Social education draws from a range of disciplines and fields of study that are integrated to show patterns of interaction over place and time between people in social institutions and their natural and social environments. Such disciplines include anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, social psychology and sociology, as well as drawing on law, religion, philosophy and environmental education.

Social education encourages rigorous social inquiries designed to develop active and informed citizens who can:

• analyse the past for its relevance to the present and the future;

• make reasoned decisions about economic, geographic, cultural, social, political and environmental issues

• practice habits of critical questioning and reflection in order to keep themselves informed;

• seek solutions to problems at local, national and global levels from a social justice orientation;

• respect and value cultural diversity;

• explore and clarify values underpinning ethical human behaviour;

• commit to the democratic process through an understanding of Australia’s system of government and how they can participate in it;

• take responsible action for the common good in order to contribute to more peaceful, democratic, just and sustainable futures for all in an interdependent world.