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Media Release
Australian History Summit
17 August 2006
The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, said today’s Australian History Summit had been an outstanding success and produced a solid foundation for further development of a framework to promote the teaching of Australian History to students throughout the nation.
Minister Bishop congratulated Summit participants for the production of a detailed communiqué that provided clear advice on the way forward to strengthen the teaching of Australian History in our schools.
“I am particularly pleased that the Summit recommended that the study of Australian History should be sequentially planned through primary and secondary schooling and should be a distinct subject in Years 9 and 10,” she said.
“This means it would be an essential and required core part of all students’ schooling.”
Minister Bishop welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History, which will be awarded annually and be worth $100,000 in recognition of an outstanding publication or body of work that contributes significantly to an understanding of Australian history.
“The prize demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to a renewal of Australian history in our schools, our homes and the broader community.”
Minister Bishop also announced an additional year’s funding for two student history competitions, the National History Challenge ($102,000), and the Simpson Prize ($170,000), both will be managed by the History Teachers’ Association of Australia.
“I sincerely thank all of the participants at the Australian History Summit for their thoughtful and constructive contribution,” she said.
“I am confident that we are now on the road to a renaissance in the teaching of Australian history in our schools, and I am committed to working with my State and Territory colleagues to ensure that all our students pass through a systematic study of Australian history by the end of Year 10.”
A transcript of the Summit communiqué is be available on: www.dest.gov.au/ministers/bishop
Media Contacts:
Ms Bishop’s Office: Murray Hansen 0417 886 155
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