Guidelines

STEP 1
Ensure that you complete your community service by the end of term 3.

STEP 2 - RESEARCH
In order to answer the key question, what does it mean to be a citizen in Australia and a member of a democratic community, each member of the group needs to become informed.

Each member of the group must choose two of the research areas below, so each group will cover 8 of the 10 research areas. Each student will share his knowledge with the rest of the group. When you have decided who you are going to interview, some further research will probably be needed.

Research Areas
Choose two different questions each, so 8 of the 10 research areas will be explored by each group.

1 Investigate some historical and contemporary issues, such as the republican debate, the inclusion of a bill of rights in the Constitution, the flag, Indigenous recognition, and the division of federal and state powers.
2 Investigate the nature and history of the concept of human rights and national and international legislation designed to protect those rights.
3 Explore human rights issues at the national and international level, including an investigation of the human rights of Indigenous communities and other groups within Australia.
4 Explore key elements of modern democracy, such as the origins, purposes, objectives and constituencies of political parties, and the characteristics and operation of the electoral system.
5 Consider the ways that these allow citizens to participate in governance and how well these elements support democratic principles and values.
6 Consider other processes for influencing the views and actions of others, for example, through participation in organisations such as unions, environmental and other interest groups.
7 Evaluate the role of the Australian government as a global citizen, including Australia's role in the United Nations, through contexts such as government responses to environmental concerns such as global warming or other issues of environmental sustainability, natural disasters, peacekeeping operations, and national and global security issues.
8 Apply their knowledge about representative democracy and systems of government by researching and proposing possible action on an issue relevant to them at the local, state or national level.
9 Examine the processes for bringing about change through Australia's legal and political systems, including how state and federal laws are made and changed.
10 Explore what it means to be a leader and consider different leadership types and learn how they can lead by example.

STEP 3 - Questions

Choose two different questions each, so 8 of the 10 research areas will be explored by each group.

1 What is a democracy? What are democratic values? What are the key features of Australian democracy? How is Australia's democratic system different to at least one other democratic country?
2 What are the key features of the Australian political, government and legal systems?
3 What is Australia's place in the Asia Pacific region and the world?
4 What are the sustainable practices that underpin the future well-being of societies and the environment from a local to a global level?
5 What contribution has democracy made to Australia's history and national identity?
6 How are democratic decision-making, voting and leadership, rules and laws of governance, and concepts such as human rights and social justice associated with citizenship?
7 What are the origins and nature of Australia's federal political system and what changes would you recommend?
8 How do citizens influence government policy through participation in political parties, elections and membership of interest groups?
9 What skills and behaviours do individuals need to successfully interact with the community and to engage with organisations and groups?

STEP 4

When 8 of the RESEARCH areas and 8 of the QUESTIONS have been completed, and you have conducted your interviews, reflected on your community service, the Red Cross appeal, ANZAC Day, Millgrove and work experience (if undertaking it this year), then the group will need to share their knowledge and decide how to structure the presentation in order to answer the key question (what does it mean to be a citizen in Australia and a member of a democratic community) taking careful note of the marking criteria.