This guide has been produced by the expert team of humanities teachers, authors, and learning designers at Oxford University Press ANZ. It contains a clear, concise summary of the key changes to structure and content of the Victorian Curriculum Version 2.0 and is designed to save you time and help you plan and implement the new curriculum with confidence
Why is the Victorian Humanities Curriculum changing?
A review of the Victorian Curriculum Humanities (Version 1.0) began in late 2023. The new Victorian Curriculum Humanities (Version 2.0) was finalised in 2024 for implementation in 2026.
Based on comprehensive feedback from teachers, the new curriculum:
• streamlines and refines content to allow for greater depth
• retains the learning areas, capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities from Version 1.0
• provides consistency and alignment with the Australian Curriculum V9.0
• provides clear connections between content descriptions and achievement standards
• is designed to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Key differences between v1.0 and v2.0
Geography
Knowledge & understanding
* Content on climate change has been strengthened at Levels 7 and 8 in Water in the world and Changing nations sub-strands. Band
Levels 7 & 8
Levels 9 & 10
Geography
Skills
Levels 7 to 10
Water in the world
Place and liveability
Landforms and landscapes
Changing notions
Biomes & food security
Geographies of interconnection
Environmental change and management
Geographies of human wellbeing
Water in the world*
Place and liveability
Landforms and landscapes
Changing nations*
Biomes & food security
Geographies of interconnection
Environmental change and management
Geographies of human wellbeing
Place, space and interconnection
Data and information
Geographical inquiry
Concluding and decision-making
Communicating
History
Knowledge & understanding
Band
v1.0 Strand: Historical knowledge
Levels 7 & 8
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples and cultures
Ancient world and early civilisations
Middle Ages and early exploration
v2.0 Strand: Historical knowledge & understanding
Overview: Levels 7 and 8
Investigation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledge and understandings (Deep Time to the modern era)
Investigation: Ancient societies (10 000 BCE – 600 CE)
Choose one of Egypt, Rome, Greece, China, India
Investigation: Europe and the Mediterranean world (c 600–1750 CE)
Choose one of Emergence of the modern world in Europe, Medieval Europe, Ottoman Empire, Vikings, Renaissance Italy, Spanish and the Americas
Investigation: Asia and the Pacific region (c 600–1750 CE)
Choose one of Angkor/Khmer empire, Japan under the shoguns, Mongol expansion, Polynesian expansion across the Pacific Band
v1.0 Strand: Historical knowledge
Levels 9 & 10
The making of the modern world
The modern world and Australia
v2.0 Strand: Historical knowledge & understanding
Overview: Levels 9 and 10
Investigation: Australia (1750–1914)
Choose either this or ‘The globalising world’
Investigation: Australians at war (1914–1945)
Investigation: Asia (1750–present)
Choose one of China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam
Investigation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ rights and freedoms (1938–present)
Investigation: The globalising world (1945–present)
Choose ‘Australia’ or one of Popular culture, Environment movement, Migration experiences, Political crisis, Regional and global conflict
The Overview sub-strands provide context for the investigations - it is not intended to be taught in depth. Text in red indicates that the investigation is a new option.
