HSC Online - Australian Values

5/1/2014 HSC Online - Australian Voices - Introduction

http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/english/esl/experience/elect1/3665/aust_voices.htm#values 1/7

Australian values

Consider what "Australian values" are. The focus on "Australian voices" in this Elective requires anawareness of what it means to be "Australian." Some would argue that this entails respect andhonouring of Australian values.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Think: What values do you see as important to have a good society? Why?

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Vocabulary:

Values - ____________________________________________________________

Principles - __________________________________________________________

Description of Australian values

From http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/english/lia_english_part1.pdf - p.4(Published in October 2007 - during John Howard's time as Prime Minister)

"To maintain a stable, peaceful and prosperous community, Australians of all backgrounds areexpected to uphold the shared principles and values that underpin Australian society. Thesevalues provide the basis for Australia's free and democratic society. They include:

respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individualfreedom of speechfreedom of religion and secular governmentfreedom of associationsupport for parliamentary democracy and the rule of lawequality under the lawequality of men and womenequality of opportunitypeacefulnessa spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect and compassion for thosein need.

While shared to some extent by many other countries, these values and principles have beenadapted to Australia's unique setting, shaped and modernised through the settlement in Australiaof millions of people from all over the world. Although they may be expressed differently bydifferent people, their meaning remains the same. []

This statement of shared values and principles does not seek to make everyone the same with the



same beliefs. In fact, respect for the free-thinking individual and the right to be 'different' arefoundations of Australian democracy.

The aim is to help new residents understand the basic values that have helped to create asociety that is stable but at the same time dynamic; cohesive yet diverse.

In Australia, people have many freedoms. However, in taking advantage of these freedoms,everyone is required to obey Australia's laws, which have been put in place by democraticallyelected governments to maintain an orderly, free and safe society."

Reading activity: Australian Values - Barrier gap

Person (A)From http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/english/lia_english_part1.pdf - p.4(Published in October 2007 - during John Howard's time as Prime Minister)

[Note for teachers: This passage can be read in pairs as a barrier gap activity. For each of thegaps, person A and person B need to formulate a question to find the answer. For example,person A's first question might be, "What kind of community is maintained by its people upholdingshared principles and values?"]

To maintain a _____, ________ and __________ community, Australians of all backgrounds areexpected to uphold the shared principles and values that underpin Australian society. Thesevalues provide the basis for Australia's free and democratic society. They include:

respect for the _________ _________, __________ and __________ of the individualfreedom of speechfreedom of _________ and ___________ governmentfreedom of associationsupport for parliamentary __________ and the ___________ ____ _________equality under the lawequality of _______ and ______equality of opportunity______________a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect and compassion for thosein need.

While shared to some extent by many other countries, these values and principles have beenadapted to Australia's unique setting, shaped and modernised through the settlement in Australiaof millions of people from all over the world. Although they may be expressed differently bydifferent people, their meaning ________________________________. []

This statement of shared values and principles does not seek to make everyone the same with thesame beliefs. In fact, respect for the free-thinking individual and the right to be 'different' arefoundations of Australian democracy.

The aim is to help new residents __________________________ that have helped to create asociety that is stable but at the same time dynamic; cohesive yet diverse.

In Australia, people have many freedoms. However, in taking advantage of these freedoms,everyone is required to obey Australia's laws, which have been put in place by democraticallyelected governments to maintain an orderly, free and safe society.

Reading activity: Australian Values - Barrier gap



Person (B)From http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/english/lia_english_part1.pdf - p.4(Published in October 2007 - during John Howard's time as Prime Minister)

To maintain a stable, peaceful and prosperous community, Australians of all backgrounds areexpected to uphold the shared principles and values that underpin Australian society. Thesevalues provide the basis for Australia's ______ and ___________ society. They include:

respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individualfreedom of ___________freedom of religion and secular governmentfreedom of ____________support for parliamentary democracy and the rule of law_________ under the ________equality of men and womenequality of _____________peacefulnessa spirit of ___________ that embraces _________, mutual ________ and __________ forthose in ___________.

While shared to some extent by many other countries, these values and principles have beenadapted to Australia's unique setting, shaped and modernised through the settlement in Australiaof millions of people from all over the world. Although they may be expressed differently bydifferent people, their meaning remains the same.

[]

This statement of shared values and principles does not seek to ___________________________________. In fact, respect for the free-thinking individual and the right to be 'different' arefoundations of Australian democracy.

