1. The Shape of the Australian Curriculum v2.0 provides the policy background to
support implementation of the Foundation to Year 10 Australian Curriculum for English,
mathematics, science and history. It also provides the context for the next stage of
development of the Foundation to Year 12 curriculum and will promote ongoing discussion
about the shape of the Australian Curriculum as a whole — what is desired and how this
differs from current practice in states and territories.
2. The Shape of the Australian Curriculum (May 2009) was written to guide the
development of the first phase of the Australian Curriculum (English, mathematics, science
and history). It was approved by the Ministerial Council in September 2009.
3. A large part of the Shape of the Australian Curriculum v2.0 presents what has been
agreed about the structure and development of the Australian Curriculum, with particular
parts clearly indicating matters that require further discussion and debate. The ACARA
website provides further information about how feedback can be provided to ACARA on
the Shape of the Australian Curriculum v2.0. This second version of the shape paper will
guide the development of the second phase of the Australian Curriculum (geography,
languages and the Arts) and will inform the initial work on the rest of the Australian
Curriculum.
4. Development of the Australian Curriculum over the next 12 months and discussion
about the Australian Curriculum as a whole will result in the development of a further
version of the Shape of the Australian Curriculum towards the end of 2011.