Teaching about Australia’s Relationships with Asia in Geography

Teaching about Australia’s relationship with Asia is vital in Geography today. Asia is Australia’s neighbour and in being our countries do a fair bit of trading. In a relationship people look after each other countries do the same meaning if anything were to happen in Asia and spill into Australia we have relationship protecting us. God also spoke in the Bible about looking after other people because everyone has value.

 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighboras yourself. I am the Lord” (Bible Gateway, Leviticus 19:18, 2013).

The Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia priority provides a regional context for learning in all areas of the curriculum. It reflects Australia’s extensive engagement with Asia in social, cultural, political, and economic spheres. Many Asian nations are growing rapidly and are regionally and globally influential. Immigrants from all these countries have historically contributed to Australia’s development and will continue to do so in the future. An understanding of Asia underpins the capacity of Australian students to be active and informed citizens working together to build harmonious local, regional and global communities, and build Australia’s social, intellectual and creative capital. It also builds understanding of the diversity of cultures and peoples living in Australia, fosters social inclusion and cohesion and is vital to the prosperity of Australia (ACARA, 2013).

                           (Chanchai Vision, 2013).

Not only is our relationship with Asia important in trade and industry but also in teaching students to create positive relationships and interdependent relationships. Focusing on what is beneficial for both parties and not just on the individual.

An extensive web of regional links now brings Australia and its Asian neighbours closer in the geo-political sphere. The region has experienced a profound increase in solidarity as barriers between travel, commerce and trade have been broken down.  The dawn of the Asian Century now presents an unprecedented opportunity for Australia. Over the next 10 years, Australian output could grow 20% faster if Asian real output rises 50% more than the baseline. Australia’s longstanding and deep relationship with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is indicative of this. Enthusiasm to engage and cooperate with one another has flourished as Asia presents its diverse and rich culture in combination with modernity (Roberts, 2012).

Through this, we have formed stronger cultural ties with our neighbours and promoted regional cooperation and stability.  Australia must now push one step further and embrace regionalism by authentically liberalising trade and relinquishing barriers to Asian investment (Roberts, 2012).

 When looking into Australia’s relationship with Asia it is important that you research well, and provide credible good research to and for your students. Such as shown below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW_KkucHYh4

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/connect-asia/australia-china-agreement-a-milestone-in-relationship-carr/1114106

http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/

http://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/asian-century/index.html

http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/white-paper/appendix-b

 Teaching about Australia’s relationship with Asia is about passing onto the next generation values and information that will guide them in their future decisions for this nation. It is important that we as teachers provide the opportunity for students to research and to express and develop their own beliefs giving them support and guidance.

 Students are not just learning about Australia’s relationship with Asia but how countries work and look after one another and why we need each other. Students are tomorrow’s world and they possess the power to change and make that world.

References

ABC Radio Australia. (2013). Australia, China agreement a milestone in relationship:Carr. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/connect-asia/australia-china-agreement-a-milestone-in-relationship-carr/1114106.

ACARA. (2013). Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities/Asia-and-Australias-engagement-with-Asia.

Australian Government. (2013). Australia in the Asian century. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/.

Australian Government. (2013). Australia in the Asian century. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/asian-century/index.html.

Australian Government. (2013). Appendix B:Australia’s bilateral relationships with Asia. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/white-paper/appendix-b.

Bible Gateway. (2011). New International Version. Retrieved 12^th April 2013.

Chanchai Vision. (2013). Untitled [map of Australia and Asia]. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://www.chanchaivision.com/2013/01/blog-post.html.

 Conversation EDU. (2012). Australia in the Asian century: A conversation with Ken Henry. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW_KkucHYh4.

Roberts, J. (2012). Trade liberalization the key to Australia’s relationship with Asia. Retrieved 12^th April 2013 from http://www.aiia.asn.au/access-monthly-access/863-trade-liberalisation-the-key-to-australias-relationship-with-asia.