The aim is to help new residents understand the basic values that have helped to create asociety that is stable but at the same time dynamic; cohesive yet diverse.

In Australia, people have many freedoms. However, in taking advantage of these freedoms,everyone is required to _________________________, which have been put in place bydemocratically elected governments to maintain an orderly, free and safe society.

Download a Word version of these activities.

Explanation of each value

From http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/english/lia_english_part1.pdf pp.5-7

Respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual

All Australians are free and equal and are expected to treat each other with dignity andrespect. Commonwealth laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex,disability andage in a range of areas of public life under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, SexDiscrimination Act 1984, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Age Discrimination Act2004. There is a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission which is responsible forhandling complaints under these laws.

Australians reject the use of violence, intimidation or humiliation as ways of settling conflictin our society.

Information online: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission www.hreoc.gov.au.



Freedom of speechAll Australians are free, within the bounds of the law, to say or write what they think aboutAustralian governments or about any other subject or social issue as long as they do notendanger people, make false allegations or obstruct the free speech of others.

The same applies to Australian newspapers, radio and television and other forms of media.Australians are free to protest the actions of government and to campaign to change laws.

Freedom of speech allows people to express themselves and to discuss ideas. There arelaws that protect an individual's good name against false information or lies. There are alsolaws against inciting hatred against others because of their culture, ethnicity orbackground.

Freedom of religion and secular governmentAll Australians are free to follow any religion they choose, so long as its practices do notbreak any Australian law. Australians are also free to not follow a religion. Religiousintolerance is not acceptable in Australian society.

Australia has a secular government - it does not have any official or state religion.Governments treat all citizens as equal regardless of religion.

Religious laws have no legal status in Australia and only those laws enacted by parliamentapply, for example, in divorce matters. Some religious or cultural practices, such as bigamy(being married to more than one person at the same time) are against the law in Australia.

Freedom of associationSubject to the law, Australians are free to gather together and to protest against thegovernment or any other organisation as long as the protest is peaceful and does notdamage or injure any people or property. The freedom to associate includes the freedom tojoin or not to join any organisation or group, provided it is legal. Such organisations andgroups include political parties, trade unions and social groups.

Support for parliamentary democracy and the rule of lawAustralia is a parliamentary democracy, which means that Australian citizens participate inhow the country is governed and how Australian society is represented. Governments areaccountable to all Australians. Elected parliaments are the only bodies able to make laws inAustralia or delegate the authority to make laws.

Everyone in Australia must obey laws established by governments. Equally, all Australiansare protected by the rule of law. This means that no-one is exempt from or 'above the law',even people who hold positions of power, like politicians or the police.

Equality under the lawAll Australians are equal under the law. This means that nobody should be treateddifferently from anybody else because of their race, ethnicity or country of origin; becauseof their age, gender, marital status or disability; or because of their political or religiousbeliefs. Government agencies and independent courts must treat everyone fairly.

Being treated equally means that getting a job or being promoted must be on the basis of aperson's skills, ability and experience, not their cultural background or political beliefs. It alsomeans that people cannot be refused service in a shop or hotel or other service facilitybecause of their race, colour, religion, gender or marital status.

Equality of men and womenMen and women have equal rights in Australia. Jobs and professions are open equally towomen and men. Men and women can serve in the military and both can also hold positionsin government.

Equality of opportunity and a spirit of egalitarianismAustralians value equality of opportunity and what is often called a 'fair go'. This means thatwhat someone achieves in life should be a product of their talents, work and effort rather



than their birth or favouritism.

Australians have a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance and fairplay. This does not mean that everyone is the same or that everybody has equal wealth orproperty. The aim is to ensure there are no formal class distinctions in Australian society.

PeacefulnessAustralians are proud of their peaceful society. They believe that change should occur bydiscussion, peaceful persuasion and the democratic process. They reject violence as a wayof changing peoples' minds or the law.

In addition to these values, Australians also pursue the public good and have compassion forthose in need. There is a strong community spirit in Australia and Australians seek toenhance and improve the society in which they live.

Many Australians contribute to the community in their daily lives. They may demonstratethis through caring for the environment, lending a hand and working together in times ofneed in pursuit of the public good.

Australia has a strong tradition of 'mateship', where people provide help to othersvoluntarily, especially those in difficulty. A mate is often a friend but can also be a spouse,partner, brother, sister, daughter or son. A mate can also be a total stranger. There is alsoa strong tradition of community service and volunteering.

