Curriculum links – Year 6
The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of the Year 6 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.
Individual curriculum linked resources
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ACHASSK143
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The key institutions and traditions of Australia's democratic system of government based on the Westminster system
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Parliament of Australia
This graphic illustrates the composition of the Australian Parliament.
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Magna Carta
This fact sheet examines the Magna Carta - the 'Great Charter'. The Magna Carta was important in the development of democracy and has influenced many other documents including the Australian Constitution. Learn about the 1215 edition, the 1297 Inspeximus edition and the legacy of the Magna Carta.
Fact sheet
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Australian Constitution
How much do you know about the Australian Constitution—the set of rules by which Australia is run? Do you know how these rules are changed through a referendum? Test your knowledge with this fun quiz.
interactive
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Australian Parliament
Test your students' understanding of the history, make-up and people of the Australian Parliament with this quick quiz.
interactive
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Introducing ... Australia's system of government
Begin your exploration of the features of Australia’s system of government with this short introduction. Discover how power is shared and managed between different groups in Australia.
introducing
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The Australian Constitution
Discover a range of resources that explore the history, features and function of the Australian Constitution—the set of rules by which Australia is run.
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Parliament, Executive and Judiciary
Explore how the power to make and manage law is shared in Australia with this interactive. It can be used in the classroom to illustrate the separation of powers.
interactive
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A short history of Parliament
This in-depth paper explores the development of the Westminster system in Britain and parliamentary democracy in Australia.
inFocus
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What is Parliament?
Discover the structure and key functions of the Australian Parliament with this short video. It introduces the Parliament’s roles of law-making, representing Australians, the formation of government and checking the work of the government.
video
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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.
Fact sheet
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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.
inFocus
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Parliament in pictures
This set of 10 posters and classroom guide is an introduction to the Australian Parliament for students of all ages and language abilities, including ESL students.
print-resource
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Democracy
This fact sheet introduces the idea of democracy and explores the key principles of Australia’s democratic system of government. These include individual freedoms, justice, tolerance of opposing ideas and representative government.
Fact sheet
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PEO poster pack
This set of large posters covers a range of parliamentary and Australian system of government topics. They are ideal for display in the classroom.
print-resource
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Governor-General
The Governor-General has an important role in the governing of Australia. This fact sheet introduces the constitutional, ceremonial and civic roles of the Governor-General.
Fact sheet
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Separation of powers: Parliament, Executive and Judiciary
The principle of the separation of powers distributes the power to govern between the Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary. This fact sheet examines the role of each group and the related principle of responsible government.
Fact sheet
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Separation of powers
Test your knowledge of the separation of powers—an important principle of Australia's democracy—with this fun quiz.
interactive
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Separation of powers
Explore who has the power to make and change Australian law with this interactive poster.
interactive
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The Australian Parliament
Introduce the Australian Parliament, its component parts and its role in your classroom with this interactive poster.
interactive
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The Senate
Discover the people who work in the Senate with this interactive poster. Highlight the groupings of senators and test yourself on who sits where.
interactive
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The House of Representatives
Discover the people who work in the House of Representatives with this interactive poster. Highlight the groupings of members and test yourself on who sits where.
interactive
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Forming the Australian government
Find out how the Australian government is formed and who makes up the Executive with this interactive poster.
interactive
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ACHASSK144
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The roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government
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Introducing ... the three levels of government
Begin your exploration of the three levels of government in Australia with this short introduction. Discover the responsibilities of the federal Parliament, state and territory parliaments and local government, and how they work together.
introducing
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Federal, state and local
Do you know what each level of government is responsible for? Test your knowledge of the three levels of government in Australia with this game.
interactive
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Explore the three levels of government
Explore the three levels of government—federal, state, and local—with this classroom activity. Investigate the responsibilities of each level by forming taskforces to respond to major events.
Classroom activity page
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The roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government
This fact sheet introduces the three levels of government in Australia: the federal – Australian – Parliament, state and territory parliaments, and local councils. It includes the roles and responsibilities of each level.
