1967 Referendum unit of work
Title: Will you put it in the Australian 'Human
Rights Hall of Fame'?
Topic: History, Civics and Citizenship, Society and Environment, Indigenous Studies, English, Media Studies
Type:
1967 Referendum unit of work
Title: Will you put it in the Australian 'Human
Rights Hall of Fame'?
Topic: History, Civics and Citizenship, Society and Environment, Indigenous Studies, English, Media Studies
Type: Curriculum materials + interactive
Key curriculum links: Time, Continuity and Change; Culture; Natural and Social Systems; Investigation, Communication and Participation, Thinking Processes and Communication
Purpose and content
In April 2008 the National Museum of Australia released a substantial website, Collaborating for Indigenous Rights. The previous year, May 2007, the part of the website focusing on the 1967 Referendum was released as a preview to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the referendum. This teachers resource was developed as part of the Museum's 1967 Referendum activities.
This unit of work helps students to interrogate the website and, in doing so, come to a better understanding of this important event. In completing the unit, the students will decide whether the 1967 Referendum was a major turning point in the achievement of Indigenous citizenship rights in Australia.
In order to come to a judgement about this important historical event, students interrogate a wide range of primary source materials including petitions, Hansard speeches, Cabinet documents, newspaper articles, posters and museum exhibition displays that are available on Collaborating for Indigenous Rights.
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Making rules in my classroom - Understanding the concept of citizenship rights
What citizenship rights existed in Australia by 1967?
Your petitioners humbly pray - What attempts were made to change the Constitution by petitions?
Changing the law - What was the role of Commonwealth Cabinet and Parliament?
Changing the Constitution - What was the role of people, groups and ideas in the referendum campaign?
What was the result of the Referendum vote?
What have been the impacts of this result?
How has the National Museum of Australia represented this event in its display?
1967 Referendum interactive
The Museum and Ryebuck Media have also produced an interactive to help students investigate the significance of the 1967 Referendum. The interactive presents students with a range of evidence to help them decide whether the 1967 Referendum should be included in an 'Australian Human Rights Hall of Fame'.
Go to the Australian History Mysteries website and select the 'Interactive' link which is next to 'Freedom Ride and 1967 Referendum - What do they tell us about Australian attitudes?'
Contact us for help
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