Subject description

Spiritualities, Religion, and Meaning is a 10‑credit or 20‑credit subject at Stage 2.

Australia is a land of many spiritualities and religions. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spiritualities are at least 65,000 years old, forming part of the oldest continuous cultures on the planet. Since Australia was colonised in the late 18th century, spiritualities and religions have arrived with many different groups of migrants, making this country one of the most multicultural and religiously diverse in the world.

While their definitions are widely contested, spirituality and religion both invite engagement with the transcendent, and provide meaning, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Spiritualities and religions can inform an individual’s identity, as well as their interconnection with creation.

In this subject, teachers and students use one or more ‘big ideas’ to frame inquiry questions; to explore issues, concepts, and ideas; and to reflect on personal and shared meaning within one or more spiritualities and/or religions.

At Stage 2, students engage in reflective analysis in response to stimuli such as guest speakers, documentaries, and excursions, contextualised by one of the six big ideas. They explore a concept or issue from a spiritual and/or religious perspective, and collaborate with others to apply their learning. They engage in reflective practice to evaluate their personal and shared actions.

For a 10‑credit subject, students individually explore and evaluate an existing initiative related to a local, national, or global issue related to a big idea of their choice, considering spiritual and/or religious perspectives.

For a 20‑credit subject, students individually explore a local, national, or global issue related to a big idea of their choice. They develop, apply, and evaluate an initiative designed to generate or advocate for transformative social change, drawing on spiritual and/or religious principles.