The New National Curriculum and Australian Archaeology
Abstract
Archaeology in Australian secondary history education is currently underutilised. When the discipline is referred to, archaeological principles are often referenced using international examples or those highlighting the nation’s European heritage. The incoming Version 9.0 of the national curriculum will include a new ‘Deep Time History of Australia’ teaching unit to Year 7 history, which brings archaeology and 60,000 years of First Nations cultures and heritage into the spotlight for the first time. Australian archaeologists must recognise the importance of engaging with school curricula, partnering with teachers and Indigenous communities to facilitate the respectful and accurate delivery of content. This presentation provides an overdue but necessary summary of Australian archaeology education, the national Year 7-10 history curriculum and ‘Deep Time History of Australia’. Using the textual analysis tool Voyant we draw the discipline’s attention to pertinent educational change, at a national level, and emphasise the role archaeologists can play in engaging with teachers, Indigenous communities and ‘Deep Time History of Australia’.
About the presenter
Georgia graduated with first-class honours from the University of Queensland last year. Her thesis focused on the topic of ‘archaeology education’ and the new ‘Deep Time History of Australia’ teaching unit. She presented her findings at the 2022 Australian Archaeological Association conference in Darwin and is now the co-chair of the Australian National Committee for Archaeology Teaching and Learning (ANCATL). In her present role at Everick Foundation, she is the Education Program Coordinator, coordinating projects relating to archaeology, education, and outreach. Georgia has a passion for engaging the public with Australia’s complex history and heritage.
About Archaeology Working Papers
The Working Papers in Archaeology seminar series provides a forum for dissemination of archaeological research and ideas amongst UQ archaeology students and staff. All students are invited to attend the series and postgraduate students, from honours upwards, are invited to present their research. The aim is to provide opportunities for students, staff and those from outside UQ, to present and discuss their work in an informal environment. It is hoped that anyone interested in current archaeological directions, both within and outside the School and University, will be able to attend and contribute to the series.
