Search

Federal elections

Australians vote to elect members of the Australian Parliament to make laws and decisions on their behalf. Find out how much you know about the process with this fun quiz.

• Elections and voting
• Years 5+6
• Years 7+8

Federal elections

This fact sheet explores how federal elections are run to select people to represent Australians in the Australian Parliament. It includes information about the process of electing senators and members of the House of Representatives.

• Elections and voting
• Years 5+6
• Years 7+8
• Years 9+10

Elections and voting

Discover how senators and members of the House of Representatives are elected by the Australian people to the Australian Parliament. Explore what a double dissolution is and how the Australian people can have their say on big issues in referendums and plebiscites.

Interpret the Constitution

Discover how the High Court of Australia rules on constitutional disputes by role-playing the hypothetical case of Lee v Electoral Commissioner.

• Australian Constitution
• Years 9+10
• Senior secondary

Referendums and plebiscites

A referendum is a vote of the Australian people to change the Australian Constitution. This fact sheet explores the process of referendums and plebiscites – national polls – in Australia.

• Australian Constitution
• Elections and voting
• Years 7+8

Senators

A person elected to the Senate is called a senator. This fact sheet explores their role in the Parliament and in their states and territories, as well as their working hours, period of service and history.

• The Senate
• Parliament at work
• People in Parliament
• Years 5+6

Preparing for a new Parliament

The process of opening a new parliament has many stages. Investigate the process of closing a parliament, the transition between parliaments and the opening of a new parliament in Australia with this fact sheet.

• Parliament at work

A short history of Parliament

Compared to some other parliaments around the world, Australia's Parliament is quite young but it is based on practices and ideals from much older parliaments. This in-depth paper explores the development of the Westminster system in Britain and parliamentary democracy in Australia.

• History
• Years 5+6

Self-paced online learning

Want to deliver informative and engaging parliamentary civics and citizenship education to students from Years 3 to 10? Learn online at your own pace with these civics and citizenship teaching modules.

Year 5

After completing this Unit of work and associated assessment task, students will have met the achievement standard for the Year 5 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Bills and laws
• Elections and voting
• Getting involved
• Years 5+6

Year 9

The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of the Year 9 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Years 9+10

Australian system of government

This fact sheet examines Australia’s mixed system of government. It includes information about Federation representative democracy and constitutional monarchy, and the role of the separation of powers.

• Australian Constitution
• System of government
• Years 5+6
• Years 7+8
• Years 9+10

Run an election campaign

Experience a modern social media election campaign in your classroom with this classroom activity.

• Elections and voting
• Getting involved
• Years 5+6
• Years 7+8
• Years 9+10

Glossary

Use this helpful glossary to browse or search the meanings of key parliamentary terms.

Role-play the Parliament: Committee

This video demonstrates a committee role-play, where students can learn how the Australian Parliament investigates bills and issues. It outlines lesson content and what preparation is required to use this immersive learning strategy in a classroom.

• Parliament at work
• Getting involved
• Committees

Members of the House of Representatives

Discover the work of members of the House of Representatives in this fact sheet. It explores their role in the Australian Parliament and in their local community, their working hours and period of service.

• The House of Representatives
• People in Parliament
• Years 5+6

Australia's Federation

In 1901 the 6 British colonies united to become a new nation—the Commonwealth of Australia. This fact sheet examines the arguments for Federation, the path to Federation, the creation of the territories and the opening of the Australian Parliament.

• History

Political parties

Many political parties have members elected to the Australian Parliament. In this fact sheet, learn more about how they are organised, coalitions of parties, party meetings and the history of political parties in Australia.

• The Senate
• The House of Representatives
• People in Parliament
• Years 9+10

Year 8

The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of the Year 8 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Years 7+8

Year 5

The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of the Year 5 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Years 5+6

A new Parliament

There are many steps in the process of opening a new parliament. Find out the timings, traditions and requirements of establishing a new Australian Parliament with this in-depth video.

• Parliament at work

Run a Cabinet meeting

Work together to negotiate the best policy outcome.

• Government
• Years 9+10
• Senior secondary

Year 6

After completing this Unit of work and associated assessment task, students will have met the achievement standard for the Year 6 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Getting involved
• Three levels of government
• Elections and voting
• Bills and laws
• Years 5+6

Preferential voting

When you vote for your local member of the House of Representatives you need to decide who you like the most, the second most and so on. Discover why preferences matter on election day with the ABC’s Behind the News.

• Elections and voting
• Years 5+6

Year 7

The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of the Year 7 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Years 7+8

Year 8

After completing this Unit of work and associated assessment tasks, students will have met the achievement standard for the Year 8 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Bills and laws
• Getting involved
• Parliament at work
• Years 7+8

The Federation of Australia

Australia's Federation came about through a process of deliberation, consultation and debate. This in-depth paper explores the reasons for Federation, the Federation conventions and the referendums in which the Australian people decided to join together as a nation.

• History

Year 6

The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of the Year 6 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Years 5+6

Year 4

After completing this Unit of work and associated assessment tasks, students will have met the achievement standard for the Year 4 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Bills and laws
• Three levels of government
• Getting involved
• Years 3+4

1967 referendum

In 1967 the majority of Australians voted to change the Australian Constitution to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the national census. This video from the ABC’s Behind the News explores how the 1967 referendum was part of a movement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.

• Australian Constitution
• History
• Years 7+8

Year 10

After completing this Unit of work and associated assessment tasks, students will have met the achievement standard for the Year 10 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Australian Constitution
• Years 9+10