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).
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(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:
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 12th 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 12th April 2013
from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities/Asia-and-Australias-engagement-with-Asia.
Australian Government. (2013). Australia in the Asian century. Retrieved 12th April
2013 from http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/.
Australian Government. (2013). Australia in the Asian century. Retrieved 12th 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
12th April 2013 from http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/white-paper/appendix-b.
Bible Gateway. (2011). New International Version.
Retrieved 12th April 2013.
Chanchai Vision. (2013). Untitled [map of Australia and Asia]. Retrieved 12th
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 12th 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 12th
April 2013 from http://www.aiia.asn.au/access-monthly-access/863-trade-liberalisation-the-key-to-australias-relationship-with-asia.
