Unit 3 and 4 Australian Politics

Developing a program

Teachers should use the Study Design and this advice to develop a teaching and learning program that includes appropriate learning activities to enable students to develop the knowledge and skills identified in the outcomes in each unit.

This study has been developed to allow students to engage with ideas and issues relevant to contemporary Australian federal politics. The study is underpinned by conceptual ideas such as power, democracy, accountability, representation and the protection of rights and freedoms, alongside a focus on the institutions, structures and actors that operate in liberal democracies. In developing a teaching and learning program teachers should assist students to make links between the theory and practice of politics in Australian democracy. In doing so, the teaching program should focus closely on the teaching of the key knowledge and the development of the key skills outlined in the Study Design. Teachers should draw upon relevant and appropriate case studies and a range of sources, including traditional, social and new media in the teaching of the course and ensure students are provided with opportunities to develop the skills of analysis and critical evaluation. Case studies are an important resource when contextualising and elaborating on the key knowledge and key skills. The Study Design states that for all Areas of Study students must use examples and case studies from within the last 10 years. This is to ensure the teaching and learning program in Australian Politics remains contemporary and relevant. It may be helpful to contextualise case studies with information that is prior to 10 years, however, only analysis and evaluation from the last 10 years should be assessed.

When developing a teaching learning program, it is important to include the scope of study, an introductory paragraph to each Area of Study, rationale, aims, outcome statement, key knowledge and key skills. The teaching and learning program should explicitly teach all key terms and concepts and provide opportunities to apply them to contemporary issues and case studies. A glossary of terms can be found in this Advice for Teachers.

Unit 3: Evaluating Australian democracy

Area of Study 1 Australian Democracy requires the study of key terms and concepts relating to Australian democracy. When developing a teaching and learning program teachers should consider how the key values and principles of the Australian political system are applied in practice, particularly through an examination of contemporary events. Students should be able to explain these democratic values and principles, as they are evident in Australian federal politics and be further able to evaluate the system’s democratic strengths and weaknesses. This area of study provides a foundation for the rest of the course and teachers are advised to allow slightly more time for its teaching.

Area of Study 2 Comparing Democracies: Australia and the United States of America requires a comparison of the key features of the democratic political systems of Australia and the United States of America. When developing a teaching and learning program teachers should ensure they are able to assist students to make critical comparisons between Australian and US democracy, and to examine the extent to which both systems uphold democratic values and principles overall. This key knowledge should frame the critical comparisons of the US system and the relevant process in the Australian political system including: protection of rights and freedoms, the electoral system, the legislative branch, and political leadership. Attention should be given to the extent to which the systems of both nations uphold key democratic values and principles, with discussion and analysis of contemporary political events providing the context for such critique.

Unit 4: Australian public policy

Area of Study 1 Domestic Policy  focuses on Australian domestic policy and its formulation and implementation. It is important for teachers to demonstrate to students there is a broad range of stakeholders, interests and factors that contribute to policy formulation and it is important for students to identify and consider how these and other factors lead to successful policy formulation. The teaching and learning program should focus on the steps and stages that take place in the development of federal government domestic policies, an analysis of the factors which play a role in this process, and those that impact the implementation of domestic policy. Making explicit links between the factors affecting both formulation and implementation through an examination of current examples will assist in students’ understanding of the key knowledge and key skills. A more detailed study of ONE Australian federal domestic public policy should be undertaken as a means of allowing for critical evaluation and should form the basis of assessment. This example should be contemporary and taken from within the last 10 years.

In Area of Study 2 Foreign Policy  teachers should note the Study Design key knowledge specifies that TWO challenges to Australian foreign policy from the areas listed should be examined. In developing a teaching and learning program teachers should focus on the overall nature of Australian foreign policy and its core objectives. An examination of important foreign policy instruments and the ways they help achieve foreign policy objectives is required. An analysis of the factors which help form foreign policy and an examination of the roles various stakeholders play in this process is a central focus of this area of study. An evaluation of the impact of two key challenges to contemporary Australian foreign policy is also undertaken using evidence and examples.

Each Unit involves at least 50 hours of scheduled classroom instruction over the duration of a semester. Consistent with this, time allocations are suggested as a guide for teachers of Units 3 and 4.

Unit 3: Evaluating Australian democracy

Unit 4: Australian public policy