This week the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold two public hearings as part of its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia on Wednesday, 11 September and Friday, 13 September 2024.

Media release issue date: Monday, 9 September 2024

This week the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold two public hearings as part of its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia on Wednesday, 11 September and Friday, 13 September 2024. Committee Chair, Senator the Hon Carol Brown said ‘as this inquiry continues, a key theme has been the importance of civics education outside the classroom setting. ‘Equal participation in our democracy and the casting of an informed vote depends on a range of factors such as how inclusive and accessible civics education is and how it is being taught outside of school. ‘The Committee looks forward to exploring how parliaments and universities teach civics and digital literacy and how youth engagement with our democracy can be improved. We will also be learning more about how students navigate the abundance of readily available information online and how they can better identify mis- and dis-information,’ Senator Brown said. Public hearings details Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024 Time: 9.45 am to 10.30 am Location: Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra Witness: Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick MP Date: Friday, 13 September 2024 Time: 8.30 am to 12.30 pm Location:Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra Witnesses: News and Media Research Centre, University of Canberra; Parliamentary Education Office; Universities Australia; Dr Sarah Moulds; Australian Electoral Commission A livestream of the hearings will be available via the Parliament’s Watch, Read, Listen website. Further information about the inquiry, including submissions received and past public hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Geordan Fletcher Office of Senator the Hon Carol Brown (Chair) (02) 6277 3336 senator.carol.brown@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2374 em@aph.gov.au

This week the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold public hearings and site visits in Maningrida and Darwin, Northern Territory (NT), and Cairns, Queensland as part of its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia.

Media release issue date: Monday, 22 July 2024

This week the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold public hearings and site visits in Maningrida and Darwin, Northern Territory (NT), and Cairns, Queensland as part of its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia. Committee Chair, Ms Kate Thwaites MP, said ‘we want all Australians to be able to participate in our democracy and our elections. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in regional and remote communities. ‘A lack of appropriate electoral education, engagement and resourcing in remote communities means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can be disconnected from civics, democracy and elections. ‘There are now more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enrolled to vote at federal elections than ever before. But the Northern Territory still has some of the lowest voting turnout levels in Australia, and these visits are an essential step in learning how we can better support and empower regional and remote communities to engage with and learn about our democracy and our elections,’ Ms Thwaites said. Across the three days, the Committee will meet with regional councils, Land Councils, Aboriginal corporations, multicultural groups and youth organisations. The Committee will also visit local schools to talk with young people about their experience of civics education. Public hearings details Date:               Tuesday, 23 July 2024 Time:              11.30am – 12.30pm (ACST) Location:        Common Room, Maningrida Progress Association, Maningrida NT Date:               Wednesday, 24 July 2024 Time:              9.30am – 1.15pm (ACST) Location:        Peninsula Room, Hilton Garden Inn, Darwin NT Date:               Thursday, 25 July 2024 Time:              12.00pm – 2.15pm (AEST) Location:        Bolands 5,Bolands Centre, Cairns Qld A live audio stream of the hearings will be available via the Parliament’s Watch, Read, Listen website. Further information about the inquiry, including submissions received and past public hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Office of Kate Thwaites MP (Chair) (03) 9459 1411 Kate.Thwaites.MP@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2374 em@aph.gov.au

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is seeking direct feedback from students and schools about civics and citizenship education.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 5 June 2024

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is seeking direct feedback from students and schools about civics and citizenship education. The Committee has released a survey on civics and citizenship education in Australian schools as part of its current inquiry. If you are a primary or secondary school student, a recent school leaver or an educator, the Committee wants to hear from you! Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters - Civics education survey (surveymonkey.com) Committee Chair, Ms Kate Thwaites MP, said ‘the Committee is keen to get the perspectives of school students and educators on the way civics is taught in Australian schools. This survey will help the Committee understand how students and educators feel about civics and citizenship education, how civics and citizenship are taught in Australian schools, and how students and educators engage with social and political issues. 'It is concerning that many young Australians don’t have the grounding in civics to set them up to be confident participants in our democracy. ‘Data from the National Assessment Program – Civics and Citizenship shows that in 2019 just 38 per cent of Year 10 students and 53 per cent of Year 6 students achieved the ‘proficient’ standard. ‘The Committee is investigating how civics forms part of the Australian curriculum, examining the importance of media literacy, and listening to the voices of young people about how best to improve civics education. ‘The Committee will engage with young people, along with people in remote communities, new migrants and culturally and linguistically diverse Australians, to ensure that everyone in Australia is able to participate fully in our democratic system’. Further information about the inquiry is available on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Office of Kate Thwaites MP (03) 9459 1411 Kate.Thwaites.MP@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2374 em@aph.gov.au

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold the first public hearing for its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 23 May 2024

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold the first public hearing for its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia on Thursday 23 May 2024. Committee Chair, Ms Kate Thwaites MP, said ‘it’s concerning that many young Australians don’t have the grounding in civics to set them up to be confident participants in our democracy. ‘Data from the National Assessment Program – Civics and Citizenship shows that in 2019 just 38 per cent of Year 10 students and 53 per cent of Year 6 students achieved the ‘proficient’ standard. 'As we begin our inquiry, the Committee will be investigating how civics forms part of the Australian curriculum. We will also be examining the importance of media literacy, and listening to the voices of young people about how best to improve civics education. ‘The Committee will engage with young people, along with people in remote communities, new migrants and culturally and linguistically diverse Australians, to ensure that everyone in Australia is able to participate fully in our democratic system’. The Committee wants to hear from a wide range of people interested in the inquiry’s terms of reference. Submissions can be made through the inquiry website. Public hearing details Date:               Thursday 23 May 2024 Time:              10:00am – 4.00pm (Canberra time) Location:        Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra Witnesses:     Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority                           Department of Education                           Office for Youth                           Australian Media Literacy Alliance                           Australian Electoral Commission                           Foundation for Young Australians                           Australian Council for Student Voice                           Adjunct Associate Professor Elizabeth Tudball                           Dr Zareh Ghazarian                           Associate Professor Tanya Notley                           Dr Keith Heggart The hearing will be live broadcast via the Parliament’s Watch, Read, Listen website. Media inquiries Office of Kate Thwaites MP (Chair) (03) 9459 1411 Kate.Thwaites.MP@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2374 em@aph.gov.au

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has commenced an inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia, and is seeking written submissions in response to the Terms of Reference by Friday 24 May 2024.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 27 March 2024

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has commenced an inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia, and is seeking written submissions in response to the Terms of Reference by Friday 24 May 2024. The Committee is particularly interested in hearing from people with direct experience of civics and citizenship education and challenges associated with electoral participation. This includes students and teachers, young people, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, civic and educational organisations, and people in regional, rural, and remote areas. Committee Chair, Ms Kate Thwaites MP, said ‘in a time when we’re seeing challenges for democracies across the world, and a rise in mis and disinformation, it’s important that every Australian has the opportunity to be informed about and engaged in our democracy. ‘The Committee wants to hear Australians’ experiences of civics education, and what we can do better to support democratic engagement and participation. ‘So many young Australians are passionate about social and political issues, but they may not have access to relevant and reliable information about democratic and electoral processes. ‘The diversity of cultures, languages, and life experiences within Australia means we need to ensure access to relevant, digestible, and accurate information about our democracy. This includes for First Nations peoples, people in remote areas and CALD communities.’ The Committee intends to present a final report for the inquiry by the end of 2024. Further information about the inquiry is available on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Office of Kate Thwaites MP (03) 9459 1411 Kate.Thwaites.MP@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 2374 em@aph.gov.au