and the Rural/Urban Divide

ABSTRACT The challenge for citizenship education in contemporary Australia where there have been recent radical changes in the composition of the population, raises questions about national identity, notions of shared history, language and place. In particular the older distinction between urban and rural dwellers that had shaped earlier Australians may have outlived its usefulness. This article reports on a study of young people’s understanding of themselves as Australian and their affiliation with the place in which they live. The authors contrast the responses of young rural Australians with those derived from their urban studies and draw out some of the different ‘Australias ’ as described by the schoolchildren. Ultimately the paper argues for citizenship education to comprise a revisioning of Australia as a social and political entity in ways that incorporate and celebrate difference without diminishing allegiance to the country as whole. Australia’s future depends upon each citizen having the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills and values for a productive and rewarding life in an educated, just and open society. High quality schooling is central to achieving this vision. [1