Consumer and financial literacy: 7-10 Civics and Citizenship

7-10 Civics and Citizenship

The Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship is uniquely positioned to develop consumer and financial literacy in young people. The Civics and Citizenship curriculum supports the development of the dimensions of consumer and financial literacy as shown in the diagram below.

Approximate proportion of dimensions addressed in 7-10 Civics and Citizenship

Students develop enterprising skills in Civics and Citizenship through initiating and participating in student investigations and community activities. They learn to work productively with others towards common goals and develop the ability to plan and act for the benefit of the community, such as fundraising events. They also consider and develop an appreciation for the role that values play in the decisions that people and groups make and the importance of values to particular identities. These understandings and dispositions provide a platform for students to become active and informed citizens, to consider the consequences of their financial and consumer choices and to appreciate that there is often no one right consumer or financial decision because such decisions depend on individual circumstances, preferences and values. 

Becoming responsible consumers and financially literate citizens is underpinned by the range of competencies and skills students develop through studying Civics and Citizenship. Students learn to evaluate information and ideas, assess the impact of the media in shaping identities, and communicate arguments using appropriate language and conventions. These skills can be applied to a range of consumer and financial real-world contexts, such as evaluating and communicating how the media, including social media, influence consumer behaviour.

The development of consumer and financial literacy in Civics and Citizenship is supported by the understanding students develop about how government policy, such as economic policy, is shaped, how government policies reflect budgetary constraints, how statute laws such as tax law and employment law are made, and the role and responsibilities of the Australian Government in the global context.

Tax, Super and You provides a number of interdisciplinary units and interactive activities that include aspects of the Civics and Citizenship curriculum. Access a list of relevant resources that link to the Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship using the right-hand menu.