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At the heart of is the commitment to ensuring our future generations are active and compassionate citizens.
Our world is rapidly changing, and the future we’re educating our children and young people for will be different from today.
That’s why the State Government has today announced nation-leading reforms to support and strengthen democracy in ºÚÁϳԹÏ.
$18.4 million will be invested over 3 years, to strengthen civics and citizenship education in ºÚÁϳԹÏ.
Reforms objectives
Our reforms seek to engage students in critical thinking – to stop and think about their choices, their views and their influences around them.
Through civics and citizenship education, we will strengthen our students' abilities to:
- engage in concepts of democracy
- engage with issues that matter to them
- understand how decisions affecting them, and the world they live in, get made.
Reform streams
Learning reform
Years 7 and 8
Students will spend more time exploring civics and citizenship issues and concepts. This will help all students develop the dispositions, skills, and knowledge to be engaged and active citizens.
Years 9 and 10
A civics and citizenship cross-curriculum priority will be introduced in year 9 and 10. Citizenship themes will be embedded across all learning areas.
Teacher specialisation
Support will be provided to teachers to specialise in civics through professional development with the goal of introducing a specialist civics teacher in every secondary school.
Professional development will also be offered to teachers to build opportunities into their learning areas. Students will be able to engage on topics and in ways they might participate in civil society.
Immersing students
The state’s first Active Citizenship Convention in 2025 will support ºÚÁϳԹÏn students to demonstrate their engagement in issues of importance to them. All students will be given the opportunity to attend.
Students will be given new and expanded opportunities to participate in school-based democratic opportunities. This will support student agency and give students a greater voice in the decisions at school that affect them.
What this means for our educators
We’ll work towards having a specialised civics and citizenship teacher in every public high school and B to 12 school. A balanced approach will ensure that schools are not disrupted.
Teachers will be identified within every secondary school to develop their specialisation and skills in civics and citizenship teaching and learning.
Civics and citizenship as a cross-curriculum priority
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï will introduce civics and citizenship as a cross-curriculum priority across all learning areas from reception to year 10 inclusive, in all public schools.
Currently the Australian Curriculum has 3 cross-curriculum priorities:
- Sustainability
- Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.
Embedding civics and citizenship as a cross-curriculum priority will:
- help prevent the overburdening of teachers with additional teaching requirements
- weave critical civics and citizenship themes through all learning areas.
Student involvement
Students will be immersed in an annual, 3-day Active Citizenship Convention. This will bring together students, educators, experts, government officials and community stakeholders in the interests of democracy, civics and citizenship.
The inaugural Active Citizenship Convention – 'Your voice. Your future' – will be held from 18 to 20 August 2025 at Adelaide Oval.
The convention is open to year 10 students in both public and private schooling, from both metropolitan and regional locations, with day 1 intended for regional attendees. There is also an option for students to attend virtually.
