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Stage 5 Focus Areas

The Stage 5 Australian Geography section of the Mandatory course comprises four focus areas:

  • Investigating Australia’s Identity (20%)
  • Changing Australian Environments (30%)
  • Issues in Australian Environments (20%)
  • Australia in Its Regional and Global Context (30%).


5A2 Changing Australian Environments

Time allocation - 30% of course time


Principal focus

To explain how and why environments in Australia are changing.


Stage 5 outcomes

In this focus area a student will work towards the following Stage 5 outcomes:


5.1
identifies, gathers and evaluates geographical information
5.2
analyses, organises and synthesises geographical information
5.3
selects and uses appropriate written, oral and graphic forms to communicate geographical information
5.4
demonstrates a sense of place about Australian environments
5.5
explains the geographical processes that form and transform Australian environments
5.6
analyses the impact of different perspectives on geographical issues at local, national and global scales
5.7
explains Australia’s links with other countries and its role in the global community
5.8
accounts for differences within and between Australian communities
5.9
applies geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to demonstrate active and informed citizenship.



Content

In working towards Stage 5 outcomes, students will learn about:


The effects of the physical environment on people’s activities

• climate, weather and topography

• incidence of natural hazards (storms, droughts, fires, floods, earthquakes)

The effects of people on the physical environment

• maintenance and promotion of biodiversity, conservation and preservation

• impacts of urban growth and resource exploitation

• traditional and contemporary land and water management

Changing Australian communities

• a brief historical geography of human occupation, settlement and land use in Australia

• processes causing change in Australian communities such as:


  • new technologies
  • intercultural exchanges
  • globalisation of economic activity
  • global media networks
  • demographic changes
  • changing nature and patterns of work
  • lifestyle expectations
  • recognition of native title
  • impact of natural disasters
  • resource depletion


  • concepts and experiences of citizenship for Australian Aboriginal communities
  • decision-making and conflict resolution in Australian communities

- the role of community-based groups and the methods used to shape the decision-making processes of local, State and federal governments


ONE study of the changing interactions between an Australian community and its environment:

  • name and locate the community and its associated environment
  • identify the factors that contribute to the community’s sense of identity
  • identify the factors creating change in the both the environment and the community
  • describe the spatial and ecological impacts of the changes
  • state how the community has responded to the changes, including the policy-forming and decision-making processes involved
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