thinking
• Personal and social competence
• Ethical behaviour
• Intercultural understanding.

The cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum provide students with tools to better understand their world. The priorities are fitted with content to simultaneously develop knowledge, understanding and skills relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia, and Sustainability.

Learn more about the general capabilities of the Australian Curriculum at: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/general-capabilities/.

Learn more about the cross-curriculum priorities of the Australian Curriculum at: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities/.

Decisions about homework are made by state and territory curriculum and school authorities and by schools. Please contact your child’s school for more information.

In all classrooms teachers make adjustments to the learning program to accommodate the range of students in the group. In multi-grade settings, teachers will choose content from the whole curriculum to design learning programs that address each student’s learning needs.

Teachers use the Australian Curriculum to determine the content that students will learn. State and territory curriculum and school authorities, and sometimes individual schools, make decisions about how teachers give A–E grades. Contact your child’s school to find out more.

The Australian Curriculum has been designed to meet the learning needs of all students and to provide opportunities for all students to engage with the curriculum. Teachers make adjustments to classroom learning when students are experiencing difficulty with the curriculum. If you think your child is having difficulty with any aspect of the learning program you should contact your child’s teacher and arrange to discuss your concerns.

Learn more about how the Australian Curriculum supports students with different learning needs here: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/student-diversity/.

The Australian Curriculum is designed to provide rigorous, relevant and engaging content for all learners. It includes advice to help teachers use the flexible design of the Australian Curriculum to provide challenging learning experiences for gifted and talented students.

Learn more about how the Australian Curriculum supports gifted and talented students here: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/student-diversity/gifted-and-talented-students/

State and territory curriculum and school authorities make decisions about the way languages are taught in schools. Contact your child’s school to find out more.

Learn more about the Australian Curriculum: Languages here: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/languages/introduction/

ICT skills are developed in every learning area from the first year of school to Year 10. The Australian Curriculum also includes the specific subjects of Design and Technologies, and Digital Technologies.

State and territory curriculum and school authorities, and schools, make decisions about how the Australian Curriculum is taught. The curriculum is designed to allow schools to develop teaching programs that meet the educational needs of their students. Your child’s own school is the best source of information about the teaching practices your child will experience.

For many students in Australian schools, English is not their first or only language. The Australian Curriculum includes resources and advice for teachers to identify the language needs of these students and ensure they are able to access the curriculum content, while they are developing proficiency in Standard Australian English.

Your child's school is the best place to get advice about supporting your child’s particular learning needs. As a parent or carer, you can support your child’s education by familiarising yourself with the Australian Curriculum, to gain a general understanding of what your child is learning at each stage of their schooling.

Exploring this website will provide information about the progression of learning throughout the stages of schooling.

Schools determine the subjects and courses they can offer. Any questions associated with subject choice for individual students should be discussed with the school, which will provide guidance about pathways of study and access to subjects.

All schools are required to provide parents with a formal progress report twice a year and many invite parents to interviews to discuss student progress.

Students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will complete NAPLAN assessments. NAPLAN reports compare a student’s progress to the average Australian student in the same year level.

The best source of information about a student’s progress is the teacher. Parents should speak to the teacher about any aspect of their child’s progress.

Students in all states and territories across Australia undertake NAPLAN assessment of literacy and numeracy in years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Learn more about NAPLAN: www.nap.edu.au

Requirements for home schooling are set by states and territories. If you are considering home schooling, contact the education department in your state or territory.

Each learning area has a glossary that defines the terms relevant to that area. The links to each glossary can be found on the landing page of each learning area.

• Australian Curriculum parent information - FAQs (PDF)
• Australian Curriculum parent information - FAQs (Word)