NTES National Curriculum Framework Library
Explore the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 from Foundation to Year 10, including learning areas, general capabilities, cross-curriculum priorities, achievement standards and state / territory implementation.
Australia is particularly useful for international benchmarking because it combines a national curriculum framework with jurisdictional responsibility for how that curriculum is implemented in schools.
Current Version
Australian Curriculum V9.0
Core Coverage
Foundation – Year 10
Curriculum Dimensions
3 Dimensions
Implementation
States & Territories
Important governance distinction
The Australian Curriculum establishes national learning expectations. State, territory and non-government education authorities determine the timing and approach to implementation, while schools translate those requirements into teaching and learning programmes.
Curriculum progression
Beginning of Schooling
Foundation Year
Foundation establishes the first formal year of the Australian Curriculum and provides the starting point for progression across the Foundation to Year 10 learning continuum.
Foundation Year
English
Mathematics
Science
Health & Physical Education
Humanities & Social Sciences
The Arts
Technologies
Languages
Primary Curriculum
Years 1–6
The primary years develop increasingly sophisticated knowledge, understanding and skills across the Australian Curriculum learning areas while general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities are developed through relevant learning content.
Years 1–6
English
Mathematics
Science
HASS
Health & Physical Education
The Arts
Technologies
Languages
Lower Secondary Curriculum
Years 7–10
Years 7–10 continue the national learning progression with greater disciplinary depth, subject specialisation, achievement standards and preparation for senior-secondary pathways.
Years 7–10
Disciplinary depth
Achievement standards
General capabilities
Cross-curriculum priorities
Digital Technologies
Career and future learning
Upper Secondary Context
Years 11–12
Senior-secondary education sits within a more jurisdictionally differentiated environment. ACARA publishes senior-secondary curriculum content in selected subjects, while states and territories operate their own senior-secondary certification and assessment systems.
Years 11–12
State / territory certification
Senior-secondary subjects
External and school-based assessment
University pathways
Vocational pathways
Three-dimensional curriculum
Version 9.0 organises the Australian Curriculum through three connected dimensions rather than treating capabilities and priorities as separate subjects.
The foundation of the curriculum, defining essential knowledge, understanding and skills.
Seven transferable capabilities developed through relevant learning-area content.
Three priorities that deepen learning where authentic curriculum connections exist.
Eight learning areas
Develops language, literacy and literature knowledge and skills across listening, speaking, reading, viewing and writing.
Develops mathematical understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem-solving across number, algebra, measurement, space, statistics and probability.
Develops scientific knowledge, inquiry skills and understanding of how science contributes to society.
Develops health knowledge, movement competence, wellbeing, relationships and active participation.
Includes Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Geography and History.
Includes Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts.
Includes Design and Technologies and Digital Technologies.
Provides curriculum frameworks for multiple languages and language-learning contexts.
Seven general capabilities
General capabilities are developed through learning-area content and are not standalone subjects.
Supports learners in generating ideas, evaluating information, reasoning, solving problems and thinking flexibly.
Develops knowledge and skills needed to use digital technologies effectively, responsibly and critically.
Supports learners in recognising ethical issues, considering perspectives and making reasoned decisions.
Develops understanding of cultures, identities, perspectives and respectful interaction.
Develops the knowledge and skills needed to interpret, create and communicate meaning across learning areas.
Develops the ability to use mathematical knowledge and skills effectively across curriculum and life contexts.
Develops self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships and responsible participation.
Cross-curriculum priorities
Supports deeper understanding of the histories, cultures, knowledge systems and contemporary experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Develops understanding of Asia, Australia's connections with the region and the cultural, economic and social relationships involved.
Supports understanding of environmental, social and economic systems and the development of informed action for sustainable futures.
Curriculum architecture
Learning areas form the foundation of the Australian Curriculum and identify essential content students should learn.
General capabilities are developed through learning-area content rather than taught as isolated standalone subjects.
The three priorities enrich learning-area content where they provide authentic and meaningful curriculum connections.
Content descriptions identify knowledge, understanding and skills students are expected to learn.
Achievement standards describe expected quality of learning at relevant year levels or bands.
