HASS · Year 10

Active learning ideas

The White Australia Policy: Origins and Impact

Active learning works for this topic because students grapple with Australia’s complex social history through concrete, relatable lenses like media, food, and citizenship. These tangible connections help them move beyond abstract ideas about policy to see real impacts on daily life and identity.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9H10K07

• 25–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 50 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Role of SBS

In small groups, students research the history and mission of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). They analyze a current SBS program or news report and discuss how it reflects the policy of multiculturalism compared to mainstream media. Groups present their findings as a 'media pitch' for a new multicultural show.

Analyze the historical factors that led to the implementation of the White Australia Policy.

Facilitation Tip

During Collaborative Investigation: The Role of SBS, assign small groups distinct roles to ensure all students engage with the archive materials and contribute to the group’s findings.

What to look for

Provide students with a quote from a politician or newspaper from the early 20th century justifying the White Australia Policy. Ask them to write two sentences identifying the main argument and one sentence explaining why this argument is considered discriminatory today.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Formal Debate
• 45 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: Assimilation vs. Multiculturalism

Divide the class to represent the 'Assimilation' policies of the 1950s and the 'Multiculturalism' policies of the 1970s. Students must argue the pros and cons of each approach for social cohesion and national identity. This helps students understand the fundamental shift in how Australia views its citizens.

Explain the various legislative tools used to enforce racial discrimination in immigration.

Facilitation Tip

For Structured Debate: Assimilation vs. Multiculturalism, provide clear time limits for opening arguments, rebuttals, and summaries to keep the debate focused and inclusive.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'How did the White Australia Policy shape the social fabric and identity of Australia for decades?' Facilitate a class discussion where students share examples of its impact on different communities and national development.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The 'Food' of Multiculturalism

Students list their favorite foods and identify their cultural origins. They discuss in pairs how the arrival of different migrant groups has changed the Australian 'diet' and what this says about cultural exchange. They then share their thoughts on whether food is a 'surface' or 'deep' part of multiculturalism.

Critique the social and economic justifications for the White Australia Policy.

Facilitation Tip

During Think-Pair-Share: The 'Food' of Multiculturalism, ask students to bring a small item or image related to a dish to ground their discussion in personal experience.

What to look for

Present students with a list of immigration policies enacted in Australia between 1900 and 1960. Ask them to identify which policies were part of the White Australia Policy and briefly explain the purpose of the Dictation Test.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Experienced teachers approach this topic by using primary sources to humanize history, such as early 20th-century newspaper articles or citizenship pledges, to show how policies directly affected individuals. Avoid oversimplifying multiculturalism as just celebration; instead, emphasize its role in reshaping institutions like education and media. Research suggests students retain more when they see the policy’s evolution through real-world artifacts and personal stories.

Successful learning looks like students actively linking historical policies to modern practices, such as connecting the White Australia Policy to SBS’s creation or analyzing how cultural heritage is preserved under multiculturalism. They should articulate the balance between unity and diversity in Australia’s national identity.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Collaborative Investigation: The Role of SBS, watch for students assuming SBS only broadcasts foreign-language programs and misses the point that it promotes shared Australian democratic values.

  Use the SBS archive to highlight programs that focus on Australian stories, civic education, or multicultural integration, then ask students to categorize clips by whether they emphasize diversity, unity, or both.

• During Think-Pair-Share: The 'Food' of Multiculturalism, watch for students reducing multiculturalism to exotic dishes or holidays without addressing underlying social changes.

  Provide a 'levels of culture' handout and ask students to locate their examples on it, prompting them to discuss how food connects to traditions, social practices, or even economic participation.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Formal Debate
• Think-Pair-Share