In Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) Australian History and Australian Geography are compulsory for all students in Year 9 and 10 (Stage 5).
Students can also elect to study the following HSIE subjects:
- Commerce
- History (elective)
Year 9 and 10 HSIE subjects
Australian History
The aim of this course is to stimulate students' interest in and enjoyment of exploring the past, to develop a critical understanding of the past and to enable them to participate as active, informed and responsible citizens.
Topics covered
- Industrial Revolution
- Rights and Freedoms
- Making a Nation
- Australians at War: WW1 & WW2.
Medium of learning
- films
- drama
- web-based tasks
- excursions
- group and individual tasks
- debates
- interviews
- reports.
Australian Geography
The aim of Geography is to stimulate students' enjoyment of and interest in the interaction of the physical and human environments. Students learn how to interpret maps, graphs and about the impact of humans on the environment. They also learn to appreciate the impact of the environment on people.
Topics covered
- Sustainable Biomes
- Changing Places
- Human Wellbeing
- Environmental Change & Management.
Medium of learning
- discussions
- debates
- group work
- research tasks
- computer-based tasks.
Commerce
The aim of the Commerce elective is to enable students to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to research and develop solutions to consumer, financial, legal, business and employment issues in order to make informed and responsible decisions as individuals and as part of the community.
Topics covered
- Consumer and Financial Decisions
- The Economic and Business Environment
- Employment and Work Futures
- Law, Society and Political Involvement.
Option topics
- Our Economy
- Investing
- Promoting and Selling
- Running a Business
- Law in Action
- Travel
- Towards Independence.
Medium of learning
- excursions
- computer-based tasks
- group work
- examinations
- reports
- research tasks.
History (elective)
Course aim
- knowledge and understanding of history and historical inquiry
- knowledge and understanding of past societies and historical periods
- skills to undertake the process of historical inquiry
- skills to communicate their understanding of history.
Topics covered
- History
- Heritage & Archaeology
- The Holocaust
- The Crusades
- The Ottoman Empire
- Feudal Japan and the Samurai
- Crime and Punishment (Jack the Ripper)
Medium of learning
- film
- excursions
- group model constructions
- projects.