Episode 10
2nd May 2017
Teacher Resource
Citizenship
Students will investigate the rights
and responsibilities and shared
values of Australian citizenship.
1. Discuss the Citizenship Changes story with another student and
record the main points of the discussion.
2. What rights and responsibilities do Australian citizens have?
3. Why was a citizenship test introduced by former Prime Minister John
Howard?
4. What sorts of questions are in the test?
5. The Government are going to make the process of getting
citizenship easier. True or false?
6. Give an example of a change they are going to make.
7. New citizens will also have to prove they’re trying to fit into society
by…
8. Why are some people against the changes?
9. What do you think are Australia’s values?
10. What did you learn watching the BTN story?
After watching the BtN Citizenship Changes story, ask students to finish one
or more of the following incomplete sentences:
 This story made me wonder why...
 It was interesting to learn that...
 This story made me feel...
Civics and Citizenship Years 5 & 6
Present civics and citizenship ideas
and viewpoints for a particular
purpose
using civics and citizenship terms
and concepts (ACHCS045)
(ACHCS033)
Civics and Citizenship – Year 6
Who can be an Australian citizen, the
formal rights and responsibilities, and
shared values of
Australian citizenship (ACHCK038)
Identify over-generalised statements
in relation to civics and citizenship
topics and issues (ACHCS041)
Hold a class discussion about the information raised in the BTN story. What questions do students have
(what are the gaps in their knowledge)? The following questions may help guide the discussion:
 What does it mean to be an Australian citizen?
 How do people become Australian citizens?
 What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?
 What do you think are Australia’s values?
Use the following KWLH organiser as a framework to consider what they would like to know and learn.
What do I
know?
©ABC 2017
What do I want
to know?
What have I
learnt?
How will I find
out?
Six Hat Thinking
As a class, use Edward De Bono’s Six Hat Thinking to explore the
issue of citizenship in Australia. Make your own coloured hat cutouts and place on the floor.
Students will take it in turns answering questions in relation to what
they already know about the issue, what they have learned from the
BTN Citizenship story and what they want to learn further about the
topic.
Ask students to consider what rights and responsibilities they have as a citizen of Australia. Fill in the table
below.
Rights
of an Australian citizen
Responsibilities
of an Australian citizen
What are Australian values?
Ask students to brainstorm a list of values that they think define what it is to be an Australian. Students can
then survey people from their school community to find out what values are important to them. What are the
three values that they think are the most important to Australia? Reflect on their own beliefs. What do they
think is the most important value for Australia and why?
Migration in Australia
Students will investigate the experiences of people who have migrated
to Australia. Identify and explore the migration experience through the
eyes of one migrant group that has come to Australia. For example:

Chinese migrants who worked in the goldfields in the 1850s

Italian migrants that came to Australia during the 1950s and
60s

Vietnamese refugees who arrived in Australia after fleeing
their homeland in 1975
Display your research in an interesting way and include images, text
and audio. Answer some or all of the following questions:
©ABC 2017
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Who came?
Where did they come from?
When did they come?
Why did they come?
What was life like in Australia for them?
What contributions to Australian life did these individuals or cultural groups make?
Write a letter from the point of view of a newly arrived person describing their experiences to
a family member who remained back home.
Further Investigation
Many Australian citizens have shaped our nation into what it is today. Students will identify Australian
citizens whom they feel have contributed significantly to our national identity. Students prepare a
presentation for the class about what their chosen person has contributed to Australia. Students may want to
consider producing a painting of a famous Australian who has made a positive contribution to Australian
society and identity. Display the paintings in an ‘Australian Citizenship Gallery of Identities’.
Take the Test!
Students have a go at the Australian citizenship practise tests. Ask the students to reflect on the questions in
the test and ask them if they would change any of the questions. What would they change and why? Create
your own Australian citizenship test and then test your classmates.
Students watch the BTN Citizenship story and answer the following questions:
1. There are a few ways that you can be a
citizen of a country. Name one of them.
2. When a person applies to be a citizen, what
might they have to do?
3. What is dual citizenship?
4. What special rights do you have as a citizen
of Australia?
5. What responsibilities do Australian citizens
have?
6. How does the Australian government want
to change the citizenship laws?
7. Why are some people worried about
changing the laws?
8. Should the government be able to take away a person’s Australian citizenship? Why or why not?
©ABC 2017
BTN – Citizenship
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4247966.htm
ABC News – Australian citizenship law changes mean migrants will face tougher tests
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-20/migrants-to-face-tougher-tests-for-australian-citizenship/8456392
ABC News – Citizenship test: Australians around the country have their say on values
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-20/australians-share-values-after-citizenship-test-ovehaulproposed/8458154
©ABC 2017