Sustainability as a cross-curricular priority in the Australian Curriculum: a Tasmanian investigation

Abstract

In this paper, we report on an investigation into sustainability education in schools in the Australian state of Tasmania following the implementation of the Australian Curriculum. Sustainability is one of three cross-curriculum priorities in the new national curriculum and is the focus of this research (sustainability cross-curriculum priority (CCP)). Principals and Curriculum Leaders (PCLs) from all schools in Tasmania were invited to complete a survey that asked them about their understanding of various aspects of sustainability and how the sustainability CCP was integrated across learning areas. Sixty-eight PCLs (24%) responded to the survey. They reported generally good understandings of sustainability and education for sustainability, but lesser understandings of the sustainability CCP and the nine organising ideas. Respondents’ understandings of sustainability were dominated by an environmental focus. The PCLs’ responses in relation to sustainability implementation across learning areas gave insights into ways that the sustainability CCP can serve as a pivot for cross-curricular teaching and learning, which is strongly advocated for achieving transformative sustainability education. We conclude this paper with a discussion of how the sustainability CCP is an important asset in the necessary reorientation of the Australian formal education system for a more sustainable future. We note the importance of professional support so that educators may better understand sustainability and its complexity as a cross-curricular priority and envision ways in which the sustainability CCP can be realised within education.

Keywords:

• education for sustainability
• sustainability
• curriculum change
• cross-curricular teaching
• professional learning
• interdisciplinary learning

Notes

1. At time of writing, the Australian Curriculum is under review after a change of federal government in September 2013. The cross-curriculum priorities have been nominated by the incoming conservative government as one of the focal points for the review, and it is unknown whether they will remain within the curriculum. The government has indicated that the outcome of the curriculum review will be published in the second half of 2014.

2. It is important to note that while curricular inclusion of sustainability as a CCP in the Australian Curriculum is new, it has been present within various state levels of curriculum for some time. For example, in Tasmania, the state-based curriculum was built around seven shared values, one of which was ‘responsibility’ which elaborated as ‘contributing to sustainable community development’ (Tasmanian Department of Education 2011).

3. A new UK Curriculum is being implemented from September 2014 and it is currently unclear as to whether these cross-curriculum dimensions will remain in effect.