The overall aim of the Australian Curriculum is to produce a final curriculum in the areas of English, History, Mathematics, Science, Geography, Languages other than English, Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Technologies, Economics, Business and Civic and Citizenship, that equips all young Australians with the essential skills, knowledge and capabilities to thrive and compete in the globalised world and information rich workplaces of the current century (Barry McGraw Chairperson ACARA)

Three Phases

The Australian Curriculum is being developed by the Australian, Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACARA) in three phases.

Phase 1: Mathematics, Science, History and English

Phase 2: Geography, the Arts and Languages

Phase 3: Health and Physical Education, Technologies, Economics, Business and Civics and Citizenship

Phase One

The three year formal implementation period commenced in schools in July 2012 for the Phase 1 learning areas.

By the beginning of 2015 all schools will have fully implemented the Australian Curriculum Phase 1 subjects and will

report in these subjects by the end of Semester 1, 2015.

Phase Two

The Australian Curriculum: Geography is due for online publication in Term 2 2013.

The Australian Curriculum: the Arts is due for online publication in May 2013.

The draft Australian Curriculum: Languages for Chinese and Italian is open for public consultation until April 2013. All other languages curricula are planned for completion by the end of 2013. This includes the draft Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages, and F-10 curricula for Arabic, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Phase Three

The draft Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education is available for national consultation from February until April 2013. Publication of the final online curriculum is due at the end of 2013.

The draft Australian Curriculum: Technologies including Design and Technologies and Digital Technologies is available for national consultation from mid February 2013. Publication of the final online curriculum is due at the end of 2013.

The Australian Curriculum: Economics and Business for Years 5-10 is due for final online publication late 2013.

The Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship for Years 3-10 is due for final online publication late 2013.