The values outlined above have been promoted and discussed by Australians over manyyears. They have helped Australia to welcome and integrate successfully millions of peoplefrom many ethnic groups and cultural traditions.

Australia's cultural diversity is a strength which makes for a dynamic society. Within theframework of Australia's laws, all Australians have the right to express their culture andbeliefs. But at the same time, all Australians are asked to make an overriding commitment toAustralia - its laws, its values and its people.

Critiquing Australian values

Consider the following questions about the construction of "Australian values":

These values were written down in the Australian Government's Department of Immigrationand Citizenship's book "Life in Australia ". What is the book's stated purpose (see page1)?

Who is the audience for this book (see page 1)?

This book was published in 2007. What was the context of the publishing of this book?[Who was Prime Minister? How did the government/ community react to the September 11attacks in 2001, the Tampa crisis in 2001 and the Cronulla Riots in 2004?]

Considering the context of this book's construction, what could be some otherpurposes for writing this book?

What are the assumptions behind these values about what a 'true' Australian values andbelieves?

Australian values in your prescribed text

Think about your prescribed text and Australian values. The following questions will help you form



statements synthesising your text and Australian values that you can use in your extendedresponse.

Who are the voices in your text?Are the voices in your text distinct from each other? How?Do particular voices in your text reflect or appeal to Australian values in their words andactions? Explain your answer.How are you positioned in the text to view these voices? Are your positioned to considerany of these voices as breaching Australian values?What is the most important Australian value in your text? Explain your answer.

Australian Voices extended response questions

Essays:

"There are many distinct voices that shape our interpretation of events and situations."How is language used to represent a distinctly Australian voice in the texts that you havestudied? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and ONE text of your own choosing.

Discuss the ways in which responders are emotionally connected to the Australian voicespresented in your prescribed text and ONE other text of your own choosing.

Explain how the composers of your prescribed text and ONE text of your own choosingpresent a range of distinctly Australian voices that influence readers' perspectives onAustralian issues.

"Australian voices are distinct because of their individuality and non-conformity."To what extent have the texts you have studied explored this idea? In your response youmust refer to your prescribed text and ONE other text of your own choosing.

What distinctly Australian voices have you been able to identify in the texts you havestudied? Explain how these voices are presented to the responder, discussing yourprescribed text and ONE text of your own choosing.

Write a reflection on how the distinct Australian voices in the text you have studied haveimpacted you. Refer to your prescribed text and ONE text of your own choosing.

How has the study of Australian Voices shaped your perceptions of and relationships withothers and the world? In your response you must refer to your prescribed text and ONEother text of your own choosing.

How is language used to represent voice in the texts you have studied? In your responseyou must refer to your prescribed text and ONE other text of your own choosing.What different types of voices are evident in the texts you have studied? How are thesevoices represented? In your response you must refer to your prescribed text and ONE othertext of your own choosing.

Is a distinctly Australian voice, or voices, created in the texts you have studied? How doesthe creation of this voice or these voices affect your interpretation and shape meaning? Inyour response you must refer to your prescribed text and ONE other text of your ownchoosing.

"Persuasive voices change the world."To what degree have the texts you have studied explored this idea? In your response youmust refer to your prescribed text and ONE other text of your own choosing.

"A voice must be emotive and connect to their listeners to make an impact on them."



Evaluate this statement. In your response you must refer to your prescribed text and ONEother text of your own choosing.

Speeches:

You are going to give a speech to Year 12 teachers and students about texts on AustralianVoices that have made a strong impact on you. Write the speech explaining the effect ofTWO texts you have studied on you.

You have been invited to give a presentation to introduce Year 11 students to the electiveAustralian Voices. Write the script for your talk in which you describe the Australian voicesthat interest you. Refer to your prescribed text and ONE other text.

You have been asked to give a speech at an Australia Day celebration. Write the text ofyour speech, discussing "the many distinct voices within Australia." Discuss the voices inyour prescribed text and ONE other text of your own choosing.

Radio interview/ Panel discussion:

Write the transcript of an interview between a radio host, Carmel Bird and the composer ofONE related text of your own choosing. Discuss how the two texts project Australianvoices.

Feature Article:

Write a feature article for your local community newspaper about "Australian Voices". Inyour article, discuss the voices in your prescribed text and ONE text of your own choosing.

HSC Online - Australian Values

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