From Foundation to Level 2, the curriculum focus is on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to enable students to learn about cultures in their immediate world. For students at Foundation to level 2, learning typically focuses on their immediate family, home, school and friends. This includes cultural practices relevant to their lived experiences such as choice of food, clothing or housing, cultural celebrations and language.
The curriculum provides the opportunity for students to begin to explore similarities and difference in cultural practices. They begin to understand the concept of cultural diversity.
By the end of Level 2, students begin to distinguish what is familiar and different in the ways culturally diverse individuals and families live. They describe their experiences of intercultural encounters, and identify cultural diversity in their school and/or community.
Students explain how they might respond in different cultural situations.
In Levels 3 and 4, the curriculum focuses is on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to enable students to learn about culture relevant to their social world of family, home, school, friends and neighbourhood. This includes cultural practices such as choice of food, clothing or housing, cultural celebrations and language.
The curriculum provides the opportunity for students to compare different cultures. They use their experiences of family, school and wider community to reflect on cultural diversity within Australia.
By the end of Level 4, students are able to compare a range of cultural practices and explain their influence on people’s relationships. They explain what they have learnt about themselves and others from intercultural experiences.
Students explain the role of cultural traditions in the development of various identities. They develop critical perspective on and respect for their own and others cultures.
In Levels 5 and 6, the curriculum focus is on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to enable students to learn about diverse cultural practices and beliefs and how they compare with their own. This includes religious beliefs, traditional celebrations, family relationships, gender roles, daily routines, leisure activities and language.
The curriculum provides the opportunity for students to explore aspects of their life that are culturally determined. Students further develop their awareness of cultural diversity and reflect on intercultural experiences and how this influences their own personal attitudes and beliefs.
By the end of Level 6, students demonstrate an understanding of how beliefs and practices can be influenced by culture and explain how intercultural experiences can influence beliefs and behaviours.
Students identify the barriers to and means of reaching understandings within and between culturally diverse groups and the ways in which effective engagement with those groups is promoted or inhibited.
In Levels 7 and 8, the curriculum focus is on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to reflect on how cultural practices and beliefs contributes to individual, group and national identities. This includes religious beliefs, traditional celebrations and customs, social relationships, gender roles, daily routines, work and leisure activities and language.
The curriculum provides the opportunity for students to explore the dynamic nature of culture. They reflect on the importance of valuing and celebrating cultural diversity.
By the end of Level 8, students explain how cultural practices may change over time in a range of contexts. They understand how cultural groups can be represented, and comment on the effects of these representations.
Students understand the challenges and benefits of living and working in culturally diverse communities.
In Levels 9 and 10, the curriculum focus is on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to engage in complex discussions about interrelationships within and between cultures. This includes the less tangible aspects of culture such as values, attitudes, roles, religious beliefs and ways of thinking.
The curriculum provides the opportunity for students to understand the importance of cultural collaboration in an interconnected world and how respecting diversity is important for community cohesion.
By the end of Level 10, students critically analyse the complex and dynamic interrelationship between and within cultures and the challenges and benefits of living in an interconnected and culturally diverse world. They evaluate how intercultural relationships and experiences influence attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in different contexts.
Students analyse the components of a cohesive society, and the challenges, benefits and consequences of maintaining or failing to maintain that cohesion.
