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Curtin University
John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library
Curtin University Library

Programs for students in years 11 to 12

JCPML programs provide an opportunity to introduce your Modern History students to the work of a respected research archive, to experience history through primary resources and to use historical knowledge to interpret the past while experiencing a taste of university life.

The programs use combinations of role play (scripted and unscripted), document studies, cartoon interpretation, exhibition interpretation, and critical research and writing skills.

Booking information & form.

The following outcomes of the WA Modern History course of study are addressed:

Outcome 1: Historical investigation, communication and participation - students apply the skills of historical inquiry and methodology to investigate the past and communicate their findings using the discourse of history. 		Morley SHS students engage in role play at the JCPML.
Morley SHS students engage in a role play activity at the JCPML. Photograph courtesy WA Newspapers.

Outcome 2: Understanding the past - students understand the past, linking the chronology of people, events, ideas and distinctive features of society into an historical narrative.

Outcome 3: Continuity and change - students understand the nature of forces, the interaction between forces and their significance for continuity and change in an historical context.

Outcome 4: Interpretations and perspectives - students understand that interpretations and perspectives of people and events may change over time.

Programs are offered to help your students develop knowledge, skills and understandings in the following four curriculum units:


1A People, Place and Time

  • John Curtin

1B Power and Authority

  • Australia - wartime governments

2A Societies and Change

  • Australia
    1880s to 1920s
    1920s to 1950s
    1950s to 1990s

3A Cohesion and Division

  • Australia
    1880s to 1920s
    1920s to 1950s
    1950s to 1990s

1AHIM People, Place and Time

John Curtin, a labour man (document study and scripted role play)

In this program students will investigate John Curtin's:

  • early days in the labour movement
  • career as a journalist and editor
  • time as a member of parliament
  • record and legacy as Prime Minister of Australia during World War 2 (includes scripted role play: Planning for Peace).


1BHIM Power and authority


John Curtin: wartime prime minister (document study and scripted role play)

In this program students will investigate the power and authority of the wartime government of John Curtin covering issues including:

  • total war
  • rationing and austerity
  • paying for the war effort
  • censorship and democracy
  • manpower and conscription (includes scripted role play: Debating Conscription)
  • plans for post war reconstruction

The emphasis is on providing students with sufficient knowledge to be able to compare some aspects of power and authority in Australia with the wartime experience of Germany, Japan, the United States or Britain.

2AHIM Societies and Change


Australia 1880s to 1920s - John Curtin, a committed socialist (document study)

In this program students will investigate John Curtin's:

  • experience of the 1890's depression
  • socialist beliefs and involvement in the labour movement
  • role in the anti-conscription movement in WW1
  • efforts to bring about change through his work as an editor and journalist during the war and post war era

Australia 1920s to 1950s - John Curtin: Member of Parliament and Prime Minister of Australia (document study and role play, scripted /unscripted)

In this program students will investigate and assess how John Curtin's vision for change in Australian society was achieved through his:

Australia 1950s to 1990s - John Curtin's legacy (1) - (document study and role play, scripted/unscripted)

In this program students will investigate the long term impact of World War 2 on Australian society and the changes brought about by the Curtin and Chifley Governments, including an examination of resistance to selected changes. Students will look at:

3AHIM Cohesion and Division

Australia 1880s to 1920s - John Curtin, Man of Peace (document study)

In this program students will investigate John Curtin's experience of the cohesive and divisive forces of:


  • the 1890s depression
  • federation
  • the early 20th century labour movement
  • World War 1 & the conscription referendums
  • the Treaty of Versailles

Australia 1920s to 1950s - John Curtin: leading Australia from war to peace - (document study and role play, scripted /unscripted)

Students will investigate the cohesive and divisive forces of the wartime government of John Curtin covering topics such as:

  • total war
  • rationing and austerity
  • manpower and conscription (scripted Debating Conscription role play or document study)
  • censorship and democracy
  • paying for the war effort
  • plans for post war reconstruction, including immigration and the welfare state (Planning for Peace role play)
  • nationalisation of the airways and the banks

Australia 1950s to 1990s - John Curtin's legacy (2) - (document study and role play, scripted/unscripted)

In this program students will investigate John Curtin's wartime government legacy. They will look at events, issues, people and other factors that shaped the post war world and which have continued to impact Australian society to the present day.

Before you visit

When you book an 'unscripted' role play you will receive a comprehensive resource kit and instructions for the visit. All role play packages include lesson outlines and in-class learning resources. Your onsite visit will be fully supervised and conducted by the Education Officer.