Building geography’s new frontier : implementing the Australian Curriculum Geography

The introduction of Geography as a compulsory learning area from Foundation year, such as Kindergarten, to Year 8 in Australia provides new opportunities for learning and teaching. Opportunities, in part, will be driven by challenges associated with the introduction of this learning area. Key challenges are about variability: in take-up of the curriculum; teacher expertise in Geographical education; and resourcing. These challenges are examined in the context of the opportunities they afford for focussed teaching and learning in Geography that draws upon teacher expertise and quality resourcing. The importance of designing and implementing high quality learning experiences for students, based clearly on the Australian Curriculum Geography, is discussed using an exemplar.