Years 9/10
LEGAL STUDIES:
Laws regulate most of the situations we find ourselves in everyday. Laws govern the way in which people behave so we can all live in a peaceful and united society. With the focus being on the criminal law in this subject, you will learn how criminal laws are made and enforced by a range of different organisations including the courts, tribunals, parliaments, police and prisons – collectively referred to as the legal system or justice system. A range of topics will be explored including the Need for Laws, Elements of a Crime, Sanctions – including the Death Penalty, the Court Hierarchy – including a visit to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and Juries. This subject is an introduction to VCE Legal Studies.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS:
Students will learn about the role of economics in societies – and why is everyone so concerned about it. Students will learn economics is about people producing goods and services to be consumed, used and shared, with a limited number of resources. As a consumer you will learn about the importance of managing consumer and financial risks and rewards and analyse the costs of living. You will develop your consumer and financial literacy to manage expenses including living out of home by designing a budget. At the heart of every economy are people and a business. Students will develop the skills required to get a good job including writing a resume and succeeding in a job interview. Also, product design and business innovation and what it takes to start a business.
GEOGRAPHY:
With the population growing at a rapid rate and our natural and man-made resources being stretched, the future of the human race relies on designing cities and towns that can grow and adapt to this change without losing quality of life. In this subject students will explore how to design future cities and towns to meet the needs of the growing population. Students will propose a plan for their own future city, considering the needs for sustainability, wellbeing of citizens, ease of transportation and liveability. Students will explore Melbourne through fieldwork and experience first-hand how decisions of the past have affected our current quality of life.
HISTORY:
History will explore how humans for civilisations, and the threats that occur that can tear them apart. Starting with ancient empires, students will examine Roman and how that rose and fell. Students will then journey through the Middle Ages and the way society was dominated central powers such as monarchs and religion, and the rise of the five world super-empires. Finally, students will examine how it can be broken apart by world wars, religious division, and social upheaval. Assessment will take the form of research task.
VCE
ACCOUNTING UNITS 1 AND 2:
Unit 1: This unit explores the establishment of a business and the role of accounting in the determination of business success or failure. In this, it considers the importance of accounting information to stakeholders. Students analyse, interpret and evaluate the performance of the business using financial and non-financial information. They use these evaluations to make recommendations regarding the suitability of a business as an investment.
Unit 2: In this unit, students develop their knowledge of the accounting process for sole proprietors operating a trading business, with a focus on inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable and non-current assets. Students use manual processes and ICT, including spreadsheets, to prepare historical and budgeted accounting reports.
ACCOUNTING UNITS 3 AND 4:
Unit 3: This unit focuses on financial accounting for a trading business owned by a sole proprietor and highlights the role of accounting as an information system. Students use the double-entry system of recording financial data and prepare reports using the accrual basis of accounting and the perpetual method of inventory recording. Students develop their understanding of the accounting processes for recording and reporting and consider the effect of decisions made on the performance of the business. They interpret reports and information presented in a variety of formats and suggest strategies to the owner to improve the performance of the business.
Unit 4: In this unit students further, develop their understanding of accounting for a trading business owned by a sole proprietor and the role of accounting as an information system. Students use the double-entry system of recording financial data and prepare reports using the accrual basis of accounting and the perpetual method of inventory recording. Both manual methods and ICT are used to record and report. Students extend their understanding of the recording and reporting process with the inclusion of balance day adjustments and alternative depreciation methods. They investigate both the role and importance of budgeting in decision-making for a business. They analyse and interpret accounting reports and graphical representations to evaluate the performance of a business. From this evaluation, students suggest strategies to business owners to improve business performance.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT UNITS 1 AND 2:
Unit 1: Businesses of all sizes are major contributors to the economic and social wellbeing of a nation. Therefore how businesses are formed and the fostering of conditions under which new business ideas can emerge are vital for a nation’s wellbeing. Taking a business idea and planning how to make it a reality are the cornerstones of economic and social development. In this unit, students explore the factors affecting business ideas and the internal and external environments within which businesses operate, and the effect of these on planning a business.
Unit 2: This unit focuses on the establishment phase of a business’s life. Establishing a business involves complying with legal requirements as well as making decisions about how best to establish a system of financial record keeping, staff the business and establish a customer base. In this unit, students examine the legal requirements that must be satisfied to establish a business. They investigate the essential features of effective marketing and consider the best way to meet the needs of the business in terms of staffing and financial record keeping. Students analyse various management practices in this area by applying this knowledge to contemporary business case studies from the past four years.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT UNITS 3 AND 4:
Unit 3: In this unit, students explore the key processes and issues concerned with managing a business efficiently and effectively to achieve the business objectives. Students examine the different types of businesses and their respective objectives. They consider corporate culture, management styles, management skills and the relationship between each of these. Students investigate strategies to manage both staff and business operations to meet objectives.
