Year 10 HASS – Term 4 (WA Curriculum): Economics, Democracy and Sustainability in the Modern World

What this unit covers

In Term 4, Year 10 HASS in the WA Curriculum centres on the unit “Economics, Democracy and Sustainability in the Modern World”.

This unit explores the interconnections between economic systems, democratic governance, environmental sustainability, and Australia's role in the global community through critical analysis of contemporary issues and data.

Lesson sequence (30 lessons)

The unit breaks down into the following lesson-by-lesson sequence — each title below is a teachable lesson, in order:

1. Measuring Australia's Economic Performance and Living Standards
2. Comparing GDP Per Capita Across Australian States and Territories
3. Investigating Housing Affordability as an Economic Indicator
4. Analysing Income Distribution Using the Gini Coefficient
5. Understanding the Lorenz Curve and Wealth Inequality
6. Exploring Progressive vs Regressive Taxation Systems
7. Evaluating Government Transfer Payments and Social Welfare
8. Examining How Governments Influence Economic Performance
9. Investigating Government Investment in Education and Skills Training
10. Analysing Compulsory Superannuation as Economic Policy
11. How Businesses Adapt to Changing Economic Conditions
12. Exploring Business Research and Development Strategies
13. Investigating Marketing Responses to Consumer Behaviour
14. Examining Workforce Training and Technology Investment
15. Understanding Just-in-Time Inventory Systems
16. Evaluating Ethical Decision-Making in Business Production
17. Investigating Workplace Discrimination and Labour Conditions
18. Analysing Fair Trade and Ethical Consumer Campaigns
19. Exploring Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital Age
20. Understanding Australia's Changing Work Environment
21. Investigating the Gig Economy and Casualisation Trends
22. Examining Demographic Changes and Future Employment
23. Comparing Australia's Democratic System with Asian Governments
24. Analysing Threats to Democratic Systems Worldwide
25. Investigating Media Misinformation and Democratic Values
26. Examining Safeguards that Protect Australian Democracy
27. Understanding the High Court's Role in Constitutional Interpretation
28. Evaluating Australia's Global Responsibilities and Foreign Aid
29. Analysing Australia's Response to UN Indigenous Rights Declaration
30. Investigating Human-Induced Environmental Challenges and Economic Sustainability

Curriculum codes in this unit

Content codes:

Skills codes:

Reading the codes: WA codes (the ones starting with WA) pack the year level, learning area, strand and content number into one string, while the national Australian Curriculum v9 uses a different anatomy that starts with AC9 — same content family, different labels. Our complete WA Curriculum guide decodes both, character by character.

Planning notes for Term 4

WA terms run roughly 9–11 weeks, and in 2026 Term 4 runs from Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December — 10 weeks for WA public schools. With 30 lessons in this unit, that leaves breathing room for assessment, moderation and the weeks that disappear to carnivals, camps and public holidays — plan the assessable work to land two to three weeks before the end of term rather than in the final week.