Elaborations provide examples and illustrations of how content may be taught but are not mandatory curriculum content.
Jurisdictional implementation
States, territories and non-government sectors determine how and when Version 9.0 is implemented within their schools.
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction and school sectors determine implementation within national curriculum expectations.
Jurisdiction
Curriculum implementation operates through the NSW Education Standards Authority framework.
Jurisdiction
Victoria translates national curriculum expectations through its own curriculum framework and implementation arrangements.
Jurisdiction
Queensland schools implement national curriculum requirements through jurisdictional curriculum and assessment arrangements.
Jurisdiction
Implementation is determined through South Australian education and curriculum structures.
Jurisdiction
Western Australia operates its own curriculum and assessment arrangements aligned with national curriculum expectations.
Jurisdiction
Tasmanian authorities determine implementation and curriculum delivery within their jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction
Implementation is managed through Northern Territory education arrangements and school contexts.
Assessment & achievement
Define the essential knowledge, understanding and skills to be taught within learning areas.
Describe the expected quality of learning students should typically demonstrate.
Teachers use curriculum expectations and evidence of student learning to make professional judgements about progress and achievement.
States and territories operate additional assessment and reporting arrangements within their systems.
Student diversity
The Australian Curriculum provides flexibility for teachers to respond to individual student needs, interests and learning progress.
Schools can make appropriate adjustments so students with disability can access and participate in curriculum learning.
Curriculum guidance supports learners for whom English is an additional language or dialect.
Schools can extend and challenge students through curriculum differentiation and appropriate learning experiences.
Digital curriculum
Digital Technologies is a subject within the Technologies learning area and develops computational thinking, digital systems knowledge and data-related skills.
Digital Literacy is also one of the seven general capabilities and is developed across relevant learning areas.
Learners should develop appropriate, critical and responsible use of digital technologies.
Digital capability can be applied across subjects rather than being confined only to computing lessons.
School implementation
Schools need coherent progression maps connecting content descriptions and achievement standards across Foundation to Year 10.
Curriculum planning should connect learning areas with relevant general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities.
Schools must follow the implementation requirements of their state, territory and school sector rather than relying only on the national website.
Assessment tasks should produce evidence aligned with curriculum content and relevant achievement standards.
Schools should distinguish Digital Technologies subject learning from the broader Digital Literacy capability.
Curriculum implementation should provide appropriate adjustments, extension and personalisation for diverse learners.
Priorities should be embedded where authentic and relevant rather than added artificially to every lesson.
Curriculum evidence can inform professional learning, teaching review, learner progress analysis and wider school improvement.
Governance overview
| Dimension | National Role | State / Territory Role |
|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum | Defines national F–10 curriculum content and achievement standards | Determines timeline and approach to implementation |
| Teaching Programmes | Provides curriculum expectations and supporting resources | Schools and systems translate expectations into teaching programmes |
| Assessment | Includes achievement standards and national curriculum expectations | States and territories operate additional assessment and reporting arrangements |
| Senior Secondary | ACARA provides senior-secondary curriculum in selected subjects | States and territories operate certification, assessment and qualification systems |
Official Australian resources
Schools should use both the national Australian Curriculum and the relevant state, territory or sector authority when determining formal implementation requirements.
Official Australian Curriculum website providing Foundation to Year 10 curriculum, learning areas, achievement standards and planning resources.
Open Australian CurriculumOfficial overview explaining Version 9.0, curriculum structure and implementation.
Explore F–10 CurriculumOfficial overview of the seven general capabilities embedded across Australian Curriculum learning areas.
Explore General CapabilitiesOfficial overview of the three cross-curriculum priorities and how they are incorporated through learning-area content.
Explore PrioritiesOfficial guidance explaining how states, territories, sectors and schools determine Version 9.0 implementation.
Explore ImplementationAustralian Government explanation of the Australian Curriculum and the role of state, territory and non-government authorities.
Government Curriculum OverviewThe national curriculum establishes common expectations, but implementation, assessment and school requirements vary between states, territories and education sectors. Schools should therefore verify the requirements applying to their own jurisdiction.
NT Education Solutions is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with ACARA, the Australian Government or Australian state and territory education authorities.
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