The following resources have been developed to support teachers to implement the F–10 Intercultural Capability curriculum.
This document contains useful background that supports understanding of the VCAA teaching resources for each capability. It can also assist with whole-school curriculum planning.
Introduction to Explicitly Teaching the Capabilities
Introduction to Explicitly Teaching the Capabilities
The document introduces a range of key considerations when determining what is required to explicitly teach the capabilities, and it consists of three sections:
- Building deep familiarity with the capabilities curriculums
- Explicitly introducing capabilities content and consolidating learning
- Identifying progress in student learning (assessment).
The Intercultural Capability curriculum enables students to explore their own and others' cultural practices and cultural diversity in Australian society. The curriculum helps students to develop vital skills for living and working in a multicultural world. Through explicit teaching of the Intercultural Capability, students learn to recognise commonalities and differences, create connections with others, examine the challenges and benefits of cultural diversity and cultivate mutual respect and social cohesion.
The curriculum aims to provide rich learning experiences supporting students to apply their learning about cultural diversity and cultural practices to questions of and for the globalised world. Students are required to examine, reflect on and challenge assumptions, stereotypes and prejudices and to explore how intercultural experiences may influence and change attitudes and beliefs.
In the words of one teacher, 'Intercultural Capability is really about challenging thinking. It goes far beyond facts about people and cultures to an appreciation of other people's perspectives and a respect for this.'
During 2018, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, in partnership with the International Education Division at the Department of Education and Training, worked with teachers from twelve Government, Catholic and Independent schools to develop units of work on Intercultural Capability from Foundation to Level 10. The teachers created units with accompanying formative assessment rubrics and annotated work samples to demonstrate progression in student learning. This project built upon a 2017 action-research project undertaken with nineteen schools from the Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. The units of work developed in both phases of the project are available below.
Unpacking the content descriptions, Levels 5–10
This resource provides guidance on how the Intercultural Capability curriculum content can be unpacked for students. It contains sample key ideas and concepts plus suggestions for learning activities aligned to each content description and achievement standard.
Intercultural Capability – Unpacking the content descriptions, Levels 5–10
PowerPoint presentation
This PowerPoint presentation is designed to help schools insert explicit teaching about Intercultural Capability in their learning programs. It summarises some key challenges identified by schools that participated in the Intercultural Capability Project (phase 1) and provides advice and information based on their experiences. Schools may use this presentation to prompt discussion, to further their planning, and to consider their approach to this area of the Victorian Curriculum F–10.
This resource can assist schools to:
- Become deeply familiar with Intercultural Capability
- Choose a teaching approach
- Understand the distinction between Intercultural Capability and cultural knowledge
- Become familiar with the cultural iceberg concept
- Distinguish between cultural stereotypes and generalisations
- Address possible perceptions of cultural uniformity at the school
- Discuss assessment approaches.
Teachers may wish to teach Intercultural Capability in connection with another learning area in the Victorian Curriculum F–10. The Excel spreadsheet below shows the links between Intercultural Capability and related learning areas.
Links between Intercultural Capability and related learning areas
What is the relationship between the Languages curriculum and the Intercultural Capability?
The Languages curriculum explores the interrelationship between language, communication and culture. It provides an opportunity for students to participate in and reflect on intercultural exchange and how this shapes both communication and identity.
An understanding of the interactions between cultures is central to the learning of languages. Through studying and using a new language students increase their insights into, and understanding of, cultural and linguistic differences in all the cultures they encounter.
Language study allows students to notice, compare and reflect on things previously taken for granted and to explore their own linguistic, social and cultural practices as well as those associated with the target language.
In learning a language students develop an understanding of "the variable ways in which language and culture exist in the world." (Reference:
Report on Intercultural language learning by Liddicoat, Anthony & Papademetre, L. & Scarino, Angela & Kohler, Michelle. (2003). Report on intercultural language learning. Report to the Australian Government Department for Education Science and Training (DEST).)
Cultural inclusion transcript
This short video contains advice from Cultural Consultant Dr Georgia Birch on how to make school environments inclusive of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students. Dr Birch discusses:
- Guidance and role models
- School culture
- Student retention
- Using the Intercultural Capability curriculum to embrace difference.
The video and/or transcript could be used as a discussion starter for teachers and school leaders. Suggested guiding questions:
- Why do schools need to provide support for CALD students?
- What might this support look like? What programs have been successful to date?
- How can schools create an inclusive culture? (for students, families and staff)
- How can Intercultural Capability connect with and build on other intercultural programs in the school?
More ideas on creating inclusive schools can be found in the Teacher Guide above.
Intercultural experiences transcript
Intercultural experiences: discussion prompts for students
In this short video, Mohamed, from a Sudanese background and Abdi, from a Somali background, recall their experiences at school and discuss how they reconcile different cultural identities.
Mohamed recalls:
Every year in primary school, our teacher would sort our classroom into levels of reading ability. One thing I always took pride in was my reading. But for some reason, I always ended up at the lowest level. I said, 'Last year when I was in a different class I was in the higher level.' I just had to keep proving myself and showing people that I'm not like the stereotype you have in your mind.
