HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE

This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of small business ownership and entrepreneurship. Students will explore how businesses operate, identify opportunities in the marketplace, develop business ideas, and create a simple business plan. Through practical activities, case studies, and collaborative projects, students will gain an understanding of financial literacy, marketing, customer service, business ethics, and responsible decision-making.

The unit encourages creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and enterprise skills while helping students understand the role of small businesses in local communities and the Australian economy. Students design a realistic small business that could operate within their school or local community. They will produce a business plan, marketing materials, financial projections, and deliver a professional pitch to a panel of teachers, community members, or local business owners. This project demonstrates the practical application of enterprise, financial, communication, and leadership skills developed throughout the unit.

This unit introduces students to the world of entrepreneurship, innovation, and business creation. Students will explore how entrepreneurs identify opportunities, solve problems, create value, and launch successful ventures. Through practical activities, design thinking challenges, case studies, and project-based learning, students will develop the skills needed to transform ideas into viable products, services, or social enterprises.

The course emphasises creativity, leadership, resilience, financial literacy, communication, and ethical decision-making. Students will finish the unit by developing and pitching an entrepreneurial venture that addresses a real-world need or opportunity. Students develop an original entrepreneurial venture that solves a genuine problem or meets a community need. They will:

• Identify an opportunity
• Conduct market research
• Develop a prototype or concept
• Create a business model
• Prepare financial projections
• Design marketing materials
• Deliver a professional investor-style pitch

A panel of teachers, business leaders, and community members will assess the presentations and provide feedback to students.

Driving Question

“How can innovative ideas create value and make a positive impact on the world?”

This question encourages students to see entrepreneurship not simply as starting a business, but as a mindset focused on creativity, initiative, leadership, and meaningful problem-solving.

Business is multifaceted. It is a contemporary discipline with representation in every aspect of society including individuals, community and government. Business, as a dynamic and evolving discipline, is responsive to environmental changes such as emerging technologies, globalisation, sustainability, resources, economy and society.

The study of business is relevant to all individuals in a rapidly changing, technology-focused and innovation-driven world. Through studying Business, students are challenged academically and exposed to authentic practices. The knowledge and skills developed in Business will allow students to contribute meaningfully to society, the workforce and the marketplace and prepare them as potential employees, employers, leaders, managers and entrepreneurs of the future.

Students investigate the business life cycle from the seed to post-maturity stage and develop skills in examining business data and information. Students learn business concepts, theories and strategies relevant to leadership, management and entrepreneurship. A range of business situations and environments is explored. Through this exploration, students investigate the influence of and implications for strategic development in the functional areas of finance, human resources, marketing and operations.

Learning in Business integrates an inquiry approach with authentic case studies. Students become critical observers of business practices by applying an inquiry process in undertaking investigations of business situations. They use a variety of technological, communication and analytical tools to comprehend, analyse and interpret business data and information. Students evaluate strategies using business criteria that are flexible, adaptable and underpinned by communication, leadership, creativity and sophistication of thought.

This multifaceted course creates a learning environment that fosters ambition and success, while being mindful of social and ethical values and responsibilities. Opportunity is provided to develop interpersonal and leadership skills through a range of individual and collaborative activities in teaching and learning. Business develops students’ confidence and capacity to participate as members or leaders of the global workforce through the integration of 21st century skills.

Business allows students to engage with the dynamic business world (in both national and global contexts), the changing workforce and emerging digital technologies. It addresses contemporary implications, giving students a competitive edge in the workplace as socially responsible and ethical members of the business community, and as informed citizens, employees, consumers and investors.

Business Studies provides opportunities for students to develop practical business knowledge and skills for use, participation and work in a range of business contexts.

Exciting and challenging career opportunities exist in a range of business contexts. A course of study in Business Studies focuses on business essentials and communication skills delivered through business contexts. Students explore business concepts and develop business practices to produce solutions to business situations.

Business practices provide the foundation of an organisation to enable it to operate and connect with its customers, stakeholders and community. The business practices explored in this course of study could include working in administration, working in finance, working with customers, working in marketing, working in events, and entrepreneurship. 

In a course of study, students develop their business knowledge and understanding through applying business practices in business contexts, such as retail, health services, entertainment, tourism, travel and mining. Schools may offer a range of situations and experiences to engage in authentic learning experiences through connections within the school, local community or organisations, businesses and professionals outside of the school. These situations and experiences provide students with opportunities to develop skills important in the workplace to successfully participate in future employment.

Students develop effective decision-making skills and learn how to plan, implement and evaluate business practices, solutions and outcomes, resulting in improved literacy, numeracy and 21st century skills. They examine business information and apply their knowledge and skills related to business situations. The knowledge and skills developed in Business Studies enables students to participate effectively in the business world and as citizens dealing with issues emanating from business activities.