History
Skills
Band
Levels 7 to 10
v1.0 Strand: Historical concepts & skills
Chronology
Historical sources as evidence
Continuity and change
Cause and effect
Historical significance
v2.0 Strand: Historical concepts & skills
Historical questions
Chronology
Using historical sources
Continuity and change
Causes and consequences
Historical significance
Communicating
Economics & Business
Knowledge & understanding
Band v1.0 Strand: Economics & Business knowledge
Levels 7 to 10
Economics & Business
Resource allocation and making choices
Consumer and financial literacy
The business environment
Work and work futures
Enterprising behaviours and capabilities
Economic and business reasoning and interpretation
Skills - these skill strands are new for Economics & Business in v2.0
v2.0 Strand: Economics & Business knowledge & understanding
Economic literacy
Business and entrepreneurship
Work
Levels 7 to 10
Civics & Citizenship
Knowledge & understanding
v2.0 Strand: Economics & Business skills
Investigating
Interpreting and analysing data and information
Evaluating, concluding and decision-making
Communicating
Consumer and financial literacy Band v1.0 Strand: Civics & Citizenship knowledge v2.0 Strand: Civics & Citizenship knowledge & understanding
Government and democracy
Levels 7 to 10
Civics & Citizenship
Laws and citizens
Citizenship, diversity and identity
Skills - these skill strands are new for Civics & Citizenship in v2.0
Levels 7 to 10
Government and democracy
Laws and citizens
Citizenship, diversity and identity
Investigating contemporary civics and citizenship issues
Evaluating democratic institutions and systems
Participating in civic processes
Communicating
Band
Band v2.0 Strand: Civics & Citizenship skills
Detailed breakdown on how the content is changing
Geography
Only content that has been added, significantly modified or removed is listed here. Many other content descriptions have been refined or combined.
More detail on all content and assessment changes – together with scope and sequence charts, lesson plans, and assessment support – is available for schools implementing the Victorian Curriculum with Oxford resources.
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 7 & 8
Sub-strand: Water in the world
Sub-strand: Place and liveability
the influence of social connectedness and community identity on people’s perceptions of the liveability of places, including the cultural connectedness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to Country and Place VC2HG8K09
responses to enhance the liveability of places at a local scale VC2HG8K11
Sub-strand: Landforms and landscapes
how interconnection and change can be used to understand environmental phenomena VC2HG8K17
Sub-strand: Changing nations
how space, place, interconnection, change and sustainability can be applied to understand the process of urbanisation, and its impacts on places VC2HG8K22
Nature of changes
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Addition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ connectedness
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
New content description
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
New content description
Geography
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 9 & 10
Sub-strand: Biomes and food security
Sub-strand: Geographies of interconnection
Sub-strand: Biomes and food security
Sub-strand: Geographies of interconnection
the influence of the interconnectedness of the world on the spatial spread of trends in music, fashions or entertainment, or on the diffusion of pandemics, financial disasters or similar events VC2HG10K09
responses to enhance the liveability of places at a local scale
VC2HG8K11
the influence of the interconnectedness of the world on the spatial spread of trends in music, fashions or entertainment, or on the diffusion of pandemics, financial disasters or similar events VC2HG10K09
Sub-strand: Environmental change and management
responses to enhance the liveability of places at a local scale
VC2HG8K11
Sub-strand: Geographies of human wellbeing
Sub-strand: Environmental change and management
Sub-strand: Geographies of human wellbeing
reasons for and implications of spatial differences in the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples at local and regional scales VC2HG10K17
reasons for and implications of spatial differences in the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples at local and regional scales VC2HG10K17
Nature of changes
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
New content description
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
New content description
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Additional focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Minor refinements and clarifications to content descriptions
Additional focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
History
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 7 & 8
Sub-strand: Biomes and food security
interpretations of early human evolution and migration and the establishment of societies, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ populating the Sahul mega-continent VC2HH8K01
development and features of early societies, such as the development of technologies, agriculture, trade, social groups, religious beliefs and laws VC2HH8K02
patterns of continuity and change caused by significant events between 600 CE and 1750 CE, including the transformation of the Roman world and the spread of major worldviews VC2HH8K04
features of the pre-modern world, such as social structures, contact and conflict VC2HH8K05
