Books

All resources except the childrens books referred to below can be borrowed from CSU library holdings. Please contact Olivia Carter to arrange a loan either via hard copy or e book. If you would like to arrange a loan for the childrens books, please submit a request for CSU to buy these books.

Australia’s Democracy: a short history by John Hirst

Publication Details: Hirst, J. B. (2002). Australia’s Democracy: a short history. NSW: Allen & Unwin.

Availability: Click here to access your copy from the CSU Library.

This book explores the establishment of democratic rights and freedoms from convict times until the present, noting important Australian innovations such as the basic wage and the secret ballot.

Challenging Democracy in Early Childhood Education Engagement in Changing Global Contexts by Valerie Margrain and Annica Lofdahl Hultman

Publication Details: Margrain, V., & Lofdahl Hultman, A. (2019). Challenging Democracy in Early Childhood Education: Engagement in Changing Global Contexts. Singapore: Springer Singapore.

Availability: Click here to access your copy from the CSU Library.

This book identifies existing practices, strengths, theories and considerations – highlighting the democratic participation of children and how they can be engaged via a range of curriculum contexts.

Learning to teach citizenship in secondary school: a companion to school experience by Liam Gearon

Publication Details: Gearon, L. (2010). Learning to teach citizenship in the secondary school: a companion to school experience. New York: Routledge.

Availability: Click here to access your copy from the CSU Library.

An essential companion piece to understanding how to teach citizenship to students as a first or second subject, with guides of how to plan lessons, developing skills of enquiry in citizenship and developing active participation in citizenship.

Children Books on Acceptance and Diversity 

The following are children books that were recommended by the Museum of Australian Democracy’s ‘Hands on Democracy’ Teachers Resource (n.d.).

Mirror by Jeannie Baker

Publication Details: Baker, J. (2010). Mirror. London: Walker Books.

An insightful two-in-one picture book that follows a parallel day in the life of two families: one in Sydney, Australia and one in a small village in Morocco, important for children to understand acceptance and diversity.

The Little Refugee by Anh Do

Publication Details: Do, A. (2011). The Little Refugee. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.

A memoir about Anh Do and his journey as a child escaping with his family from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat to living in Australia, barely speaking English – but determined to achieve his dreams.