The Australian Curriculum
The Australian Curriculum is a national framework that sets out the core knowledge, understanding, skills, and general capabilities important for all Australian students from Foundation (Prep) to Year 10. It ensures consistency in what students are taught across the country, regardless of where they live or go to school.
· ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) is responsible for developing and maintaining the Australian Curriculum from Foundation (Prep) to Year 10.
· It provides national content descriptions, achievement standards, and teaching expectations for all schools in these years.
✅ 1. What is the Australian Curriculum?
The Australian Curriculum is a comprehensive educational framework that outlines:
· What students should learn at each year level.
· Standards for student achievement.
· A consistent national approach to teaching and learning.
It is designed to support students in becoming:
· Successful learners
· Confident and creative individuals
· Active and informed citizens
🏛️ 2. Who is responsible for it?
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is responsible for:
· Developing
· Reviewing
· Implementing
the Australian Curriculum.
🔗 ACARA Website: https://www.acara.edu.au
📚 3. What does the curriculum include (Foundation to Year 10)?
The Australian Curriculum for Prep (Foundation) to Year 10 consists of three key dimensions:
A. Learning Areas (8)
These are the subject areas students must study:
· English
· Mathematics
· Science
· Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
o Includes History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, and Economics and Business (from Year 5+)
· The Arts
o Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music, Visual Arts
· Technologies
o Design and Technologies, Digital Technologies
· Health and Physical Education (HPE)
· Languages
o Optional, depending on your jurisdiction
B. General Capabilities (7)
These are integrated across the curriculum to help students develop broader life skills:
· Literacy
· Numeracy
· ICT Capability
· Critical and Creative Thinking
· Personal and Social Capability
· Ethical Understanding
· Intercultural Understanding
C. Cross-Curriculum Priorities (3)
These themes are embedded in all learning areas where relevant:
· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
· Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia
· Sustainability
📘 More Information:
Browse the full curriculum by year level or subject:
🔗 https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
📚 Caravan Classroom and the Australian Curriculum
✅Do I need to follow the Australian Curriculum while travelling?
It’s one of the most common questions we hear - and the answer really depends on your goals and your state or territory’s requirements.
In Australia, home schooling is regulated at the state and territory level, and each jurisdiction has different requirements regarding whether the Australian Curriculum must be followed.
Click here for links to the home school education authority in your state or territory.
If you’re registered for home education in a state that doesn’t explicitly require you to follow the Australian Curriculum, it’s natural to wonder whether it’s necessary at all. But here’s the key reason why we do recommend using it:
Continuity.
🛤️ Why Follow the Australian Curriculum on the Road?
Caravan Classroom was created especially for families stepping away from mainstream schooling temporarily - not long-term home schoolers. In these cases, keeping your child connected to the Australian Curriculum helps ensure a smooth transition:
· From school → to the caravan → and back again
Because the Australian Curriculum is designed to be sequential - with knowledge and skills building year on year - staying aligned with its structure can make your child’s return to the classroom more seamless and less stressful.
🔍 What’s Covered in Our Plans?
Our education plans are carefully mapped to all 8 key learning areas of the Australian Curriculum:
· English
· Mathematics
· Science
· Humanities and Social Sciences
· Technologies
· The Arts
· Health and Physical Education
· Languages
But don’t worry - this isn’t to overwhelm you.
It’s to empower you.
We believe that when you can see the full picture, you’re in the best position to make informed choices about what’s realistic, meaningful, and achievable for your child while travelling.
🎯 Focus on What Matters Most
We encourage families to prioritise English and Mathematics as core subjects. These foundational skills support all other learning and are essential for a confident return to school.
From there, you can decide which additional subjects to incorporate based on:
· Your child’s interests, learning needs and goals
· Your travel plans and destinations
· The curriculum requirements in your state or territory
Read more about the Australian Curriculum - What to keep and what to cull.
💡 How Our Plans Help
Caravan Classroom plans provide:
✅ Learning blocks for all 8 key learning areas explicitly mapped to the Australian Curriculum
✅ Editable templates and rationales to support home education registration
✅ Flexibility to add to, adjust, or skip areas as needed
✅ Suggestions for making real-life travel experiences count toward curriculum outcomes
We do the heavy lifting - so you can focus on delivering a high-quality education with confidence, clarity, and flexibility.
