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7–10Geography Elective 7–10 Syllabus (2025)

Implementation from 2028
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Stage 4

Physical geography: Oceanography

Content in Thinking and working geographically outlines how geographical concepts, inquiry skills and tools are to be integrated with the content in this focus area.

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Thinking and working geographically
  • Select and apply relevant geographical concepts

  • Conduct geographical inquiry by analysing geographical information

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of a geographical inquiry

  • Select a range of relevant geographical tools

  • Create written texts to describe and explain geographical issues relating to oceans

The world’s oceans
  • Spatial distribution and features of the world’s oceans

  • Relationship between ocean currents and global climate

  • Nature and spatial patterns of the variety of marine ecosystems

  • Environmental importance of the world’s oceans, including their role in climate regulation

Human interactions with the world’s oceans
  • Economic, cultural and recreational value of the world’s oceans

  • Access, ownership and control of ocean waters and resources, and disputes over navigational rights and maritime boundaries

  • Pollution, overfishing and climate change and their impact on marine ecosystems and biodiversity

  • Earth’s oceans as a frontier of exploration and discovery, including the challenges of deep-sea exploration, scientific research and associated ethical, environmental and geopolitical considerations

Management of the world’s oceans
  • International treaties and agreements that manage and protect ocean resources

  • Challenges associated with the management of international waters, including enforcement and limited governance

  • Sustainable ocean management and marine protected areas

  • Customs, Practices and rights in relation to oceans for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other international Indigenous Peoples

  • Future directions in oceanography, including marine technologies, ocean monitoring and climate change modelling

Investigative study

Investigation of ONE issue relating to the use of oceans.

  • Nature and spatial distribution of the selected issue

  • Geographical processes related to the selected issue

  • Role of individuals, groups and governments and their perspectives on the selected issue

  • Management practices to improve sustainability concerning the selected issue

  • Restoration initiatives that demonstrate positive human interaction with oceans on local, national and global scales

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