Recent research indicates that Australian school students are demonstrating a decreased understanding of the nation’s political systems, democracy, and civic processes, particularly in light of the upcoming Federal Election. Data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) reveals that students in Years 6 to 10 achieved the lowest assessment scores in the Civics and Citizenship component since its initiation in 2004. Alarmingly, 57% of Year 6 students and 72% of Year 10 students did not meet the ‘proficient’ standard in 2024, a stark contrast to 2019 when 53% of Year 6s and 38% of Year 10s were considered proficient.
The decline has been correlated with reduced participation in civics-related school activities, specifically excursions to significant civic sites. This trend mirrors a broader international pattern where civics education outcomes are falling. ACARA CEO Stephen Gnie emphasised the importance of robust civics education to foster engagement in social and political issues among young Australians.
Despite these trends, students still expressed a strong interest in learning about Australia’s history and civic institutions, showing concern for issues like pollution and climate change. Additionally, girls generally performed better than boys, while students from metropolitan areas outperformed those from rural regions. As society’s future leaders, it is vital that these students receive adequate civics education to empower their contributions.