Friend of SCEAA, L-FRESH the LION, is facilitating a training program to help young people challenge fake news, An organisation called All Together Now has developed a training program called Agent C which provides young people the skills and tools to identify conspiracy theories and fake news. This program ran last year in partnership with Headspace and received great feedback from the participants and Headspace about the value of this program.
​See more here (scroll through).
Please email Keith Heggart (keith.heggart@uts.edu.au) if you want more information.
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Applications are open for the Meg 2022 Global Citizenship Ambassador Program. 
This is a national program, Years 5/6 upwards, where participating schools nominate two student Global Citizenship Ambassadors to take part in the free one-year program. 
Student Ambassadors will work alongside students from other schools across Australia on a personalised Global Citizenship project relevant and co-created by their school community. Students will be asked to liaise with their own student populations as school representatives and, in doing so, build their leadership skills. This program also builds both their own and their school community’s understanding of what Global Citizenship is, why it is important and how it can be developed. 
 
Program Learning Objectives:
·        Develop an understanding of Global Citizenship and why it’s important
·        Explore concepts linked to Global Citizenship such as DEJI, Intercultural Understanding and the Sustainable Development Goals
·        Expand their understandings of different approaches to leadership
·        Show an understanding of how to take action on a topic of interest
 
Meetings with the program facilitators are twice a term via video conferencing. Both students and school educators have access to supportive resources throughout the project. 
 
It’s a great opportunity, with limited free places. Early applicants are given priority.
Find out more and sign up here.

From the editors:
Debates about the purpose of civics and citizenship education and the social sciences more generally continue to be front and centre in the news. Stimulated by the recent comments by Federal Education Minister, Alan Tudge, there is ongoing discussion - that has become heated at times - about how we should teach and learn about our history (or histories!) and what it means to be a member of the Australian community.
Tudge identified several areas in the current draft version of the Australian Curriculum that he argued were unacceptable. Relevant to readers of The Social Educator were his comments about Citizenship and History. He suggested that the curriculum was too negative, and focused on the history of slavery, imperialism, and colonisation. Furthermore, he was critical of the way that Anzac Day was presented as a contested idea, rather than ‘the most sacred of all days’; something that is concerning as we strive to educate critical thinkers.

Read more in Issue 39(3)
No Minister. Examining recent commentary on the draft Australian History and Civics and Citizenship curriculum
Peter Brett, Keith Heggart and Sophie Fenton

Naturally enough? Children, climate anxiety and the importance of hope
John Buchanan, Kimberley Pressick-Kilborn and Jennifer Fergusson.

Auto-ethnographic reflections upon “Lived Citizenship” as a Curriculum Space in the context of the Australian Curriculum
Lisa Cary and Marc Pruyn

Parliament of Victoria are hosting a  1.5 hour interactive workshop, where teachers will participate in learning activities and discussions that will support their capacity to engage with civics and citizenship education. Themes include: three levels of government, laws and rules and representation. Drawing on relevant examples, activities and experiences, the workshop will provide teachers with concepts and resources that are aligned to the Victorian Curriculum Civics and Citizenship learning levels 3-6.
This professional learning session is suited to primary school, casual relief and preservice teachers.
 
Registration is essential and places are limited. For session details and registration other enquiries please contact education@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Recently, SCEAA members Keith Heggart, Peter Brett and Sophie Fenton published a response to claims made by the Federal Education Minister, Alan Tudge, about History and Civics and Citizenship. It begins:

The Federal Minister for Education Alan Tudge says the draft History and Civics and Citizenship curriculum is not up to scratch. According to a letter seen by The Australian newspaper, Minister Tudge has suggested that the draft curriculum ‘diminishes Australia’s western, liberal and democratic values’. According  to Tudge, the curriculum provides a negative view about western civilisation placing emphasis on ‘slavery, imperialism and colonisation’. 
He’s not happy with any of Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority’s (ACARA) draft curriculum but history came in for a belting.
Tudge also suggested that there has been an effort to remove or reframe historical events, emphasising ‘invasion theory’ over Australia Day. In addition, he is also concerned that Anzac Day is presented as ‘a contested idea, rather than the most sacred of all days’.
His comments are of particular concern to the Social and Citizenship Education Association of Australia (SCEAA).
You can read the rest of the blog here.