What's the Australian Curriculum?
Introduced in 2012, the Australian Curriculum’s goal was to standardise teaching outcomes around Australia. Consequently all states use the Australian Curriculum to map their school syllabus.
Schools in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Canberra (ACT), South Australia, and Tasmania follow the Australian Curriculum as written.
New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria incorporate the Australian Curriculum into their state curriculum with some state specific modifications.
Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum was released in 2022. You can find the full government curriculum here.
Homeschooling And The Australian Curriculum
Many home educators choose to follow the Australian Curriculum. However it is not compulsory in all states.
Do You Need To Follow The Australian Curriculum?
Northern Territory is the only state that links homeschool registration directly to the Australian Curriculum.
In South Australia you need to prepare your plan according to the Australian Curriculum but there is quite a bit of flexibility.
If you live in NSW you need to use the NSW Curriculum for homeschooling planning. Whilst the NSW Curriculum is based on the Australian Curriculum, they take an adopt and adapt approach and the layout of the curriculum and the codes they use are different. In 2022 NSW released a new version of their English and Maths curriculum but this has not yet been tagged with the V9 Australian Curriculum codes. Other NSW subjects still use the Version 8.4 of the Australian Curriculum.
The Western Australian Curriculum uses the 8.4 version of the Australian Curriculum’s English, Maths, and Science in an unchanged format. However, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Technologies, The Arts and Languages have some minor changes to make them more relevant to Western Australians. Consequently, Homeschoolers in Western Australia need to use the Western Australian Curriculum to plan for homeschool registration.
Other States
In other states and territories, the expectation is that you provide a high-quality education. You don’t need to stick to the Australian Curriculum for homeschooling. However, many Australian and international families find the structure of the Australian Curriculum a helpful framework for developing a plan that is sequential and age appropriate.
Understand the Structure of the Australian Curriculum
Before diving into the content of the Australian Curriculum, it’s important to understand its structure. The curriculum is divided into three main areas:
- Learning areas are subject-specific and include English, mathematics, science, and more.
- General capabilities are skills that are important across all subject areas, such as critical thinking and communication.
- Cross-curriculum priorities are themes that are integrated throughout the curriculum. They are Australia’s place in Asia, sustainability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
To conclude, focus on the learning areas since the general capabilities and cross curriculum priorities are weaved into these.
Charlotte Mason and Australian Curriculum
There is no specific Charlotte Mason Curriculum. Nevertheless, Charlotte Mason’s ideas on what is important for children to learn are integral to her method.
The learning goals in the English Curriculum of Charlotte Mason and the Australian Curriculum are quite similar, except the type of literature used in the Charlotte Mason method is more classical in its approach. Also, the Australian Curriculum places a much stronger emphasis on phonics, creative writing, and spelling in the early years.
The Humanities in the early years of the Australian Curriculum are more of a Social Science subject. Whereas Charlotte Mason also includes chronological history and specific geography lessons. Charlotte also introduces Plutarch as a Civics and leadership lesson.
The Australian Curriculum supports Charlotte Mason’s method of teaching science through observation, literature, and scientist biographies. An immersion technique was often used by Charlotte Mason, this is when a child learns a topic in depth in one block. Alternatively, the Australian Curriculum utilises a spiral approach, providing tiny quantities of content on the same topic year after year.
Charlotte didn’t talk a lot about maths, therefore there is no real comparison to make.
In brief, at My Homeschool we merge the philosophy of the Charlotte Mason method and content of the Australian Curriculum (NSW and WA Curriculum).
Choosing Australian Homeschool Curriculum Tips
There are several factors to consider when it comes to choosing a homeschool curriculum. Each child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. By taking the time to evaluate these factors, you can make an informed decision that best suits your child’s needs and learning style.
Learning Style:
Understanding your child’s learning style is essential in choosing the right homeschool curriculum. Some children are visual learners, whereas others may be auditory or kinaesthetic learners. Consider how your child best absorbs information and look for a curriculum that caters to their preferred learning style.
Teaching Method:
Different homeschool curricula employ various teaching methods, such as traditional textbooks, online courses, or hands-on activities. Obviously the teaching method that aligns with your teaching style and your child’s learning preferences works best.
Academic Goals:
Take into account your child’s academic goals and aspirations. Are they interested in pursuing a particular field of study in the future? Look for a curriculum that offers specialised programs or electives in those areas to nurture their interests and talents.
Flexibility:
Homeschooling provides the opportunity for flexibility in scheduling and pacing. Consider whether you prefer a structured curriculum with set lesson plans or a more flexible approach that allows you to adapt the curriculum to your child’s pace and interests.
Budget:
Obviously it’s important to establish a budget for your homeschool curriculum. Some homeschool curriculum can be quite expensive, while others offer more affordable options. Determine what you’re comfortable spending and explore curricula within that price range.
Country of Origin:
Is this curriculum going to work in Australia? Will it be culturally relevant to your child? Will you need to change it to suit your child?
Your Faith:
All curricula have a particular worldview and all homeschooling curriculum has a bias. Choose a curriculum that supports your family values.
To sum up, when you carefully considering these factors, you can narrow down your options and choose a homeschool curriculum that best aligns with your child’s needs and your family’s educational goals.
Can I Buy A Homeschool Program Linked to the Australian Curriculum ?
Yes, with My Homeschool you can!
With each grade we include:
- Resources that cover Australian Curriculum content.
- A learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum.
- A scope and sequence showing how the Australian Curriculum is linked to our resources.
- Documentation templates to help you keep a record of learning.
You’ll find more information on home education registration and planning here.
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