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The role of the media

The media provides information and stories about the Australian Parliament. But how much do you know about their role? Take this quick quiz to find out.

• Getting involved
• 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

Press gallery

Understand the role of the press gallery and its relationship with members of parliament and the public with this fact sheet.

• Getting involved
• People in Parliament
• Years 9+10

Run Question Time

Discover how members of Parliament use Question Time to closely examine the work of the government in this classroom activity. Use this activity to further your study of civics and citizenship.

• Parliament at work
• The House of Representatives
• Years 7+8
• Years 9+10

Year 9

After completing this Unit of work and associated assessment tasks, students will have met the achievement standard for the Year 9 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.

• Government
• Elections and voting
• Years 9+10

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.

Make speeches

Discover the different types of speeches senators and members make in Parliament by turning your class into a Parliament and doing it yourselves! Use these activities to further explore the work of the Parliament or to give context to oral presentations in any classroom.

• Parliament at work
• The Senate
• The House of Representatives
• Years 5+6
• Years 9+10

Make a law: House of Representatives

Discover how bills – proposed laws – are introduced, debated and voted on in the House of Representatives by turning your class into a Parliament and doing it yourselves!

• Bills and laws
• Parliament at work
• The House of Representatives
• Years 5+6
• Years 7+8
• Years 9+10
• Years 3+4

Make a law: Senate

Discover how bills – proposed laws – are introduced, debated and voted on in the Senate by turning your class into a Parliament and doing it yourselves! 

• Bills and laws
• Parliament at work
• The Senate
• Years 3+4
• Years 5+6
• Years 7+8
• Years 9+10

Negotiate a minority government

Role-play a high stakes parliamentary negotiation in order to learn how government is formed in Australia.

• Government
• Years 9+10
• Senior secondary

Senate estimates

Several times a year senators investigate how the government is spending taxpayers' money in meetings called Senate estimates. This fact sheet examines the purpose, function and timing of Senate estimates.

• Committees
• Parliament at work
• The Senate

Extension activity

Present a petition to the Australian Parliament.

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Get involved

Explore ways you can get involved in the work of Parliament with this in-depth video. Find out how you can get informed about the work of the Parliament, contact and vote for members of parliament, petition the Parliament and participate in parliamentary inquiries.

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

Rule of law

The rule of law is a key feature of Australia’s democracy and legal system. This fact sheet explains the principle of the rule of law and its relationship to the separation of powers.

• System of government
• Years 7+8
• Senior secondary

Create political parties

Investigate how the party system operates in Australia, and how government is formed in Parliament with this classroom activity. Explore the concepts of parliamentary majority, hung parliament, minority government and the balance of power in the Senate.

• People in Parliament
• Years 5+6
• Years 9+10

Create your own electorate

Consider how communities around our country are represented in the Australian Parliament.

• Parliament at work
• The House of Representatives
• People in Parliament
• 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

Question Time in the Australian Parliament

In Question Time members of parliament ask the government to explain its actions and decisions. This video explores the purpose, function and format of Question Time in the Senate and House of Representatives.

• The Senate
• The House of Representatives
• Parliament at work

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 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

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

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

Australia's Parliament House

This in-depth look at Australia's Parliament House investigates why Canberra was chosen to be the nation's capital and why we needed a 'new' Parliament House. It includes the design, site and symbolism of the building.