Curriculum links – Year 6
The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of Year 6 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.
Individual curriculum linked resources
The key institutions and traditions of Australia's democratic system of government based on the Westminster system (ACHASSK143)
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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.
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Australian Constitution
The Australian Constitution is the set of rules by which Australia is run. It came into effect on 1 January 1901. This fact sheet summarises the key features of the Constitution and how it can be changed.
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Playing fair
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.
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Our house
This interactive explores the idea of Parliament House as a meeting place for different groups of people, including members of parliament, the public, the media, protestors and international guests. Perfect for starting classroom discussions about the people in Parliament.
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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.
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The Constitution
This short video introduces the Australian Constitution—the rules by which Australia is run.
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Federation
Discover the story behind federation in Australia with this introductory video.
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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.
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Parliament House
This fact sheet explores the building that houses the Australian Parliament. Discover key facts about the building and its symbolism.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Making a law in the Australian Parliament
This fact sheet explains the law-making process in the Australian Parliament. It also describes where ideas for laws come from and the history of law-making in the Parliament.
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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.
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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, and the history of the position.
The roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government (ACHASSK144)
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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. Use in the classroom or just for fun.
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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.
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Government
The Australian Government puts Australian law into action, provides government services and makes decisions on behalf of the nation. Learn more about the Australian Government, including how it is formed, Cabinet and its role.
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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.
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Three levels of government: governing Australia
In Australia the three levels of government work together to provide us with the services we need. This in-depth paper explores the roles and responsibilities of each level, how they raise money and how they work together. Case studies show how the powers of the Australian Parliament have expanded.
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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.
The responsibilities of electors and representatives in Australia's democracy (ACHASSK145)
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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.
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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.
Where ideas for new laws can come from and how they become law (ACHASSK146)
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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!
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Role-play the Parliament: House of Representatives
This video demonstrates a House of Representatives parliamentary role-play, where students can learn how new laws are made in the Australian Parliament. It outlines lesson content and what preparation is required to use this immersive learning strategy in a classroom.
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Pass the bill
This interactive details each step of the law-making process in the Australian Parliament. Users choose an idea for a new law and then follow its progress through the Australian Parliament. Perfect for use in the classroom.
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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!
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Role-play the Parliament: Senate
This video demonstrates a Senate parliamentary role-play, where students can learn how new laws are made in the Australian Parliament. It outlines lesson content and what preparation is required to use this immersive learning strategy in a classroom.
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Amendments
Amendments are a change to a bill—a proposed law. They are an important part of the law-making process of the Australian Parliament. This fact sheet outlines the amendment process.
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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.
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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.
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Making a law in the Australian Parliament
This fact sheet explains the law-making process in the Australian Parliament. It also describes where ideas for laws come from and the history of law-making in the Parliament.
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Making a law
Get an introduction to the law-making process of the Australian Parliament with this short video. It includes all the law-making steps in the Senate and House of Representatives.
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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 (members of the opposition who closely examine the work of the government).
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Parliamentary committees
Explore how committees in the Australian Parliament are formed, their function and how they support the work of the Senate and House of Representatives with this explanatory video.
Other useful PEO resources
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News from our Parliament
Keep up-to-date with the latest news from our Parliament. Read straightforward explanations of bills, committee inquiries, and events in the Senate and House of Representatives, and around Parliament House.
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Senate and House of Representatives posters
These large posters show the Senate and the House of Representatives. They are ideal for display in the classroom and provide students who have not visited Parliament House with a sense of the colour and size of the 2 houses of the Australian Parliament.
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Federal Parliament history timeline
Explore the history of Australia’s Parliament with this easy-to-use timeline. Investigate the milestones to find out how the work of the Parliament has influenced the development of Australia since federation.
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Parliament in pictures
This pack of 10 large posters and classroom guide is designed for teachers to introduce a study of Parliament. The colourful and easy-to-understand posters are ideal for display in upper primary and secondary classrooms.
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Get Parliament online
Discover all about Parliament in one place. This sub-site includes explorations of federation, three levels of government, elections and how to get involved in Parliament.
further exploration
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Make a difference
Play this interactive to explore how to get informed and get active in your community.
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One voice for many
This video explores representation. It can be used as a visual aid in discussing representation with students.
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Create your own electorate
Consider how communities around our country are represented in the Australian Parliament.
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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.
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Chatterboxes
These fun to make chatterboxes feature questions and answers about parliamentary processes and the history of our Parliament. Quiz your students or challenge them to write their own questions using the templates.
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Quizzes
Have a go at these quizzes about the Australian Parliament. You might even learn something you didn’t know! Topics include the three levels of government, separation of powers and the Australian Constitution.
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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