Poverty And Inequality In Australia - People Behind The Statistics

Poverty And Inequality In Australia - People Behind The Statistics

Lesson 2 of 5 in this unit

  • Secondary
  • Year 9 - 10
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Health
  • Social
  • Equality
  • Homelessness
  • Human Rights
  • Social Action
  • ...

Lesson summary

This lesson will have students critically examine and investigate how poverty impacts Australian society’s health and well-being. Students will use their knowledge of community health, social support services and the underlying causes of social disadvantage, to propose collaborative solutions to alleviating some of these underlying barriers to social and economic participation.

Learning intentions:

Students will...

  • understand the broader dimensions of poverty in Australian society and how it impacts individuals
  • develop empathy and evaluate the impacts of poverty on individuals within specific groups or characteristics in society
  • work collaboratively as a team to design and advocate for a program of positive strategies for individuals and groups to help alleviate poverty, enhance wellbeing and promote social and economic wellbeing.

Success criteria:

Students can...

  • develop empathy for individuals who suffer poverty and evaluate the impacts of poverty on individuals and groups within wider Australian society
  • use their knowledge of community health, social support services, and the underlying causes of social disadvantage to propose collaborative solutions to alleviating some of the underlying barriers to social and economic participation.

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson Plan
Student Worksheet
Teacher Content Info
Poverty in Australia Overview, 2022 - infographic

Lesson details

Curriculum mapping

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Years 9 & 10 HPE:

  • Evaluate factors that shape identities and critically analyse how individuals impact the identities of others (ACPPS089)
  • Propose, practise and evaluate responses in situations where external influences may impact their ability to make healthy and safe choices (ACPPS092)
  • Critique behaviours and contextual factors that influence health and wellbeing of diverse communities (ACPPS098)

Syllabus outcomes: PD5-1, PD5-2, PD5-9, PD5-10

General capabilities: Critical and Creative ThinkingEthical UnderstandingPersonal and Social Capability.

Relevant parts of Year 9 & 10 HPE achievement standards: Students access, synthesise and apply health information from credible sources to propose and justify responses to health situations. They apply decision-making and problem-solving skills when taking action to enhance their own and others’ health, safety and wellbeing. 

Time required: 120 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – Teachers provide case studies and instructions, but this lesson is predominantly inquiry-based for students. Teachers should also ensure students are using Internet browsing tools safely and appropriately.

Resources required

Skills

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

  • Communication
  • Community engagement
  • Creativity
  • Critical thinking
  • Digital literacy
  • Enterprise
  • Empathy
  • Ethical understanding
  • Problem solving
  • Collaboration

Additional info

These lessons have been designed in consultation with Anti-Poverty Week and ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership.

The content and information in these lessons may be overwhelming and cause some students to experience heightened emotions.

Please ensure you allow students to ask questions and to discuss any issues or concerns. Before teaching the lesson, you may consider conducting a class check-in or circle time to establish a safe learning environment. Inform students that this might be a complex topic for them to comprehend. However, let your students know that differences in people’s incomes and wealth are nothing to be ashamed of and that these may be beyond the control of individuals and families – for example, some have more luck than others in landing a good job.

Assure students that organisations and campaigns are working towards decreasing poverty in Australia, and if they would like more information, they can visit the Anti Poverty Week website and the Poverty and Inequality website.

lesson saved in resources

Save

Download

Share

More from this unit

See all
See all

Related content

Loading content...
Loading content...
Loading content...
Loading content...