Fact sheet
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Three levels of government
Get an introduction to the three levels of government with this short video. It explores the areas each level can make laws about.
video
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Parliament in pictures
This set of 10 posters and classroom guide is an introduction to the Australian Parliament for students of all ages and language abilities, including ESL students.
print-resource
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Levels of government
In Australia 3 superheroes fight for the people. Discover their powers and those of the three levels of government with this video from the ABC’s Behind the News.
video
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Three levels of government: governing Australia
This in-depth paper explores the roles and responsibilities of each level, how they raise money and how they work together.
inFocus
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Three levels of government
Test your knowledge of Australia's three levels with this quiz.
interactive
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Three levels of government
Illustrate the three levels of government and their responsibilities in your classroom with this interactive poster.
interactive
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ACHASSK145
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The responsibilities of electors and representatives in Australia's democracy
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Australian Parliament
This fact sheet explores the structure and key functions of the Australian Parliament. It covers Parliament’s roles of law-making, representing Australians, the formation of government and checking the work of the government.
Fact sheet
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Getting involved in Parliament
This fact sheet explores ways Australians can get involved in the Australian Parliament. It includes information on contacting members of parliament, the work of committees, protesting and observing the Parliament.
Fact sheet
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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.
Classroom activity page
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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.
video
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Parliament in pictures
This set of 10 posters and classroom guide is an introduction to the Australian Parliament for students of all ages and language abilities, including ESL students.
print-resource
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PEO poster pack
This set of large posters covers a range of parliamentary and Australian system of government topics. They are ideal for display in the classroom.
print-resource
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Unpack democracy
What is democracy and why is it important? Introduce and explore the concept of democracy with this discussion-based activity.
Classroom activity page
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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 ser
Fact sheet
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The Australian Parliament
Introduce the Australian Parliament, its component parts and its role in your classroom with this interactive poster.
interactive
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Choosing senators
Discover who represents us in the Senate and how they are chosen with this interative poster.
interactive
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Senators
A person elected to the Senate is called a senator. This fact sheet explores their role, as well as their working hours, period of service and history.
Fact sheet
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Choosing members
Discover who represents us in the House of Representatives and how they are chosen with this interative poster.
interactive
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ACHASSK146
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Where ideas for new laws can come from and how they become law
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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!
Classroom activity page
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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!
Classroom activity page
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The usual path of a bill
This graphic illustrates the usual path of a bill through the Australian Parliament to become Australian law.
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Bills and laws
How does the Australian Parliament make laws for Australia? Revise your students' study of law-making with this quiz.
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Committees
Parliamentary committees investigate issues and proposed laws in detail so members of parliament are well-informed before making decisions. This fact sheet explores the membership, responsibilities and types of committees in the Australian Parliament.
Fact sheet
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Pass the bill
This interactive details each step of the law-making process in the Australian Parliament. Users follow the progress of a bill to lower the voting age to 16 through the Australian Parliament. Perfect for use in the classroom.
interactive
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Run a parliamentary committee
Investigate the work of parliamentary committees in this classroom activity. Use this activity to further your study of civics and citizenship or as a framework for an inquiry study into any topic.
Classroom activity page
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Amendments
This fact sheet outlines the amendment process—an important part of the law-making process of the Australian Parliament.
Fact sheet
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Parliament in pictures
This set of 10 posters and classroom guide is an introduction to the Australian Parliament for students of all ages and language abilities, including ESL students.
print-resource
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Making a law in the Australian Parliament
This fact sheet explains the law-making process in the Australian Parliament and describes where ideas for laws come from.
Fact sheet
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Making a law
Get an introduction to the law-making process of the Australian Parliament with this short video.
video
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Unpack democracy
What is democracy and why is it important? Introduce and explore the concept of democracy with this discussion-based activity.
Classroom activity page
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Ministers and shadow ministers
This fact sheet investigates the work of ministers (members of the Australian Government with special responsibilities) and shadow ministers.
Fact sheet
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Parliamentary committees
Explore the function of committees and how they support the work of the Australian Parliament with this explanatory video.
video
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The Senate
Discover the people who work in the Senate with this interactive poster. Highlight the groupings of senators and test yourself on who sits where.
interactive
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The House of Representatives
Discover the people who work in the House of Representatives with this interactive poster. Highlight the groupings of members and test yourself on who sits where.
interactive
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Making Australian law
Understand the process of making a law in the Australian Parliament with this interactive poster.
interactive
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Note: content listed under each curriculum descriptor may not meet all the requirements of each descriptor elaboration.
Discover more Year 6 curriculum-aligned resources
For content to deliver the Year 6 Civics and Citizenship skills, discover our range of Classroom activities, print resources and quizzes.
Source information
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), downloaded from the Australian Curriculum website on 2 July 2020 (curriculum version 8.4).
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under the following terms:
- Attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
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