Ancient History is concerned with studying people, societies and civilisations of the Ancient World, from the development of the earliest human communities to the end of the Middle Ages. Students explore the interaction of societies and the impact of individuals and groups on ancient events and ways of life, enriching their appreciation of humanity and the relevance of the ancient past.

Ancient History illustrates the development of some of the distinctive features of modern society which shape our identity, such as social organisation, systems of law, governance and religion. Ancient History highlights how the world has changed, as well as the significant legacies that continue into the present. This insight gives context for the interconnectedness of past and present across a diverse range of societies. Ancient History aims to have students think historically and form a historical consciousness. A study of the past is invaluable in providing students with opportunities to explore their fascination with, and curiosity about, stories of the past and the mysteries of human behaviour.

Throughout the course of study, students develop an understanding of historical issues and problems by interrogating the surviving evidence of ancient sites, societies, individuals, events and significant historical periods. Students investigate the problematic nature of evidence, pose increasingly complex questions about the past and develop an understanding of different and sometimes conflicting perspectives on the past.

A historical inquiry process is integral to the study of Ancient History. Students use the skills of historical inquiry to investigate the past. They devise historical questions and conduct research, analyse historical sources and evaluate and synthesise evidence from sources to formulate justified historical arguments. Historical skills form the learning and subject matter provides the context. Learning in context enables the integration of historical concepts and understandings into four units of study: Investigating the Ancient World, Personalities in their times, Reconstructing the Ancient World, and People, power and authority.

A course of study in Ancient History empowers students with multi-disciplinary skills in analysing and evaluating textual and visual sources, constructing arguments, challenging assumptions, and thinking both creatively and critically. Ancient History students become knowledge creators, productive and discerning users of technology, and empathetic, open-minded global citizens.

*Students will opt for either Ancient or Modern History

Modern History is a discipline-based subject where students examine traces of humanity’s recent past so they may form their own views about the Modern World since 1750. Through Modern History, students’ curiosity and imagination is invigorated while their appreciation of civilisation is broadened and deepened. Students consider different perspectives and learn that interpretations and explanations of events and developments in the past are contestable and tentative. Modern History distinguishes itself from other subjects by enabling students to empathise with others and make meaningful connections between what existed previously, and the world being lived in today — all of which may help build a better tomorrow.

Modern History has two main aims. First, Modern History seeks to have students gain historical knowledge and understanding about some of the main forces that have contributed to the development of the Modern World. Second, Modern History aims to have students engage in historical thinking and form a historical consciousness in relation to these same forces. Both aims complement and build on the learning covered in the Australian Curriculum: History 7–10. The first aim is achieved through the thematic organisation of Modern History around four of the forces that have helped to shape the Modern World — ideas, movements, national experiences and international experiences. In each unit, students explore the nature, origins, development, legacies and contemporary significance of the force being examined. The second aim is achieved through the rigorous application of historical concepts and historical skills across the syllabus. To fulfil both aims, engagement with a historical inquiry process is integral and results in students devising historical questions and conducting research, analysing, evaluating and synthesising evidence from historical sources, and communicating the outcomes of their historical thinking.

Modern History benefits students as it enables them to thrive in a dynamic, globalised and knowledge-based world. Through Modern History, students acquire an intellectual toolkit consisting of literacy, numeracy and 21st century skills. This ensures students of Modern History gain a range of transferable skills that will help them forge their own pathways to personal and professional success, as well as become empathetic and critically literate citizens who are equipped to embrace a multicultural, pluralistic, inclusive, democratic, compassionate and sustainable future.

*Students will opt for either Ancient or Modern History

Social & Community Studies fosters personal and social knowledge and skills that lead to self-management and concern for others in the broader community. It empowers students to think critically, creatively and constructively about their future role in society.

Knowledge and skills to enhance personal development and social relationships provide the foundation of the subject. Personal development incorporates concepts and skills related to self-awareness and self-management, including understanding personal characteristics, behaviours and values; recognising perspectives; analysing personal traits and abilities; and using strategies to develop and maintain wellbeing.

The focus on social relationships includes concepts and skills to assist students engage in constructive interpersonal relationships, as well as participate effectively as members of society, locally, nationally or internationally. Students engage with this foundational knowledge and skills through a variety of topics that focus on lifestyle choices, personal finance, health, employment, technology, the arts, and Australia’s place in the world, among others. In collaborative learning environments, students use an inquiry approach to investigate the dynamics of society and the benefits of working thoughtfully with others in the community, providing them with the knowledge and skills to establish positive relationships and networks, and to be active and informed citizens.

Social & Community Studies encourages students to explore and refine personal values and lifestyle choices. In partnership with families, the school community and the community beyond school, including virtual communities, schools may offer a range of contexts and experiences that provide students with opportunities to practise, develop and value social, community and workplace participation skills.