Students desribe the nature of history and archaeology, and explain their contribution to an understanding of the past. They describe major periods of historical time and sequence events, people and societies of the past. Students recognise and explain patterns of change and continuity over time and explain the causes and consequences of events and developments. They describe and assess the motives and actions of people in the past. Students sequence events and developments within a chronological framework with reference to periods of time. They select and organise information from primary and secondary sources and use it as evidence to answer inquiry questions.
Students develop texts to present their findings, using historical terms and concepts, in appropriate oral, written, visual and digital forms. They also undertake a relevant site study either by visiting the site or through a virtual source.
In years 7-10 History is a mandatory subject. The program offers a deep study of various topics and areas. The topic areas by year group are:
Year 7
1. Investigating the Ancient Past
2. The Mediterranean World - Egypt
3. The Asian World - China
Year 8
4. The Western and Islamic World - Medieval World
5. The Asia-Pacific World - Japan under the Shoguns
6. Expanding Contacts - Aboriginal and Indigenous Peoples, Colonisation and Contact History
Year 9
1. Australia and Asia - Making a Nation
2. Australians at War - World War 1 and 2
Year 10
3. Rights and Freedoms (1945 - present)
4. Australia and the Vietnam War
Years 11 and 12
In senior school, students are offered a variety of subjects in the History Faculty. These can include Modern History and Ancient History.
Aboriginal Studies
Aboriginal Studies develops students' knowledge and understanding about the historical and contemporary experiences of Aboriginal peoples and the concept of ‘shared histories' with a view to enabling students to be active and informed citizens in promoting a just society for all Australians.
The year 11 course focuses on pre-contact to 1960s history, examining how Aboriginal communities have been affected by the colonisation of Australia and they examine other Indigenous communities on a worldwide scale.
The year 12 course focuses on the 1960s onwards and examines issues such as Human Rights. Students analyse and discuss issues important to contemporary Australia and develop community consultation skills.
Aboriginal Education is address in History and Geography courses in years 7-10 and is offered as a Board Developed Course in years 11-12.
The Aboriginal Education year 12 course consists of the following topics:
Year 11 Course
- Aboriginality and the Land
- Heritage and Identity
- International Indigenous Community
- Local Community case study
Year 12 Course - Core Module
- Social Justice and Human Rights Issues
- Comparative Study Health and Criminal Justice
- Heritage and Identity
- Major Project
Ancient History
Ancient History is the study of ancient societies, events, personalities and how they lived.
The year 11 course develops knowledge of how historians and archaeologists use evidence to make assumptions on different time periods and personalities. The course centres on archaeological methods, case studies and the study of ancient societies. The year 12 course contains a core study on well-known ancient societies.
Topics Studied
Year 11 Course
- Persepolis
- Thera
- Treatment and display of human remains
- The investigation of ancient sites and sources
- Rome - Art and architechture
- Egypt - Death and funerary customs
Year 12 Course
- Cities of Vesuvius - Pompeii and Herculaneum
- Greek World 500-440BC
- Xerxes
- Spartan Society
Modern HIstory
The study of Modern History investigates the forces that have shaped the Modern World based on the analysis and interpretation of sources. Students explore historical people, ideas, movements, events, and developments using their skills to explain historical problems by interpreting and analysing sources for evidence and developing reasoned and evidence based arguments.
The year 11 Course consists of
- The investigation of historic sites and sources
- The contestability of the past
- World War I
- Case Study - Making contact with the Pacific or Cuban Revolution
- Case Study - The decline and fall of the Romanovs or the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
The year 12 course contains
- Core Study - Power and Authority in the Modern World 1919-1946
- National Study - Russia and the Soviet Union 1917-41
- Peace and Conflict Study - Conflict in the Indochina 1954-79
- Change in the Modern World, The Nuclear Age or Civil rights in the USA