Sub-strand: Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Peoples’ knowledge and understandings (Deep Time to the modern era)
significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ beliefs and values that shaped, and continue to shape, everyday life, such as the relationships with Country and Place, land, trade, technologies and stories VC2HH8K09
changing evidence and interpretations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the world’s oldest continuous cultures VC2HH8K11
Sub-strand: Ancient societies (10,000 BCE – 600 CE)
significant events or turning points in an ancient society and their contribution to continuity and change VC2HH8K15
Nature of changes
New sub-strand to provide context for historical periods studied in 7 & 8
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
New sub-strand – updates language and broadens previous curriculum
New content description
New content description
‘civilisations’ changed to ‘societies’; minor refinements to content descriptions
New content description
History
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 7 & 8 continued
interpretations of the significance of an ancient society and/or individual and their legacies
VC2HH8K18
The nature of sources of evidence about ancient Australia and what they reveal about Australia’s ancient past, such as the use of resources VCHHK107
Sub-strand: Europe and the Mediterranean world (c 600 – 1750 CE)
causes and consequences of a significant event, development or turning point that contributed to continuity and change VC2HH8K20
experiences and perspectives of rulers and ruled, and the interaction between power and/or authority VC2HH8K21
the role and contribution of a significant individual and/or group to change VC2HH8K22
historical interpretations of an event, individual, group or institution and its legacies VC2HH8K23
Sub-strand: Europe and the Mediterranean world (c. 600 –1750 CE)
causes and consequences of a significant event, development or turning point that contributed to continuity and change VC2HH8K25
historical interpretations of an event, individual, group or institution and its legacies VC2HH8K28
Nature of changes
New content description
Removed
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
Refinements and consolidations of content descriptions
New content description
New content description
History
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 9 & 10
Sub-strand: Overview: Levels 9 & 10
causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution, the movement of people and European imperialism VC2HH10K01
significant ideas and developments and their impacts on society and politics VC2HH10K02
significant developments and events since 1945 that have contributed to global change, such as World War II, the United Nations, the Cold War and technologies VC2HH10K03
the contribution of significant movements for social and political change since 1945, such as independence, nationalist and conservative political movements, indigenous rights, civil rights, women ’ s rights, LGBTQI+ rights and environmentalism VC2HH10K04
the significant events, individuals and groups in the women ’ s movement in Australia, and how they have changed the role and status of women VC2HH10K05
the continuing efforts to create change in the civil rights and freedoms in Australia, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants and women VC2HH10K06
Sub-strand: Australia (1750–1914)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledge and understandings that shaped the relationship between Country and Place, communities and cultural practices during the 18th and early 19th centuries VC2HH10K07
Nature of changes
New sub-strand to provide context for historical periods studied in 9 & 10
Industrial Revolution sub-strand removed but causes and consequences added to this overview
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
History
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 9 & 10 continued
the causes of the establishment of British colonies on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Countries and Places during the 18th and early 19th centuries VC2HH10K08
significant events, ideas, people, groups and movements that contributed to continuity and change in Australian society between 1750 and 1914 VC2HH10K09
continuities and changes and their consequences on ways of life, living conditions, political and legal institutions and cultural expression around the turn of the 20th century VC2HH10K11
interpretations and debates about Australian history between 1750 and 1914, including the Frontier Wars or Australia as social laboratory VC2HH10K12
Sub-strand: Australians at war (1914–1918)
the reasons that Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, fought in the world wars VC2HH10K14
continuities and changes in the nature of warfare VC2HH10K18
the causes of the Holocaust VC2HH10K20
significant events, individuals and developments of the Holocaust VC2HH10K21
the diverse experiences and perspectives of Jewish and nonJewish peoples of the Holocaust VC2HH10K22
Nature of changes
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
Refinements to content descriptions to include both world wars
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
New content description
History
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 9 & 10 continued
Sub-strand: Asia (1750–present)
the experiences and perspectives of individuals, groups and movements within the society and their impact on a society over time VC2HH10K27
interpretations and debates about a society’s history over time VC2HH10K29
Position of the society in relation to other nations in the world by 1918 including the effects of ideas and movements of people VCHHK138
