Core Skills Analysis
Humanities and Social Science
Isabella learned about the three levels of government in Australia—federal, state or territory, and local government—by reading information from the Parliamentary Education Office website. She explored that each level has different responsibilities and works with the others to provide services to Australians. Isabella then watched a video summary, which gave her another way to review the structure and roles of government, before completing an online quiz to practise recalling what she had learned. By using reading, video, and quiz activities, Isabella showed engagement with civic concepts and developed her understanding of how responsibilities are shared across Australian communities.
Tips
Tips: Extend Isabella’s learning by creating a three-column chart that matches everyday services—such as rubbish collection, schools, hospitals, roads, or national defence—with the level of government most commonly responsible for them. Use a map of Australia to label the federal Parliament in Canberra, a state or territory capital, and Isabella’s local council area, helping her connect government structures to real places. She could then role-play a council meeting about a local issue, taking turns as councillors and community members and practising respectful discussion. Finish with a short reflection asking which government service she notices most in daily life and why cooperation between levels of government might be important.
Book Recommendations
- Democracy for Dinosaurs: A Guide for Young Citizens by Judith White: An accessible introduction to democracy, citizenship, decision-making, and how people can participate in their communities.
- Vote for Me! by Ben Clanton: A humorous picture book that introduces elections, persuasion, voting, and the importance of listening to different viewpoints.
- Young Dark Emu: A Truer History by Bruce Pascoe: A child-friendly exploration of Aboriginal Australian history and knowledge that can broaden discussions about Australian society, history, and civic identity.
Try This Next
- Create a matching worksheet with Australian government services on one side and federal, state or territory, or local government on the other.
- Design a six-question quiz: identify the three government levels, explain one responsibility of each, and describe why they may need to work together.
- Draw a government pyramid showing federal, state or territory, and local council responsibilities, adding one example service to each level.
- Write a short letter to a local council about a community improvement Isabella would like to see.