Discovering Democracy - Civics and citizenship education

These kits are intended to stimulate and give some direction to discussion on civics and citizenship education.

A Civics and Citizenship Learning Circle Programme produced as part of the Discovering Democracy programme of the Department of Education, Training and Science.

Surveys indicate that most Australians do not understand a great deal about the history and operations of our system of government and law. These kits are intended to stimulate and give some direction to discussion on civics and citizenship education. They are designed to put people in touch with the democratic process and empower them to make changes and to have their voices heard.

Kit One - The Governance of Australia - Civics & Citizenship Learning Circle Programme - An Introduction

The Governance of Australia is the first kit in the Discovering Democracy programme for the adult and community sector. It is available in hard copy and on CD as PDFs. There are six session notes intended to stimulate and give some direction to discussion, and perhaps further investigation of our present system of government. The six sessions are:

1. Our Group - Our Government
2. The Constitution: Basis for Stability or Constraint to Change?
3. Parliament - the Legislative Branch of Government.
4. The Executive Government - Representative Leaders or Elected Dictators?
5. The High Court of Australia.
6. An Australian Republic

Kit Two - The Three Spheres of Government - Civics & Citizenship Learning Circle Programme - An Introduction

The Three Spheres of Government is the second kit in the Discovering Democracy programme for the adult and community sector. It is available in hard copy and on CD. There are six sessions intended to provide an opportunity to learn about the other spheres of government in Australia. These are the areas - especially at the local level - where people have a more direct relationship with Government. The six sessions are:

1. An Introduction to the Learning Circle
2. Local Government
3. State and Territory Government
4. The Federal System
5. Citizens and Inter-government Relations
6. The Future of the Federal System

Sample Activity - What the Governance of Australia means to us

'What the Governance of Australia means to us' is a short discussion guide which can be used for a one hour learning circle session. This sample activity will introduce participants to the Civics and Citizenship Learning Circle Programme and the learning circle methodology. Learning circles are groups of 5 to 15 people who meet to discuss and learn about issues that interest them. Participants in a learning circle set their own objectives with a facilitator who helps to guide the discussions and to foster active, self-directed and cooperative learning in the group. Participant's life experiences enrich and inform the discussion.

Download in PDF format:

• Kit 1 (687 kb)
• Kit 2 (192.2 kb)
• Sample Activity (23.8 kb)

For further information

Contact	:	Mary Hannan, Adult Learning Australia
Phone	:	02 6251 9889
Email	:	m.hannan@ala.asn.au

WWW

:

http://www.ala.asn.au/pubs.html