Sub-strand: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ right and freedoms (1938–present)
Effects of the US civil rights movement and its influence on Australia VCHHK153
different historical interpretations and debates about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ rights and freedoms campaigns VC2HH10K35
Sub-strand: The globalising world
continuities and/or changes caused by a major global influence, development and/or event after 1945
VC2HH10K39
Nature of changes
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
New content description
Removed
Refinements to content descriptions
Removed
New content description
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Economics & Business
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 7 & 8
Sub-strand: Economic literacy
how the operation of a free market driven by supply and demand, and consumer sovereignty, acts to influence the use and allocation of scarce economic resources through the price mechanism VC2HE8K02
Sub-strand: Business and entrepreneurship
Sub-strand: Work
Sub-strand: Consumer and financial literacy
the Australian taxation system and how taxation revenue is used
VC2HE8K09
Levels 9 & 10
Sub-strand: Economic literacy
economic policy, including fiscal and monetary, and the circular flow model of the economy VC2HE10K01
Sub-strand: Business and entrepreneurship
Sub-strand: Work
the role of trade unions and employer groups in a workplace VC2HE10K07
Sub-strand: Consumer and financial literacy
superannuation, what it is, who contributes, its importance and the potential benefits of superannuation to both individual and Australian living standards VC2HE10K09
Nature of changes
Refinements and some content moved from Levels 5 and 6
New content description
Refinements and some content moved from Levels 5 and 6
Refinements and some content moved from Levels 5 and 6
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Refinements to content descriptions
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Civics & Citizenship
What’s been added or modified?
Levels 7 & 8
Sub-strand: Government and democracy
the role of political parties and independent representatives in Australian democracy, including elections, the formation of governments and the balance of power VC2HC8K01
Describe the process of constitutional change through a referendum VCCCG021
Sub-strand: Laws and citizens
how citizens can participate in and influence lawmaking, including through contact with their elected representatives, use of lobby groups, interest groups, direct action and submissions to parliamentary committees VC2HC8K06
Sub-strand: Citizenship, diversity and identity
Levels 9 & 10
Sub-strand: Government and democracy
the role of the Australian Constitution in providing the basis for Australia’s federal system of government and democratic processes, including democratic institutions, and the process for constitutional change through a referendum VC2HC10K01
Analyse how citizens’ political choices are shaped, including the influence of the media VCCCG030
Sub-strand: Laws and citizens
Sub-strand: Citizenship, diversity and identity
Nature of changes
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Moved to Levels 9 & 10
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Refinements to content descriptions
Refinements to content descriptions
New content description
Removed
Refinements to content descriptions
Refinements to content descriptions
How is Oxford supporting implementation?
We are currently developing a new edition of Oxford Humanities 7–10 as well as a host of
This new edition will be hosted on our brand-new Oxford Digital platform, updated to improve usability and accessibility so you can engage students of all abilities and save time in planning
Engage every student with all core content now on our new accessible platform - adjust font sizes, enable read-to-me functionality, and customise content views for diverse learning needs.
Track student progress with quick, curriculum-aligned quizzes that provide instant feedback.
Revolutionise your classroom planning with lesson plans written by experts and accessed at the beginning of each lesson
Connect with students by using live lesson mode via Oxford Digital and live-assign resources and quizzes as you progress through customisable lesson plans.
Trust the experts. Trust Oxford.
All of our content and resources have been written by experts, ranging from classroom teachers with over 20 years of experience to learning designers with industry-leading expertise.
Content has been carefully mapped to the curriculum to ensure that anything you’re teaching in the classroom can be reported against curriculum outcomes and requirements.
Oxford Humanities
7–10
Where curriculum meets confidence. Bring the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 to life with complete coverage and engaging, contextual learning.
Oxford Humanities 7–10 is a complete teaching solution aligned to the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, offering full subject coverage, scaffolded skill development, and engaging digital tools. Updated History content and standalone Civics & Citizenship and Economics & Business sections support flexible delivery and diverse classrooms—empowering every student and streamlining teaching.
Full coverage of all four subjects separately, so teachers can choose how to teach.
Support resources written so that teachers out of field can deliver curriculum aligned lessons.
Speak with a local education consultant oup.com.au/contact
Connect with every kind of learner with engaging videos and accessibility support.