The transcript of the video and the discussion prompts can be used as a resource for school leaders, teachers and students. (Note: The transcript includes extra interviews with Mohamed and Abdi.)
Sample units of work provided for Primary schools focus on cultural diversity and cultural practices within the school and community. Students explore where their families come from and the nature and significance of cultural practices. They identify cultural diversity and consider connections between culture and people's relationships and behaviour in a culturally diverse community.
Foundation–2
My community and me
This unit uses Mem Fox's
Whoever You Are as an entry point into cultures in Australia. Students identify their cultural origins and explore language, food and traditions. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples.
My community and me
Exploring culture in our school community
This unit examines what culture means to students and their families. Students discuss respectful communication, compare cultures and consider how culture can unite people. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples
Exploring culture in our school community
Embracing who we are
This unit uses storybooks and items brought from home as prompts to compare cultures. Students share cultural food and consider values underlying cultural practices. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples
Embracing who we are
Connections between cultures
This unit looks at countries of origin in the class and the nature and meaning of cultural celebrations. Students see how diverse people live and discuss benefits of sharing culture. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
Connections between cultures
One land, many families
In this unit, students explore familiar cultural practices, such as celebrations, in family life and at school. The unit offers advice on constructing a family tree and includes:
- annotated student work samples
One land, many families
My story, your story, our story
This unit explores cultural diversity in the class. Students identify where their families come from and explore a range of resources. The unit includes:
- assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples.
My story, your story, our story
Levels 1–2
Music from around the world
This short activity is designed to expose students to a range of music styles from around the world and to foster student curiosity about other cultures, particularly through music traditions.
Music from around the world Levels 3–4
Exploring cultural practices
This unit uses Anh Do's
The Little Refugee and other resources to prompt students to consider a range of intercultural experiences. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples.
Exploring cultural practices
Cultural practices and their significance
In this unit, students compare cultural practices and explain their significance. They view storybooks to find similarities and differences between cultures. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples.
Cultural practices and their significance
Cultural practices and relationships
In this unit, students examine the values underlying cultural celebrations and the ways in which cultural practices affect relationships. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples
Cultural practices and relationships
Exploring culture in our school community
This unit examines what culture means to students and their families. Students discuss respectful communication, compare cultures and consider how culture can unite people. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples
Exploring culture in our school community
Levels 3–6
How intercultural experiences can influence our beliefs and behaviours
In this unit, students reflect on intercultural experiences and use texts as a stimulus to think critically about stereotypes and their effects. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated student work samples.
How intercultural experiences influence beliefs and behaviours
Level 5
Diversity and difference
This unit draws from both Levels 3 and 4 and Levels 5 and 6. This unit includes lessons from 'Difference Differently', an interconnection activity and an exploration of stereotypes and generalisations.
Diversity and difference
Levels 5–6
Cultural diversity
This short activity asks students to identify contemporary events where the value of cultural diversity is celebrated.
Cultural diversity
Sample units of work provided for Secondary schools further explore cultural diversity and practices, stereotypes and generalisations. Teachers are encouraged to use current issues and media representations to examine local and global intercultural issues. Students are challenged to bring greater sophistication to their learning in Intercultural Capability.
Levels 7–8
The dynamic nature of culture
This unit examines 'visible' and 'hidden' culture and how culture changes in different contexts. Students play a communication game and discuss stereotypes and 'multiple stories'. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated work samples.
Dynamic nature of culture
Water and the world
This short activity asks students to identify contemporary events where the value of cultural diversity is celebrated.
Water and the world
Indonesian language learning
This 18 lesson unit is designed to be delivered in two parts. It may be delivered within the context of Indonesian language learning.
Part 1: Travelling across borders and cultures, focuses on learning about Indonesia and an extended task to create a 14-day travel itinerary for a client. There is less focus on learning in Intercultural Capability and more focus on geographic and cultural knowledge. This provides a deeper basis for learning in part 2.
Part 2: Becoming an intercultural traveller, focuses on comparing cultural norms in Australia and Indonesia through an extended task to create a travel information brochure for a client. This unit provides students with the opportunity to use their cultural knowledge and to respond or act on their understanding as an 'intercultural traveller'.
Intercultural Traveller unit
Intercultural Traveller powerpoint
Level 8
Exploring cultures through printmaking
This integrated Visual Arts and Intercultural Capability term plan looks at print practices such as Japanese woodblocks, early European printmaking and Australian printmaking. Students reflect on the cultural impact of printmaking.
Exploring cultures through printmaking
Level 9
Levels 9–10
How personal experiences shape intercultural beliefs and decisions
In this unit, students examine
To Kill a Mockingbird and
Twelve Angry Men to make links between preconceptions and intercultural experiences. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated work samples.
Personal experiences and intercultural beliefs
Migration experiences and social cohesion in Australia
In this unit, students explore social cohesion and cultural diversity and consider how migration experiences have affected Australia. The unit includes:
- formative assessment rubric
- annotated work samples, including videos.
Migration and social cohesion in Australia
Work samples 1&2 migration transcript
The following external links are for teacher reference purposes. They do not constitute VCAA endorsement of the views or materials contained on these sites.