Rationale
Society and Culture analyses social and cultural systems and structures at the micro, meso and macro levels in Australia and globally. Society and Culture draws on the knowledge, skills and concepts of sociology, anthropology, social psychology, philosophy, and media and communications, which provide a foundation to explore the world and consider complex social questions.
The study of Society and Culture enables students to understand the sociocultural world in which they live. Students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to examine their surroundings, roles within society and the broader social systems that shape their lives. They learn about the worldview, culture and experience of diverse social and cultural groups, including Aboriginal Peoples, Torres Strait Islander Peoples and International Indigenous Peoples. Students engage with ideas of inclusion and equity to develop their sense of cultural empathy and intercultural understanding.
Students explore sociological ideas and issues and refine their understanding of social structures and the interactions between individuals, groups and institutions. Society and Culture enables students to develop insight into social issues, including media and communication technologies and their implications for the future, as well as the tensions between cultural continuity and social change.
Society and Culture builds analytical skills, encouraging students to engage with contemporary social issues, behaviours, ideologies and the role of institutions, and to question assumptions about how societies function. Students develop social research skills through critical discernment of information and of the media, learning about and applying ethical research practices and evaluating the ways in which data is collected and communicated.
Society and Culture provides students with the skills to actively participate in the pursuit of a just society as informed, engaged and responsible citizens. It leads to a wide range of post-school pathways, including in media and communication, education, policy and public service, the arts and social research. Society and Culture encourages the development of socially literate citizens, empowering students to help create a just and more equitable society.