Poverty and Inequality in Australia - Poverty and the Social Determinants of Health

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Years 7 & 8 HPE:

• Evaluate health information and communicate their own and others’ health concerns (ACPPS076)
• Plan and use health practices, behaviours and resources to enhance health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (ACPPS077)

Syllabus outcomes: PD4-1, PD4-2, PD4-7

General capabilities: Literacy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capabilities, Ethical Understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Relevant parts of Year 7 & 8 achievement standards: 
By the end of Year 8, students evaluate the impact on wellbeing of relationships and valuing diversity. They analyse factors that influence emotional responses. They investigate strategies and practices that enhance their own, others’ and community health, safety and wellbeing. They examine the cultural and historical significance of physical activities and examine how connecting to the environment can enhance health and wellbeing.

Students apply personal and social skills to establish and maintain respectful relationships and promote safety, fair play and inclusivity. They demonstrate skills to make informed decisions and propose and implement actions that promote their own and others’ health, safety and well-being. 

• A device capable of presenting a video to the class
• A device that allows students to conduct research in a safe manner
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student

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

• Communication
• Community engagement
• Critical thinking
• Empathy
• Ethical understanding
• Initiative
• Problem solving
• Social skills

Time required: 100 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion, lead students in activities

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.