DOCUMENT RESUME ED 473 177 CE 084 396 AUTHOR Gow, Neil TITLE The Governance of Australia. Civics and Citizenship Learning Circle Kit. INSTITUTION Adult Learning Australia, Inc., Jamison. SPONS AGENCY Australian Dept. of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Canberra. REPORT NO No-1 ISBN ISBN-0-949145-19-X PUB DATE 2001-00-00 NOTE 157p.; This version printed from the CD-ROM and consists of the session notes only. For Kit 2, see CE 084 397. Funded under the Discovering Democracy programme. AVAILABLE FROM Adult Learning Australia, PO Box 308, Jamison Centre, ACT 2614 (Kit: $27 Australian; CD-ROM: $10 Australian). E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.ala.asn.au. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adult Education; Citizenship; *Citizenship Education; *Civics; Court Role; *Democracy; Developed Nations; *Federal Government; Foreign Countries; Governance; Government Role; *Governmental Structure; Instructional Materials; Learning Activities; Legislation IDENTIFIERS *Australia; Constitutions; Executive Branch; *Learning Circles ABSTRACT This kit, the first of four learning circles on civics and citizenship, addresses a series of broad issues about the way in which Australia is governed. Introductory materials include a synopsis of the six sessions; lists of 51 references, 29 Internet sites, and 13 videos and CDs; glossary; and list of 19 resource materials. Session guides are provided for six sessions: Our Group--Our Government; The Australian Constitution: Basis for Stability or Constraint toChange; Parliament--The Legislative Branch of Government; The Executive Government: Representative Leaders or Elected Dictators?; The High Court of Australia; and An Australian Republic? Components of each session guide include some or all of the following: an introduction that outlines the objective and aims; lists of suggested activities in the session; background documents provided; list of resources; suggested activities with discussion; optional extra activities; case studies highlighted in block format; and the background documents.(YLB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 71- ALA DISCOVERING DEMOCRACY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY fA.2_61A-)e, TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 Civics and Citizenship Learning Circle Kit developed by Adult Learning Australia Inc. 2001 BEST COPY AVAILAIBILIE 2 -) IINTS COVERING The Governance of AustraliaKit 1 1 of Contents of Introductory Folder Acknowledgments 2 Contents of this Kit 10 The Discovering Democracy 3 Resources Beyond the kit 11 Programme References 11 Preface 6 Internet sites 13 Session guidea synopsis 8 Videos and CDs 14 Glossary of terms 15 Evaluation form 23 Resource materials 24 This project was funded under the Discovering Democracy programme administered by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. Published by: The views expressed here are those of the author Adult Learning Australia Inc and do not necessarily represent the views of the (formerly AAACE Inc) Commonwealth Department of Education, PO Box 308 Training and Youth Affairs. Jamison Centre ACT 2614 SCIS Cataloguing-in-publication data: Tel: 02-62517933 Fax: 02-62517935 The Governance of Australia Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.ala.asn.au 1. GovernanceStudy and Teaching 2. DemocracyStudy and Teaching © Commonwealth of Australia, 2001 3. AustraliaPolitics and Government 4. Learning Circles The Governance of Australia is Commonwealth copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part ISBN 0-949145-19-X for study or training purposes, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and Written by Neil Gow it not being used for commercial sale or use. Designed by Looking Glass Press Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated requires the written permission of Discovering Democracy logo design by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Miller Street Studio Training and Youth Affairs, GPO Box 9880, Canberra City, ACT, 2601. Printed in Australia by Robey Pty Ltd LThe Gwernance-of:Australia-Kiti_Intro-ch-mtion_ 3 2 of Acknowledgments We gratefully acknowledge the assistance given by Ms Wendy Michaels members of the project advisory committee, by Senior Policy Officer, Australian Local those organisations which have provided resource Government Association materials for the kit, and by all those who have Dr Roger Morris received and commented on earlier drafts of the President, Australian Association of kit. The National Library of Australia provided Adult and Community Education research facilities. Ms Rosemary Neal We would also like to thank John Warhurst for National Link of Neighbourhood Houses and editorial assistance on Sessions 5 and 6. Learning Centres Advisory Committee Members Ms Marian Schoen Executive Director, Mr Paul Anderson Constitutional Centenary Foundation Director, Electoral Education Australian Electoral Commission Ms Sam Thomas Director, Mr John Carter NSW Board of Adult and Community Education Director, Parliamentary Education Office (to January 1998) Organisations supplying Dr Alastair Crombie resource materials Executive Director, Australian Association of Adult and Community Education Australian Electoral Commission Ms Ellen Davis-Meehan Constitutional Centenary Foundation NSW Council of Adult and Community Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Education Organisations The High Court of Australia Mrs Betty Dawson Network of Women in Further Education Parliamentary Education Office Ms Penny Gould Quality Schooling Branch, Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs Mr Brenton Holmes Director, Parliamentary Education Office (from January 1998) ff-E_Gov_ernance_or_Australia-_, 4 Ulm apvcommom off AuggIto 3 of 24 The Discovering Democracy Programme Exerpt from a Ministerial Statement by the rushes. Among them were many who were Hon Dr David Kemp MP, then Minister for Schools, frustrated at the slow development of democracy Vocational Education and Training, 8 May 1997. in Britain and who were determined to establish a new fully democratic society in their new land. As Australia approaches the centenary of They joined with and gave momentum to those Federation, and the Constitutional 0;nvention to already pushing towards representative be held later this year, the Government is pleased institutions of government. to announce a national programme of Civics and Citizenship Education activities Australia provided these people with unique Discovering Democracy. opportunities to translate their reforming spirit and egalitarian principles into the democratic The Government is committed to ensuring that all framework we enjoy today. Realising that students have opportunities to learn about the democracy required educated citizens and a moral system of government in Australia. and ethical society they not only looked for gold, Over the next four years, the Government has but also built schools, churches and universities. allocated $17.5 million to raise the levels of civic An impressive record in democratic and social knowledge of students through the Civics and progress began: Australia was one of the first Citizenship Education programme, which will countries in the world to abolish the property involve the four sectors of educationschools, requirement for voting for the popular assembly, to higher education, vocational education and give first all men and later all women the vote, to training, and adult and community education. pay salaries to members of Parliament (so that The four themes of the programme, which was those without independent incomes could seek extended to 2004 with an additional $13.4m office), to provide public education and old age funding in the 2000-2001 Budget, are: Who Rules? Law and Rights The Australian Nation; and Citizens and Public Life. Australia's democratic tradition We are the heirs of one of the most remarkable democratic initiatives of the nineteenth century. Just after 1850, hundreds of thousands of people began to pour into this country in the great gold The Govern-n-c-e of Australia_L_-Kiri Introduction_ 5 Gave[num clAus 4 of pensions, to introduce the eight-hour day, and to for some at the expense of others. As befits the establish the secret ballotknown throughout the heirs of those radical democrats who set up our world as the Australian ballotso that everyone first democratic institutions, much of our political could cast their vote free from intimidation. By the debate and the policies of government can be second half of last century, Australia had some of understood as a working through of the the most radically democratic political institutions implications of our commitment to democracy. in the world. The development of Australian democracy is a tribute to our civil nature and cooperation. Australian civil society has been built around the Effective democracy is not a family, voluntary associations (civic, political and static, inflexible concept, but a religious) and small enterprises. Our history dynamic, active