11–12Engineering Studies 11–12 Syllabus (2026)

Record of changes

Implementation from 2028

Expand for detailed implementation advice

Overview Rationale Aim Outcomes Content Assessment Glossary Teaching and learning support

Content

Year 11

Year 12

Teaching advice

Examples

Environmental engineering and energy systems

Environmental considerations in engineering

Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples techniques for managing water resources and developing materials and structures suited to diverse environments
Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ use of firestick farming including its environmental benefits, systematic approach and relationship to contemporary fire mitigation strategies
Outline the waste hierarchy (avoid, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and dispose) and its role in supporting ethical and sustainable engineering practice
Explain the environmental impacts of hydro-electric water storage and pumping stations on-Country
Evaluate environmental impacts and sustainable alternatives of concrete production
Evaluate the environmental implications of steel manufacture using coke and limestone
Evaluate the environmental impacts and energy requirements of aluminium and alumina production, and engineering controls used to minimise risk

Materials for environmental and energy systems applications

Describe specialised materials used in water engineering, specifically sulphate-resisting cement and geotextile fabric
Describe the properties and applications of low-heat concrete in the construction of hydroelectric dams
Evaluate the requirements of a polymer for external use regarding ultraviolet (UV) resistance, ozone resistance, thermal stability and weather resistance
Describe the process of cable extrusion used to apply insulating polymer onto an electrical conductor
Outline the recyclability of energy systems infrastructure at the end of its working life

Energy systems and storage

Describe historical and current challenges for the distribution of sustainable electrical energy to residential, rural and remote areas of NSW
Investigate the engineering challenges faced with the introduction of sustainable alternatives to conventional coal-fired electricity generation, including nuclear, wind, hydro, solar and biogas
Describe electrical and non-electrical large-scale energy storage solutions, including batteries as electrical methods, and thermal and gravitational storage as non-electrical methods
Describe the function of domestic solar energy system components, including solar panels, inverters and battery storage systems
Describe key challenges associated with electrical energy storage, including capacity, efficiency, battery life and environmental impact

Energy transmission infrastructure

Compare resistance and energy loss in aluminium, steel and copper transmission cables of an identical cross-section
Justify the use of aluminium as an alternative in overhead power transmission cables
Outline conductor production methods and performance, specific to all aluminium alloy conductor (AAAC) and aluminium conductor steel reinforced (ACSR) cable applications
Explain the effect of annealing on the strength and conductivity of copper conductors

Electrical systems

Analyse electrical circuits by applying Kirchhoff’s laws, including Kirchhoff’s Current Law $Ʃ I = 0$ , where the total current entering a junction equals the total current leaving, and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law $Ʃ V = 0$ , where the sum of voltages around a closed loop is zero
Investigate how a multimeter is used to analyse current and voltage in electrical circuits
Calculate power, efficiency and battery capacity in sustainable electrical systems, using the relationship between energy input and energy output
Evaluate the power demands and energy consumption of data centres, and their infrastructure requirements and contribution to national electricity consumption
Evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on electricity consumption and examine how sustainable energy sources are used to support data centre operations
Describe the function of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) circuits and motors, comparing their use in energy systems

Energy distribution

Compare the safety considerations for different types of overhead wiring (OHW), including their performance in relation to mechanical failure, environmental impacts from weather events and electrocution risk
Compare the use of residual current devices (RCD), fuses, circuit breakers and surge protection devices in providing electrical safety for engineers and end users
Examine the sustainable use of copper and copper alloys in power transmission

Sensors and electronics

Explain how transistors function as temperature sensors in environmental monitoring
Draw and identify circuit diagrams using Australian Standard for Graphical Symbols for Electrotechnical Documentation (AS 1102) including AC and DC power supplies, electric motors in DC-powered systems, rectifier diodes (P-N junction diode), potentiometers, electrolytic capacitors, transistors, photodiodes, fuses and circuit breakers

Fluid mechanics

Calculate the density of a fluid using the formula $ρ = \frac{m}{V}$ where $ρ$ is density with units in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³), $m$ is mass with units in kilograms (kg) and $V$ is volume with units in cubic metres (m³)
Calculate hydrostatic pressure in a fluid using the formula $P = ρgh$ where $P$ is hydrostatic pressure with units in Pascals (Pa), $ρ$ is fluid density with units in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³), $g$ is acceleration due to gravity (10 m/s²) and $h$ is the height or depth of fluid with units in metres (m)
Apply Pascal’s principle to calculate absolute pressure in confined incompressible fluids using the formula $P_{abs} = P_{atm} + ρgh$ where $P_{a b s}$ is absolute pressure with units in Pascals (Pa), $P_{a t m}$ is atmospheric pressure with units in Pascals (Pa), $ρ$ is fluid density with units in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³), $g$ is acceleration due to gravity (10 m/s²) and $h$ is the height or depth of fluid with units in metres (m)
Calculate fluid height using the formula $h = \frac{P}{ρg}$ where $h$ is the height of the fluid column with units in metres (m), $P$ is pressure with units in Pascals (Pa), $ρ$ is the fluid density with units in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³) and $g$ is acceleration due to gravity (10 m/s²) when applied to systems, including manometers and pumped fluid systems

Hydraulics and pneumatics

Differentiate between hydraulics and pneumatics used in engineering systems
Describe advantages of hydraulics in engineering systems
Identify the components of simple hydraulic systems, including a pump, reservoir, valves and actuators (motor, cylinder or brake)
Explain the concept of pressure in enclosed fluids as outlined by Pascal’s principle
Calculate pressure using the formula $P = \frac{force}{area} = \frac{F}{A}$ where $P$ is pressure with units in Pascals (Pa), $F$ is force with units in Newtons (N) and $A$ is area with units in metres squared (m²)
Apply the relationship in hydraulic systems using the formula $\frac{F_{1}}{A_{1}} = \frac{F_{2}}{A_{2}}$ where $F_{1}$ and $F_{2}$ are the forces with units in Newtons (N) and $A_{1}$ and $A_{2}$ are the areas with units in metres squared (m²) recognising that pressure is transmitted equally in all directions in an incompressible fluid

Engineering graphics

Use engineering drawing conventions to indicate taper, square, knurling, counterbore, countersink, depth of hole, a flat on a shaft and surface roughness, in accordance with the Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100)
Apply the Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100) engineering conventions to orthographic drawings using technical drawing equipment
Create a pictorial drawing of a component used in environmental engineering and energy systems
Produce full-section and half-section drawings with hatching, revolved sections, fasteners, thin sections, holes, breaks, threads and shafts
Produce sectioned drawings where holes and thin elements not on the cutting plane are rotated at true pitch as though on the cutting plane

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