7 Things You May Not Know About Government in Australia

Find this blog post and more at the new Galarious Goods website 

Are you thinking about teaching Australian Government in your classroom? Did you know these facts about the Australian political system and Australian political history?

1. Australians Do Not Directly Elect the Prime Minister

Unlike the United State of America, Australians do not make a direct vote for the political leader of the country. Instead they vote for local representatives who are usually members of political parties. The political party with the most representatives chooses one of the representatives to be Prime Minister.

2. This Can Lead to Sudden Changes . . . 

Political parties can choose to change the Prime Minister without a public election - this often happens when they disagree with the leader or they think a new leader will do better. In 2010 there was a sudden change when the representatives of the Labor Party decided that Julia Gillard should replace Kevin Rudd. In 2013 they went back to Kevin Rudd. In 2015 the Liberal Party decided to change from Tony Abbott to Malcolm Turnbull.

3. The Prime Minister is Not the Head of State of Australia

The head of state of Australia is Queen Elizabeth II. She has representatives in Australia - the Governor-General and the Governors. In 1999 there was a referendum vote to decide if Australia should become a republic with an Australian head of state. However, the Australian people voted to remain a monarchy and the Queen remains as the head of state.

4. Australia has Compulsory Voting

All Australian citizens over the age of 18 are required to register and vote - it's considered one of the responsibilities of citizenship.

5. Australians Usually Use a Pencil and Paper to Vote

All voters in Australia are given paper ballots and all voting booths provide pencils. Australia started using pencils because they were quicker to use than ink pens, but they continue to use them because they are easy to prepare, store and maintain. You can bring your own pen to voting if you wish.

6. Australians Vote on Saturday - and Eat Sausages!

Voting in Australia is held on Saturdays when most Australians are available to vote (although you can vote earlier if you need to). Voting is usually held at schools and churches and they often hold sales to raise money. The most popular sale is a sausage sizzle - barbecued sausage on bread with sauce. At recent elections voters have compared the best sausage sizzles and shared photos of their sausages on social media! Check out the #democracysausage tag on Instagram!

7. An Australian Prime Minister Once Went Missing

In December 1967, Prime Minister Harold Holt went swimming and never came back. Although it is presumed that he was drowned, his body was never recovered. After his death, a swimming pool complex was named in his honour.


Now you know more about Australian political systems and history, you're all set to teach it in the classroom. If you're looking for extra resources, you can find them at the Galarious Goods TeachersPayTeachers store - from Poster Sets to Research Tasks to a 'Run Your Own Preferential Election' kit. You can also get the Australian Government Basics and Elections in Australia Bundles - both with great savings.

Looking for more?

• Follow the Galarious Goods TpT shop (click on the green star)
• Follow Galarious Goods on Facebook
• Follow Galarious Goods on Pinterest

Teaching the Government of Other Countries - Why and How?

Find this blog post and more at the new Galarious Goods website 

Teaching about the government of your own country can get complicated enough (preferential voting, anyone?!) without bringing other countries into it. But, learning about governments around the world can be incredibly valuable to students and it's definitely worth adding to your classroom.

Why should you teach about the political systems of other countries?

• We live in a global world - what happens in one country can influence the events in other countries. Understanding the domestic political systems of other countries can help students gain a better understanding of treaties, interactions between leaders and the actions of international organisations.

• Learning about other countries allows students to make comparisons. Making comparisons is an important skill for students to develop - especially when they understand why there are differences and similarities in different systems. The better they understand different systems, the more nuanced their comparisons can be.

• Investigating the political systems of other countries fosters an interest in the world. The political systems are usually influenced by the history of a country and changes usually reflect the people. Learning about these elements allow students to develop a world view.

How can you teach about the political systems of other countries?

• Pick one country to look at in-depth. Examine what the elected positions are, how people vote for them, how the electoral systems have changed over time. Look at what outside influences have altered the political systems of the country.

