Overview

This unit provides pre-service teachers with an overview of the cultures and practices of primary schools in Australia – both government and independent schools. Pre-service teachers will become familiar with state and national curriculum documents and the contexts of learning in Australian schools. They will compare policies and practices within different states and other national systems. The teaching profession will also be examined, looking at the workforce and issues confronting the profession

Requisites

Prerequisites
EDU30015 Curriculum and Pedagogy for Primary: Practicum 3P

AND
237.7 credit points in BA-EDUPRI (1) Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Examine and critically evaluate policy and practice in government and independent schools
  • Consider and compare state and national curriculum documentation
  • Investigate and reflect upon the roles and responsibilities of teachers at various stages of the profession including an understanding of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
  • Engage in collaborative professional learning and practice
  • Critically consider issues confronting the teaching profession, including professional ethical and legislative responsibilities, working with parents and carers and engaging with professional and community networks

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		 1.00  12 weeks  12
On-campus
Class		 3.00  8 weeks  24
Specified Activities
Various		 4.00  12 weeks  48
Unspecified Activities
Various		 5.50  12 weeks  66
TOTAL     150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Case StudiesGroup 40% 3,4 
EssayIndividual 60% 1,2,5 

Content

  • National and State Departments of Education
  • Relevant national and/or state of territory curriculum
  • National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
  • Government vs independent schools
  • Legal and ethical dimensions of teaching including the use of ICT
  • Structure of the teaching profession (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL])
  • Teaching in multicultural Australia
  • State and national polices on teaching practice
  • Professional expectations of teachers
  • Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.