Australia as a Nation · Term 1

Australia's Role in World War I

Examine Australia's involvement in WWI, focusing on the Anzac legend, key battles, and the impact on national identity.

About This Topic

The Great Depression explores the decade of the 1930s, a time when Australia faced its most severe economic crisis. Students look at the causes of the crash and the devastating impact of mass unemployment, which reached nearly 30 percent. The topic covers the resilience of Australian families, the rise of 'susso' (sustenance payments), and the construction of major infrastructure projects like the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a means of providing work.

This unit is crucial for understanding economic concepts like scarcity and the role of government in times of crisis. It connects to ACARA standards by examining how global events have local consequences. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation, particularly when comparing the hardships of the 1930s to modern economic challenges.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Great Depression Budget

Pairs are given a limited number of 'tokens' representing a family's weekly susso. They must decide how to allocate them across food, rent, and medicine, experiencing the difficult trade-offs families faced.

⏱ 40 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Gallery Walk: Images of the 1930s

Display photos of 'shanty towns' (Happy Valleys), men 'jumping the rattler' (trains), and soup kitchens. Students use post-it notes to record their observations and questions about how people maintained their dignity.

⏱ 30 min·Individual

Generate mission

Inquiry Circle: The Bridge and the Dole

Small groups research how projects like the Great Ocean Road or the Sydney Harbour Bridge provided jobs. They create a 'news report' explaining how these projects helped the national spirit.

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Great Depression only happened in America.

What to Teach Instead

Australia was one of the hardest-hit countries in the world because we relied so heavily on exporting wool and wheat. Using comparative graphs helps students see the global and local connection.

Common Misconception

People were poor because they didn't want to work.

What to Teach Instead

There simply were no jobs available, regardless of skill level. Active role plays of a job interview with 100 applicants for one position can quickly dispel the idea that unemployment was a personal choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the Great Depression in Australia?

It was caused by a combination of the 1929 Wall Street Crash in the US and Australia's high levels of international debt. When the prices for our main exports, wool and wheat, collapsed, the economy spiralled, and banks stopped lending money.

What was 'the susso'?

The 'susso' was short for sustenance. It was a government payment given to the unemployed in the form of food coupons rather than cash. It was barely enough to survive on and often carried a social stigma, making it a last resort for families.

How did people survive without a job?

Families became very resourceful. They grew their own vegetables, mended clothes repeatedly, and shared housing. Some men 'jumped the rattler' (hitched rides on freight trains) to travel to the country in search of seasonal farm work.

How can active learning help students understand the Great Depression?

Active learning helps students move from abstract statistics to human empathy. By participating in a 'budgeting simulation', students feel the stress of scarcity. This hands-on experience makes the historical facts about unemployment rates and government policy much more memorable and impactful.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU