1. Content descriptors
The knowledge descriptors focus attention on Australia’s system of government, law, identity and participation.
Australian Curriculum v9
Year 10 Civics and Citizenship Curriculum: Standard and Content Descriptors
Bring the Year 10 Civics and Citizenship standard and its 10 linked descriptors together for planning. The map separates knowledge and understanding from inquiry skills while showing how both contribute to informed civic reasoning.
Available combined curriculum hubs
Browse published Civics and Citizenship curriculum maps.
All Humanities and Social Sciences achievement standards | All Humanities and Social Sciences content descriptors
How the curriculum elements fit together
2. Learning and assessment
Inquiry skills help students investigate civic issues, evaluate sources, develop arguments and communicate conclusions.
3. Achievement standard
Evidence should show accurate civic knowledge alongside analysis, source evaluation and reasoned perspectives.
ASHASCIVY10
Open the standalone ASHASCIVY10 page →
Achievement standard (as ACARA publishes it)
Achievement standard
Click any sentence to jump to its statement and linked content descriptors.
By the end of Year 10, students compare the key features and values of Australia’s system of government to those of another system of government. They describe the Australian Government’s role and responsibilities at a regional and global level. They explain the role of the High Court of Australia. They explain how Australia’s international legal obligations influence the law and government policy. They identify and explain challenges to a resilient democracy and a cohesive society in Australia.
Students develop and refine a range of questions and locate, select and compare relevant and reliable information from a range of sources to investigate political and legal systems, and contemporary civic issues. They analyse information to evaluate perspectives and challenges related political, legal or civic issues. They evaluate and compare the methods or strategies related to civic participation or action. Students use civics and citizenship knowledge, concepts and terms to develop descriptions, explanations and arguments that synthesise evidence from sources.
The 9 achievement standard statements
Open a statement to see the content descriptors ACARA links to it, then open a descriptor's elaborations.
By the end of Year 10, students compare the key features and values of Australia’s system of government to those of another system of government.
Content descriptorAC9HC10K01 Knowledge and understanding
the key features and values of Australia’s system of government compared with at least one other democratic or non-democratic system of government in the Asia-Pacific region
Elaborations (3)
- Elaboration comparing the key institutional features of Australia’s system of government (for example, free, fair and frequent elections, the party system, the partial separation of powers, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights and freedoms) with the key features of a system of government of a country in Asia
- Elaboration researching and comparing the experiences of First Nations Australians in engaging with the political system with those of the Indigenous peoples in an Asian nation
- Elaboration exploring and reflecting on the cultural influences shaping the Australian political system and that of a comparison country
They describe the Australian Government’s role and responsibilities at a regional and global level.
Content descriptorAC9HC10K02 Knowledge and understanding
the Australian Government’s role and responsibilities at a regional and global level
Elaborations (6)
- Elaboration explaining the ways Australia contributes to and participates in the Asia-Pacific region, including membership of international organisations and participation in agreements with other nations (for example, exchange programs, peacekeeping, election monitoring, development aid, health programs, disaster management) and internationally, including participation in the United Nations Security Council
- Elaboration investigating Australia’s responsibilities and commitment to various international treaties, conventions and agendas, such as the UN Sustainable Development Agenda and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Elaboration analysing and evaluating the reasons for and effectiveness of Australia's participation in the region and globally with regard to a global issue, such as human rights, war and conflict, challenges to democracy or climate
- Elaboration comparing the responses of governments and organisations around the world to a global issue; for example, gender equality, poverty, climate change, vaccination against communicable diseases
- Elaboration identifying ways that the forces of global interconnectedness could both exacerbate and enhance the ability to solve the key issues of our time
- Elaboration evaluating the impacts of these issues on Australia’s identity; First Nations Australians’ reconciliation, truth-telling and sovereignty; Australian government policies and citizens’ choices to act in the global interest
They explain the role of the High Court of Australia.
Content descriptorAC9HC10K03 Knowledge and understanding
the role of the parliament and the High Court of Australia in protecting rights under the Constitution, common law, and through federal and state statute law
Elaborations (4)
- Elaboration explaining the role of the High Court in interpreting and applying the law, using contemporary Australian examples
- Elaboration exploring the concepts of express and implied rights through High Court cases such as the Stolen Generations Case (Kruger v the Commonwealth [1997]) and the Vicki Lee Roach Case (Roach v Electoral Commissioner [2007])
- Elaboration investigating understanding of terra nullius and how the Native Title Act 1993 property rights were developed through High Court interpretation of common law and enshrined in statutory law
- Elaboration comparing the effectiveness of a constitutional bill of rights, such as in the USA, with a statutory bill of rights, such as in New Zealand
They explain how Australia’s international legal obligations influence the law and government policy.
Content descriptorAC9HC10K04 Knowledge and understanding
how Australia’s international legal obligations shape Australian law and government policies, including those relating to First Nations Australians, and the issues related to the application of these obligations
Elaborations (3)
- Elaboration investigating how many of the 9 key human rights treaties Australia has signed and ratified, and researching how at least one of these has shaped Australian law or government policy
- Elaboration explaining how international conventions and declarations, such as the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, have shaped Australian government law and policies with regards to First Nations Australians
- Elaboration analysing Australia’s legal obligations to the environment under the Paris Agreement (2016) and the World Heritage Convention (1972), and/or to refugees under the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951) and its optional protocol (1967)
They identify and explain challenges to a resilient democracy and a cohesive society in Australia.
