The status of Geography in Australian schools

In some ways the subject has been strengthened by the introduction of the Australian curriculum. It is now a mandatory subject from Foundation
(Kindergarten, Prep, Reception) to Year 8, 9 or 10, depending on the state or territory. In primary schools it may be taught as a component of a combined
HASS subject, but has a separate Knowledge and Understanding sub-strand in the curriculum. This means that whereas geography was previously taught within an integrated social studies in most states and territories, a practice that was widely
criticised as lacking in rigour and depth, it now has a separate disciplinary identity. Whether it is taught this way in primary schools, however, has not been studied. In secondary schools, geography is a separate subject from Years 7 to 12, which it
wasn’t previously in some states and territories.
The introduction of the Australian curriculum has
consequently strengthened geography’s identity,
and it was the fifth subject to have a curriculum
developed by ACARA