Since its initial launch in 2020, over 200 teachers have registered for the Commissioner’s yChange program, specifically developed to support educators and teachers to deliver lessons about civics and citizenship to primary and secondary school students across South Australia.
To encourage more schools to utilise the content rich resource, the Commissioner has made yChange accessible to all Government, Catholic and Independent Schools online where it can be downloaded FREE here.
Previously, educators needed to register for the program to receive the yChange Resource Pack. However, aligning with open access philosophy, this step has been removed to make the resource more accessible and now also available nationally and internationally.
“I developed the yChange resource after learning that young people’s engagement and participation in civic decision making had plateaued. This ran counter to what they had told me, which was that they would like to understand the governance systems they are in better, know how to engage in the world around them, and acquire the skills they need to transition into adulthood. yChange exists to help close this civics education gap, delivering civics and citizenship education in a different way.”
Primary and secondary educators can access 12 easy-to-use lessons that step students through the process of creating civic change and delivering projects in their communities that they want to see action on. In addition to the lesson plans the resource pack contains a Teacher’s Handbook with key context; preparatory lessons on equity, justice, rights, citizenship and reconciliation; assessment rubrics; a glossary; and a guide to yChange’s alignment with ACARA and with the aims of South Australia’s Youth Action Plan.
The Teacher’s Handbook lessons walk students through the yChange 5 Part Learning Journey, which consists of:
- Identifying a problem
- Conducting research
- Creating an action plan
- Actioning the plan
- Presenting the findings and outcomes of the project
To further support student yChange projects, the Commissioner offers yChange Action Grants of up to $500 per project.
“As young citizens, SA children and young people are well placed to identify the impact that 21st Century issues are and will have on themselves and future generations. They are also more than capable of generating ideas around what can be done to improve their own and others’ situations. Yet their insights and opinions are rarely sought, and when they are, mostly overlooked. yChange has been developed to empower young people to make the change they want to see.” Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly
Supportive partners include the Commonwealth Parliamentary Education Officer, Parliament of South Australia, History Trust of South Australia and the Centre of Democracy. Commissioner Connolly is encouraging educators to complete yChange with their students and help close the civic engagement gap that currently exists within South Australia.
To find out more and to download the yChange Resource Pack visit www.ychange.com.au