• Pick one country to look at side by side with your own country. Create timelines of major electoral events. Examine the responsibilities of different elected roles. Look at who can vote and when different groups of people received the right to vote.

• Pick one element - like elections - and examine a range of countries. You might like to create a 'day in the life' of the political leaders or write instructions for first time voters in each country.

• Break students into smaller groups to examine different elements or different countries. Bring students together to share their learning or create a display for students, other classes and their families to explore.

Whether you look at other countries for one or two lessons or you create larger comparative units, including other countries in your government and civics lessons can create students who have a more inclusive understanding of how politics works around the world.

Interested in introducing your students to the Australian Electoral System? Check out the Australian Election Bundle - with a mini unit, 2 word wall resources, research tasks, a poster set and a Run Your Own Preferential Election kit.

Want a quicker look at Australian Government? The Australian Government Basics Bundle gives a quick look at the different elements of the Australian political system.

Looking for more?

• Follow the Galarious Goods TpT shop (click on the green star)
• Follow Galarious Goods on Facebook
• Follow Galarious Goods on Pinterest

Elections in the Classroom - 7 Tips for Real Learning with Minimum Controversy

Find this blog post and more at the new Galarious Goods website 

Learning about real life elections in the classroom sounds a little like a disaster waiting to happen - but there definitely are ways to talk about political situations in the classroom without attracting controversy.

1. Don't Avoid It

Elections happen and they're important. Students are future voters and they deserve to understand how elections work. Avoiding the topic might keep things from becoming controversial, but it can also be a disservice to our students who should be educated about the electoral system.

2. Keep Your Feelings Out of It

You might have really strong opinions about a particular candidate, but work to keep a neutral approach in the classroom. Students don't need to know about how you might be inclined to vote - it's ok to talk about how voters often prefer to keep their votes to themselves. It can also be an opportunity to talk about the use of secret ballots in elections and why they are used.

3. Set the Ground Rules for the Students

Discussions about elections can get heated, especially if students or their parents hold strong opinions. Establish some strict ground rules early, ensuring students participate in lessons in a respectful, considerate manner.

4. Use 'Primary' Sources

If you want to investigate to political positions of the candidates or how they use language in speeches turn to the words of the candidates themselves. Look for speeches on similar topics or speeches from similar events (like campaign launches or party conventions). Comparing the words of the candidates side by side allows students to see both sides of the political arguments and can also serve as a informational reading lesson.

Different principles of Australian democracy

5. Take a Technical Approach

It's possible to talk about elections without focusing too much attention on candidates or political parties. Look at how elections work, what people need to do to vote, how votes are counted. Look at the levels of government and what the different electable positions are. You can even take a look into how the government works. The technical approach allows students to look more critically at the political process and how they can be involved in it.

6. Take a Historical Approach

Instead of focusing on a current or more recent election, take a look into the past. What was the first election like? How have political parties changed over the years? What are the notable or interesting elections of the past? So much of history shapes the events of today - learning about the past can allow students to understand how we got to current political situations.

7. Take an International Approach

Lots of countries have democratic systems and elections, but they all have their own ways of voting and forming governments. Take your students on a look back at Ancient Athenian Democracy or take a peek into elections within other democratic countries. Compare and contrast the electoral systems and their principles with the electoral systems of your own country. Taking a wider view of elections can allow your students to have a better understanding of the electoral systems of their own country - and a global understanding of political events.


A controversial election can make the idea of teaching government seem scary. But with some firm ground rules and interesting side journeys, you can make the most of election season while avoiding controversy.


Interested in introducing your students to the Australian Electoral System? Check out the Australian Election Bundle - with a mini unit, 2 word wall resources, research tasks, a poster set and a Run Your Own Preferential Election kit.

Taking a general look at elections and democracy through a study of a graphic novel. The Babymouse for President Government Book Study looks at how candidates approach elections - whether it's for major political positions or for student council president.

Looking for more?

• Follow the Galarious Goods TpT shop (click on the green star)
• Follow Galarious Goods on Facebook
• Follow Galarious Goods on Pinterest