This paper reviews Australian Government actions related to environmental education, particularly in the past decade, and examines the actions forthcoming from two national action plans (Environment Australia, 2000 and DEWHA, 2009), the implementation strategy for the Decade of ESD (DEWHA, 2006) and developments related to the Australian…

The article considers the distinction between first- and second-generation science curriculum projects, and describes the first national curriculum developed in Australia, the Australian Science Education Project (ASEP). (MK)

In 1984 Australia's federal government decided to reactivate the Curriculum Development Centre, an agency abandoned in the early 1980's for political and economic reasons. This paper examines the context in which the center currently acts and the operations that it conducts. The paper first considers background issues related to national…

Australia's Curriculum Development Centre was established by statute in 1975 in order to provide assistance at the national level to groups engaged in curriculum formation. The Centre's activities include the design, production, testing, and dissemination of educational materials and techniques; the evaluative study of school practice and…

In September 1979, representatives of 14 of the 20 member nations of the Asian Programme of Educational Innovation for Development met in Australia to discuss national strategies for curriculum design and development. This report on that conference begins with summaries of the position papers filed by the representatives from the Democratic…

An Australian language curriculum development project is examined for insights into approaching future national curriculum development efforts, focusing on coordination and management needs and appropriate patterns for the involvement and development of teachers. (MSE)

Describes the Language Development Project--the first national curriculum project in language education in Australia. (HOD)

To enhance the professional development of teachers and encourage an ongoing climate of innovation and reform, while providing for direct benefits for students, Australia's Schools Commission instituted a program allowing funds for curricular innovation to be granted directly to teachers. Interviews with a random sample of 45 of these grantees,…

Discusses some of the developmental efforts in environmental education in Australia. Cites studies which indicate that although the implementation of environmental education programs into Australian schools has increased, additional school-based planning is needed. Describes a new position paper which has been adopted as a model of curriculum…

Between 1986 and 1993 Australia developed a national curriculum framework of statements and profiles in eight learning areas. These areas were (1) English, (2) mathematics, (3) science, (4) studies of society and the environment, (5) arts, (6) health and physical education, (7) technology, and (8) languages other than English. This development…

The Australian Language Levels Project (ALL) is involved in the development of the guidelines for curriculum activities in both Languages-other-than-English (LOTE) and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL), in Australia. The ALL Project developed two kinds frameworks that contain guidelines with a degree of flexibility needed to be adapted to…

The report evaluates the Australian Second Language Learning Program, intended to promote introduction and expansion of second language learning in Australian elementary and secondary schools. The assessment was conducted after 2 years of the 4-year program development phase. The report consists of an executive summary and three main parts,…

This report contains recommendations and guidelines for the development of a national computer education program for all Australian schools. The introduction provides background information on the appointment of the National Advisory Committee on Computers in Schools, including the guidelines and objectives set for it by the government. Chapter 2,…

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia suffered a crisis of confidence in education in the 1980s that influenced their educational policy decisions. By examining these countries' educational concerns in the 1980s, this document portrays the national and international policy context that influenced school curriculum in that decade.…

This review of Australia's National Aboriginal Languages Program, undertaken in September-November 1989, involved consultation with individuals in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations and communities in several areas. It was found that 56% of 1988-89 funding went to Aboriginal communities and regional language centers, 20% to state schools,…