11–12Business and Economics Life Skills 11–12 Syllabus (2026)

Business and Economics Life Skills provides students with opportunities to learn about the interaction between consumers and businesses, how businesses operate and how economies grow and change. Students learn about demand and supply, how markets work, financial decisions and the role of government in the economy. The course supports students to develop skills in planning, decision-making and financial management and apply these in everyday contexts.

Through the study of Business and Economics Life Skills 11–12, students:

• develop skills to participate in business and economic activities
• learn about how individuals and groups interact with and participate in the economy
• learn about the purpose and activities of businesses
• develop knowledge and understanding of the roles of demand, supply, production and consumption in businesses and the economy
• develop knowledge and understanding of the influences, opportunities and challenges affecting businesses and economies
• apply knowledge of business and economic concepts through real-world or hypothetical case studies
• develop skills in locating, interpreting and communicating business and economic information
• develop skills in financial literacy, problem-solving, decision-making and critical thinking.

The following focus areas can be studied throughout Year 11 (120 hours) and Year 12 (120 hours):

• The foundations of economics
• Jobs and the economy
• Starting a business
• Managing a business
• Businesses and the Australian economy
• Economic growth and issues
• The global economy

For Business and Economics Life Skills:

• Students are required to demonstrate achievement of one or more Business and Economics Life Skills 11–12 outcomes.
• Outcomes and content should be selected to meet the particular needs of individual students.
• The outcomes describe the knowledge, understanding and skills that students are expected to demonstrate as a result of teaching and learning. Teachers should use the outcomes to determine the scope of learning for the content included in each focus area.
• The focus areas provide possible frameworks for addressing the Business and Economics Life Skills 11–12 outcomes and content and are suggestions only. Teachers have the flexibility to select, group and sequence outcomes and content to meet the needs, strengths, goals, interests and prior learning of their students.
• The content group Applying business and economic thinking provides students with opportunities to apply the knowledge and understanding developed through the focus area to real world business or economic concepts.
• Students should be provided with opportunities to deepen their understanding of business or economic concepts by engaging with case studies.
• Examples provided in the content are suggestions only. Teachers may use the examples provided or use other examples to meet the particular needs of individual students.

The Business and Economics Life Skills 11–12 Syllabus embeds the use of case studies throughout the course content. The use of a case study allows students to develop their knowledge and understanding in relation to business and economics concepts.

In the Jobs and the economy, Starting a business and Managing a business focus areas, the case study can be a real-world or hypothetical business and can be used to develop and apply students’ knowledge and understanding of business concepts. The selection of case studies should include a range of businesses, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander businesses. 

In the Economic growth and issues focus area, the case study is of a selected economic issue.

Students may participate in a full case study or selected aspects of a case study.

Schools are required to ensure they follow safety and risk management in delivering the Business and Economics Life Skills 11–12 Syllabus.