Australian History: 1901-Present

Service Description

Course Description Building on our previous course exploring Australia’s settlement, convict roles, Gold Rush, explorers, and Federation, this course examines Australian history from 1901 to the present through a Western Christian perspective, employing classical education skills of logical analysis, source evaluation, and dialectic reasoning to critically assess key historical developments. We will cover: Federation and Early Nationhood (1901–1914), analysing Edmund Barton’s Commonwealth and the Constitution’s Christian foundations; Australia in the World Wars (1914–1945), exploring the Gallipoli campaign’s ANZAC legacy under Billy Hughes, including conscription debates, and John Curtin’s WWII leadership; Post-War Transformation and Immigration (1945–1970s), examining Ben Chifley’s Christian-influenced welfare state and migration shifts; Key Political Leaders and Prime Ministers (1901–Present), evaluating leaders from Barton to Robert Menzies, Gough Whitlam, and John Howard; Referendums and Constitutional Change, addressing the 1967 Aboriginal rights, 1999 Republic, and 2023 Indigenous Voice referendums; and Modern Australia and Global Engagement (1970s–Present), equipping students to logically analyse Australia’s modern identity through a Christian lens. Pre requisites: A strong foundation in reading comprehension and critical thinking is essential, as students will engage with primary and secondary sources. Students must demonstrate a willingness to participate in class discussions, complete written assignments, and engage in logical argumentation. Required Materials: There is no set text for this subject. Students may on occasion need to print primary sources. Students need an A4 exercise book for notes. Students will use Microsoft Teams and Microsoft OneNote to submit work and for live classes. Course Sessions: The course commences the week of 21 July 2025, with two one-hour sessions each week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:00 AM (AEDT/AEST). There will be a term break from 29 September to 10 October 2025. Classes resume the week of 13 October 2025. The final week of classes will be the week of 8 December 2025. No classes will be held on 25 August or 4 November. Instructor: Mrs. Elizabeth Matheson