Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia

The “Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority” (ACARA) is a national independent organization that ensures Australian children receive the highest curriculum, reporting and assessment standards in the world. ACARA has identified three important Cross Curriculum Priorities that must be incorporated into subjects. The priority that will be focused on today is “Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia”. Geography is a subject in which easily incorporates this priority.

The grey areas on the map represent Asia. 

Geographically Asia is one of Australia’s closest neighbours, the shaded map opposite shows the geographical location of Asia and the map below labels the countries it contains. Currently Asia has 30% of the world’s land mass and 60% of the world’spopulation. (World Population Review  2015) Due to its close proximity Australia is increasingly receiving more permeant Asian immigrants.

New York, London and Tokyo have been named the world’s three most influential cities in 2015. Asia and has a thriving, developing economy and is a great trading partner for Australia. Both countries are in similar time zones making communication less difficult and as the distance between each country is relatively short transportation and travel costs are low. It is economically beneficial for Australia and Asia to continue to grow their already prosperous trade and tourism partnership.

 

Australia's engagement with Asia is a vital priority for students to learn because not only is Asia geographically one of its closest neighbours and trading partners; an increasing percentage of Australia’s population is either Asian or of Asian heritage.

References

ACARA. 2013. “Cross-curriculum priorities” Accessed 29th of May 2015. http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross_curriculum_priorities.html

Florida Richard. 2015. “Sorry, London: New York Is the World's Most Economically Powerful City”. Accessed 29^th May 2015.  http://www.citylab.com/work/2015/03/sorry-london-new-york-is-the-worlds-most-economically-powerful-city/386315/

Knight Frank. 2015. “The World’s top 40 Cities” Accessed 29^th May 2015. http://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport/2015/global-cities

Irvine Jessica. 2014. “Australia's demographic details will shock you: Almost half of us are foreigners, or their children”. Accessed 29^th May 2015.  http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/jessica-irvine/australias-demographic-details-will-shock-you-almost-half-of-us-are-foreigners-or-their-child

Maps of World. 2015. “World Time Zones Map”. Accessed 29^th May  2015. http://www.mapsofworld.com/time-zone-map/world.htm

Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1996. “Population Composition: Expanding links with Asia”. Accessed 29^th of May 2015. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c00834efa/ea1fac740844f848ca2570ec0073cdf5!OpenDocument

Geographic Guide. 2004. “Political Map of Southern Asia – 2004”. Accessed 29^th of May 2015. http://www.maps-world.net/southern-asia.htm

Lucas Brett J.2015.  “Spatial Interaction”. Accessed 29^th of May 2015. http://geography.about.com/od/culturalgeography/a/ucspatialint.htm?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shareurlbuttons

World Population Review. 2015. "Asia Population 2015". Accessed 29th of May 2015. .http://worldpopulationreview.com/continents/asia-population/