Content descriptorAC9HC10K05 Knowledge and understanding
the challenges to and ways of sustaining a resilient democracy and a cohesive society in Australia and/or in our region or globally
Elaborations (4)
- Elaboration identifying the key characteristics of cohesive, democratic societies, such as cooperation, inclusion, respect and peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the importance of an active and informed citizenry
- Elaboration considering threats to Australian democracy and other democracies, such as the influence of vested interests, organised crime, corruption and lawlessness, and the impact of social media on the quality of civic debate about controversial matters
- Elaboration locating and discussing a range of possible threats to the resilience of democratic societies globally, such as extreme polarisation of views and a breakdown in social consensus, and the reasons for the rise of non-democratic forces such as extremist groups with no commitment to democratic values
- Elaboration examining how our Western democratic heritage and values such as freedom of speech support participation in public debate about controversial issues; for example, the date of Australia Day, the Uluru Statement, reconciliation and truth-telling, or the call for a treaty between First Nations Australians and the Australian Government
Students develop and refine a range of questions and locate, select and compare relevant and reliable information from a range of sources to investigate political and legal systems, and contemporary civic issues.
Content descriptorAC9HC10S01 Skills
develop and modify questions to investigate Australia’s political and legal systems, and contemporary civic issues
Elaborations (2)
- Elaboration developing a range of sub-questions connected to the over-arching question and using these to modify the question; for example, “How does the system of government provide equality?”, “How representative is the government?”, “What processes ensure accountability?” and “How accessible is the government to citizens?”
- Elaboration revisiting the questions based on further collection of information; for example, “Do different groups in society have particular views on representativeness, equality and accountability?”
Content descriptorAC9HC10S02 Skills
locate, select and compare information, data and ideas from a range of sources
Elaborations (4)
- Elaboration locating print and online sources to investigate a contemporary global political, legal or civic issue, selecting varying and conflicting points of view in relation to the issue, such as the success of exchange programs or Australia's commitment to its international legal obligations
- Elaboration using digital programs and survey and polling apps to conduct surveys on a political issue, such as a specific policy proposal, and analysing the research results to determine the range of views or support
- Elaboration exploring traditional and social media texts for stereotypes, over-generalisation and misrepresentation, such as those related to how cultural groups such as recent immigrants are represented in the media
- Elaboration comparing the varying policies of different political groups on an issue such as mining, climate change, services for rural communities, or refugees
They analyse information to evaluate perspectives and challenges related political, legal or civic issues.
Content descriptorAC9HC10S03 Skills
analyse information, data and ideas about political, legal or civic issues to identify and evaluate differences in perspectives and interpretations
Elaborations (3)
- Elaboration examining information from traditional and social media sources to identify examples of different views on and responses to a contemporary Australian political, legal or civic issue, such as limiting freedoms, placing restrictions on movement, trade or association, or debates about the use of public resources
- Elaboration examining the role of institutions of global governance, such as the United Nations or the International Criminal Court, and evaluating their effectiveness in upholding democratic norms and human rights
- Elaboration investigating a contemporary international event or situation, such as armed conflict, development of an international agreement, or natural or humanitarian disaster, to assess the effectiveness and values positions of global actors such as NGOs, and the response of the Australian Government to the event or situation
They evaluate and compare the methods or strategies related to civic participation or action.
Content descriptorAC9HC10S04 Skills
evaluate the methods or strategies and outcomes related to making decisions about civic participation
Elaborations (1)
- Elaboration examining the methods or strategies used by the Australian government, a non-government organisation, or a campaigning or pressure group, to address an issue at a regional or global level, or to ensure accountability to Australia's international obligations
Students use civics and citizenship knowledge, concepts and terms to develop descriptions, explanations and arguments that synthesise evidence from sources.
Content descriptorAC9HC10S05 Skills
create descriptions, explanations and arguments using civics and citizenship knowledge, concepts and terms that incorporate evidence
Elaborations (2)
- Elaboration developing an evidence-based argument about a civics and citizenship issue, such as the role of Australia in the security of the Asia-Pacific region or the role of Australia’s trading relationships with nations that have human rights issues, and drawing conclusions about the future impacts of this issue on Australia’s values
- Elaboration using terms and concepts such as “conventions”, “international law”, “cohesive society” and “global citizen”
About the strands
The 10 content descriptors linked to ASHASCIVY10 sit under these strands.
Knowledge and understanding
The discipline knowledge and concepts students learn, connect and apply in context.
Skills
The questions, research, analysis, evaluation and communication practices used in the discipline.
A practical planning sequence
- Choose the curriculum focus. Identify the civic concepts, institutions and issues students need to understand.
- Select a meaningful context. Use credible sources and contested questions that allow more than one reasoned perspective.
- Plan connected learning. Use the linked descriptors together where that creates a coherent sequence.
- Map the evidence. Assess knowledge, source analysis, argument construction and informed conclusions.
Turn this curriculum map into a teaching sequence
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