Constitution Education Fund – Civics Education and Social Cohesion Roundtable Video Message

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land you’re meeting on today.

And I acknowledge Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn.

Thank you for hosting this important event.

You have been a champion of respect, belonging and kindness long before you assumed the highest office in the land.

And you continue that work today.

Thank you as well to Justice French and the Constitution Education Fund.

A strong democracy doesn’t run on autopilot.

It depends on citizens who understand how it works.

Who know they have a voice.

And who respect the voices of others.

Who get how precious our democracy is.

And that it can never be taken for granted.

That starts in our schools.

Civics education is about understanding our Constitution, our Parliament, our courts and our elections.

How laws are made.

How the people who represent us are chosen.

How our courts administer justice.

The nuts and bolts that make our society work.

But civics education is also about something deeper.

It’s about how we live together – in our communities and, increasingly, online.

How we live our values.

How we listen.

How we think critically.

How we debate and disagree without demeaning or diminishing others.

And how we reject racism, antisemitism and hatred in all its noxious forms.

We know this matters more than ever.

There are people who seek to divide us.

And we have seen the terrible consequences when hate is allowed to take hold.

Children aren’t born with hate in their hearts.

Hate is learned.

And education has an important role to play in stopping that.

Civics education and social cohesion aren’t separate things.

They reinforce each other.

Last year, we launched the Civics and Citizenship Education Hub.

It gives teachers access to more than 200 resources for students in Years 3 to 10, helping them bring our democracy and system of government to life in the classroom. 

We also support students to visit Canberra and see our national institutions firsthand.

One of the best parts of my job is meeting primary school kids from my own community when they here at Parliament House.

For many, it’s their first time here.

And it’s pretty special.

Because democracy shouldn’t only be something children read about in books or see on a screen.

It comes to life when you see it up close.

Last week, we launched something else – a new Social Cohesion Education Hub.

It is one of the first outputs of the Antisemitism Education Taskforce, chaired by David Gonski.

It brings together an initial suite of 50 quality assured learning resources and classroom materials.

More will be added over time to help schools combat antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate and discrimination. 

Education Ministers have also agreed to a focused review of the Australian Curriculum.

That work is underway right now.

It will look at how the curriculum can deepen understanding of Jewish Australians’ history and culture, support the rejection of antisemitism, and strengthen understanding of Australian values. 

The values that we want every young Australian to have.

Things like democracy, rule of law, basic freedoms and a fair go.

Government can’t do this alone.

A strong civil society is part of a strong democracy.

That is what makes today’s discussion so important.

You have some of the most passionate, committed and thoughtful people in the country in the room today.

You can help identify the gaps.

And help turn the good work already happening into a stronger, more coordinated national effort.

Thank you for the work you do.

I look forward to hearing the ideas that emerge today.

And I wish you all the best for a productive roundtable.