Curriculum links – Year 7
The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of Year 7 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.
Individual curriculum linked resources
The key features of government under the Australian Constitution with a focus on: the separation of powers, the roles of the Executive, the Houses of Parliament, and the division of powers (ACHCK048)
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Cabinet
Cabinet is the top-level decision-making group within the Australian Government. Find out more about who is in Cabinet and how it works with this fact sheet.
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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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Australia's federation
In 1901 the 6 British colonies united to become a new nation—the Commonwealth of Australia. This fact sheet examines the path to federation, the creation of the territories, the opening of the Australian Parliament and Australia's federal system of government.
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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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Senate
The Senate is part of the Australian Parliament. It has an important role representing the views of Australians, making laws for Australia, investigating national issues and examining 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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House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is part of the Australian Parliament. It is the house in which the Australian Government is formed and has an important role representing the views of Australians and making laws for Australia.
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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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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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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.
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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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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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The Senate
Discover the role and work of the Australian Senate with this introductory video.
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The Australian Constitution in focus
The Australian Constitution is the legal framework for how Australia is governed. This paper explores in detail the history of the Constitution, its key features and the High Court’s role in interpreting it.
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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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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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The House of Representatives
Discover the role and work of the Australian House of Representatives with this introductory video.
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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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Create a new federation
Explore why the authors of the Australian Constitution designed our Parliament to have both a House of Representatives—with representation based on population—and a Senate—with equal representation for the states. This activity invites students to think critically and creatively to write a new constitution.
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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).
The process for constitutional change through a referendum (ACHCK049)
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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.
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Hold a referendum
Explore how the Constitution can be changed through a referendum in this classroom activity. Investigate a potential change to the Constitution and then decide—as a nation—whether or not the change should be made.
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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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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