Curriculum links – Year 9
The PEO has a range of resources which assist teachers in their delivery of Year 9 Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum.
Individual curriculum linked resources
The role of political parties and independent representatives in Australia's system of government, including the formation of governments (ACHCK075)
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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.
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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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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.
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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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Opposition
Discover the opposition, the largest party or coalition of parties who did not form government, with this fact sheet. The opposition is sometimes called the ‘alternative government’ and has a range of responsibilities in the Parliament, including closely examining the work of the government.
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Independents
An independent is a member of the Australian Parliament who does not belong to a political party. This fact sheet explores their role, how they can vote in the Parliament and where they sit.
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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.
How citizens’ political choices are shaped, including the influence of the media (ACHCK076)
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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.
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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.
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Press gallery
This fact sheet investigates the work of the press gallery in gathering information and publishing stories about what happens in the Australian Parliament. It includes information about the relationship between the press and Parliament.
The process through which government policy is shaped and developed, including the role of Prime Minister and Cabinet (ACHCK103)
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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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Explore decision making
Explore various forms of decision-making in your classroom with this activity. Investigate majority rule, executive, consensus, autocracy, and the power of veto.
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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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Opposition
Discover the opposition, the largest party or coalition of parties who did not form government, with this fact sheet. The opposition is sometimes called the ‘alternative government’ and has a range of responsibilities in the Parliament, including closely examining the work of the government.
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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).
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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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.
further exploration
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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