Unit 4: Businesses are under constant pressure to adapt and change to meet their objectives. In this unit, students consider the importance of reviewing key performance indicators to determine current performance and the strategic management necessary to position a business for the future. Students study a theoretical model to undertake change, and consider a variety of strategies to manage change in the most efficient and effective way to improve business performance. They investigate the importance of leadership in change management. Using a contemporary business case study from the past four years, students evaluate business practice against theory.
GEOGRAPHY UNITS 1 AND 2:
Unit 1: Hazards and disasters.
In this unit students undertake an overview of hazards before investigating two contrasting types of hazards and the responses to them by people.
Unit 2: Tourism.
In this unit students investigate the characteristics of tourism, with particular emphasis on where it has developed, its various forms, how it has changed and continues to change and its impacts on people, places and environments.
HISTORY GLOBAL EMPIRES (EARLY MODERN HISTORY 1400 – 1775) UNITS 1 AND 2:
Unit 1 – Rise of the French Empire (1605 –1774)
Unit 2 – Rise of the British Empire ( 1583-1788)
Before the rise of America or China, and before the rise of modern technology, two empires dominated the world, their battle for supremacy setting the stage for a global change. Units 1 and 2 explore the rise of the French and British empires, who would go on to colonise most of Earth and change the course of history in their battles against each other. Units one and two set the stage for units three and four, which examines the American and the French Revolutions, signaling the end of Empires and monarchies.
HISTORY REVOLUTIONS UNITS 3 AND 4:
Unit 3 Revolution – The American Revolution
Unit 4 Revolution – The French Revolution
What would you risk your life for? Would you fight for your right to be free from tyranny? What about taxes? In Unit 3&4 History we study the American and French Revolutions. We explore what caused the revolutionary situations and the difficulties faced by those trying to create a new society after the fight. We will learn how to interpret and analyse primary sources like paintings, cartoons and documents from the time. We will also explore the different points of views taken by a variety of historians who have attempted to interpret the events of these revolutions.
LEGAL STUDIES UNITS 1 AND 2:
Unit 1: Guilt and liability – Criminal law and civil law aim to achieve social cohesion and protect the rights of individuals. Criminal law is aimed at maintaining social order and infringing criminal law can result in charges. Civil law deals with the infringement of a person’s or group’s rights and breaching civil law can result in litigation. In this unit students develop an understanding of legal foundations, such as the different types and sources of law and the existence of a court hierarchy in Victoria. Students investigate key concepts of criminal law and civil law and apply these to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios to determine whether an accused may be found guilty of a crime, or liable in a civil dispute. In doing so, students develop an appreciation of the way in which legal principles and information are used in making reasoned judgments and conclusions about the culpability of an accused, and the liability of a party in a civil dispute.
Unit 2: Sanctions, remedies and rights – Criminal law and civil law aim to protect the rights of individuals. When rights are infringed, a case or dispute may arise which needs to be determined or resolved, and sanctions or remedies may be imposed. This unit focuses on the enforcement of criminal law and civil law, the methods and institutions that may be used to determine a criminal case or resolve a civil dispute, and the purposes and types of sanctions and remedies and their effectiveness. Students undertake a detailed investigation of two criminal cases and two civil cases from the past four years to form a judgment about the ability of sanctions and remedies to achieve the principles of justice. Students develop their understanding of the way rights are protected in Australia and in another country, and possible reforms to the protection of rights. They examine a significant case in relation to the protection of rights in Australia.
LEGAL STUDIES UNITS 3 AND 4:
Unit 3: Rights and justice – The Victorian justice system, which includes the criminal and civil justice systems, aims to protect the rights of individuals and uphold the principles of justice: fairness, equality and access. In this unit students examine the methods and institutions in the justice system and consider their appropriateness in determining criminal cases and resolving civil disputes. Students consider the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court within the Victorian court hierarchy, as well as other Victorian legal institutions and bodies available to assist with cases. Students explore matters such as the rights available to an accused and to victims in the criminal justice system, the roles of the judge, jury, legal practitioners and the parties, and the ability of sanctions and remedies to achieve their purposes. Students investigate the extent to which the principles of justice are upheld in the justice system. They discuss recent reforms from the past four years and recommended reforms to enhance the ability of the justice system to achieve the principles of justice. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
Unit 4: The people and the law – The study of Australia’s laws and legal system involves an understanding of institutions that make and reform our laws, and the relationship between the Australian people, the Australian Constitution and law-making bodies. In this unit, students explore how the Australian Constitution establishes the law-making powers of the Commonwealth and state parliaments, and protects the Australian people through structures that act as a check on parliament in law-making. Students develop an understanding of the significance of the High Court in protecting and interpreting the Australian Constitution. They investigate parliament and the courts, and the relationship between the two in law-making, and consider the roles of the individual, the media and law reform bodies in influencing law reform. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to actual scenarios.