Humanities

Additions to the Program

As part of the College’s transition to the new Australian Curriculum, we are pleased to inform the Oxley community of some exciting additions to the teaching of Humanities in Years 7 to 9. The Humanities domain covers a wide range of semester-based subjects, including Geography and History. This year, we are adding two new subjects—Economics and Business, and Civics and Citizenship. Geography has been renamed Humanities 1, and will incorporate the teaching of Geography, as well as Economics and Business. Humanities 2 will see Civics and Citizenship combined with History. To enable the effective delivery of these new subjects as well as the existing subjects of Geography and History, from 2026 students will now study the Humanities for 8 periods across 2 weeks, up from 6 periods in Year 7 and 7 periods in Years 8 and 9.

The study of Economics and Business will provide students with a sequence of learning which will build year on year, including topics such as how the Australian economy works, taxation, market forces, trade and globalisation, and ethical behaviour and choices. We believe this will provide students with a solid foundation for studying Commerce subjects in the Senior years.

Civics and Citizenship follows 3 threads from Years 7 to 9: Government and Democracy; Laws and Citizens; and Citizenship, Diversity and Identity. This subject will provide students with an understanding of how government works, their rights and responsibilities as citizens, the legal system, and what it means to be Australian in a modern multicultural nation.

The teaching of Economics and Business and Civics and Citizenship strongly supports our school’s Christian mission of Truth, Goodness and Beauty. Through Economics and Business, students seek Truth by analysing how markets, governments and individuals make decisions, developing financial literacy and critical thinking grounded in ethical reasoning and decision-making. Civics and Citizenship invites students to pursue Goodness by exploring justice, democracy, and rights and responsibilities, encouraging active, compassionate participation in community life. Both learning areas also reveal Beauty in the ordered structures of democratic systems, the dignity of human work, and the capacity of communities to cooperate for the common good. Together, these subjects contribute to the formation of students as informed citizens and capable economic participants, as well as thoughtful, ethical young people called to contribute positively to society.

If you have any queries about this new curriculum initiative, you are welcome to contact Mr Stephen White at swhite@oxley.vic.edu.au, or your child’s Humanities teacher.

Mr Stephen White 

Head of Humanities