Opportunities and Challenges for Social and Citizenship Education in Disrupted Times

This discussion paper canvasses recent developments in policy directions connected to social and citizenship education in Australia during these disrupted times. In particular, it compares the recent Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (Education Council, 2019) with the previous Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs [MCEETYA], 2008) with regard to social and citizenship education, and the implications the new Declaration may have for the updated Australian Curriculum (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], 2020). The paper also discusses the renewed focus on civics and citizenship education at the Federal level and in the State of Victoria. Finally, the paper discusses increased opportunities for connections to be made between the civics and citizenship curriculum and the cross-curriculum priorities, general capabilities and student voice and agency programs.