Nazareth is celebrating a significant achievement, with its newly introduced Year 9 Civics and Citizenship course receiving a prestigious 2024 Governor’s Civics Award for Schools. Last week, teachers were honoured at Government House, recognising their efforts in establishing this innovative and impactful program.
The Civics and Citizenship course was introduced in 2024 to ensure students develop into active, informed young adults who understand and value democracy. While Civics and Citizenship is part of the Australian Curriculum, it is often overlooked in an overcrowded curriculum. To address this, Nazareth implemented the subject at Year 9, with over 350 students engaging in topics such as democracy and government, media influence, laws and the legal system, and economics and business.
“The aim is to make Nazareth students active and informed young adults so that they learn to value our democracy and to make sure they know how to protect their rights,” said Grace Rillo, Leader of Teaching and Learning – Humanities.
The program has been developed by a dedicated team of educators, including Grace Rillo, Laura Possingham, Rachel Heysen-Smith, and Kate Younie. Their commitment to creating an engaging and meaningful curriculum has been instrumental in its success.
Throughout the course, students explore key aspects of Australian identity, governance, and lawmaking. Hands-on experiences such as mock trials and mock elections further enrich their learning. The course also serves as a foundation for the Senior Years subject, Politics, Power & People.
Student engagement has been a key indicator of the program’s success. Surveys and testimonials have highlighted overwhelmingly positive feedback from the first students to undertake the subject. The course has also fostered strong community connections, through collaborations with the Electoral Commission, engagement with the Local MPs – Minister Joe Szakacs and Minister Blair Boyer, liaison with the office of the Premier, and staff professional development support from the Parliament House Educational Consultant.
Winning a Governor’s Civics Award for Schools is a testament to the dedication of our educators and commitment to fostering informed and engaged citizens, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to actively participate in and contribute to society.
