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This study investigates the extent to which forms of prosocial behaviour and values of social responsibility are related to various domains of political culture among Australian youth. Using data from a survey of 1311 senior secondary students from the ACT and South Australia, it was found that 14 per cent had participated in one or more volunteer activities and 26 per cent scored highly on social responsibility values. Furthermore, it was found that at least one or the other of these prosocial measures was positively related to five of the six domains of political culture, the exception being the feeling of political efficacy. Students who were prosocial also manifested higher levels of political knowledge, political awareness, political activism experience, and positive attitudes towards political freedoms and towards human rights. The implications of these findings for family practices and school programs for volunteer activities and for the instilling of a sense of social responsibility are discussed.

This study investigates the extent to which forms of prosocial behaviour and values of social responsibility are related to various domains of political culture among Australian youth. Using data from a survey of 1311 senior secondary students from the ACT and South Australia, it was found that 14 per cent had participated in one or more volunteer activities and 26 per cent scored highly on social responsibility values. Furthermore, it was found that at least one or the other of these prosocial measures was positively related to five of the six domains of political culture, the exception being the feeling of political efficacy. Students who were prosocial also manifested higher levels of political knowledge, political awareness, political activism experience, and positive attitudes towards political freedoms and towards human rights. The implications of these findings for family practices and school programs for volunteer activities and for the instilling of a sense of social responsibility are discussed.

Introduction: Why and how you should use this book -- Keywords (and their variants) -- 101 keywords in Australian politics

Keywords in Australian Politics is much more than a dictionary. It outlines the main meanings of over one hundred words essential to understanding contemporary Australian politics. Political language is often used without explanation in the media, public debate, textbooks and lectures. Here at last is a book that provides Australians with the necessary information to use these terms with confidence in public discussion and debate, from the dinner party to the end-of-semester essay. This book defines each keyword, highlights links between different keywords, outlines the main debates concerning each keyword and indicates how they came to be part of Australian political language. Although the book is arranged alphabetically, systematic cross-referencing allows readers to follow their own trails of enquiry. This book is essential reading for everyone who wants to understand Australian political culture and ideas

The nature and extent of alcohol use by Australian adolescents is described and discussed through the results from a survey of drug use by New South Wales secondary school students conducted in late 1983. In this survey, alcohol was the most commonly reported drug and a significant minority of students were using alcohol in a way considered potentially hazardous. The proportion of students regularly drinking has apparently doubled in the past decade, from 24% in 1971 to 50% in 1983. Rates of daily drinking were higher than those reported in the U.S. student survey of Bachman, Johnston & O'Malley (1982). Various ways of controlling or preventing misuse of alcohol by adolescents are discussed.

This paper investigates the impact of school variables on student political knowledge and political activity. The study is based on survey questionnaire data from 1311 secondary school students in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The

This paper investigates the impact of school variables on student political knowledge and political activity. The study is based on survey questionnaire data from 1311 secondary school students in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The

For democratic societies to sustain, the participation of young people in political realm is of high significance, yet research suggests that adolescents are rather passive citizens. This article examines the behaviors and behavior-related attitudes of young Australians over the past almost two decades. Given significant developments in Australian civics education with regard to policy, curriculum and implementation, this article adds to the understanding of the long-term developments and potential influences of civics and citizenship education in Australia. Various data sources suggest that civics and citizenship education may have made little difference in the long term with respect to active citizenship in political realms, though we also identify promising trends that may reflect general developments rather than outcomes of civics and citizenship education. We discuss our analysis with regard to the need of long-term commitment of politics and teachers as well as deficits and further influences in civics and citizenship education outcomes.

The present study aims at comparing test anxiety among secondary school students and university students to reveal if the interventions for reducing test anxiety should be focused more on secondary school students who do not have enough skills for emotional management. The Bulgarian version of the Westside Test Anxiety Scale was used among 60 junior high school/middle school students, 30 high school students and 90 university students. It was found that test anxiety diminished with age advance. Higher test anxiety was manifested during the school/academic year than at the beginning of the school year. The interventions for reducing test anxiety should be focused mainly on overcoming negative thoughts, and negative self-talk during exams, and worry about own performance after the exam. Keywords: test anxiety, secondary school students, university students

For over three decades, government subsidies have been a major source of funds for private schools in Australia. Private schools now enrol more than one-third of all students. Analysing administrative and participation data, we find that Australian private schools have used government subsidies to increase the quality of their services (that is, to reduce studentteacher ratios) rather than to reduce their fees. As a consequence, the socio-economic composition of private schools has remained above average while a higher proportion of public school students now come from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds. The data suggest that Australia's government funding scheme is ineffective in facilitating access to private schools for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and has undermined the viability of public secondary schools.

AbstractThe Australian Government introduced the so‐called 'AUSTUDY Supplement' in the 1992–93 budget. The scheme gives AUSTUDY recipients the option of trading in up to $2000 per year of their grant for $4000 of an income‐contingent loan, to be paid back according to the current HECS arrangements, implying that the Government is acting as an insurer against future default by students. This article addresses the theoretical basis of the scheme, and explores two related questions: will it be in the financial interests of average students to take up the option? and what is likely to be the take‐up rate of loans? Through the use of both cross‐sectional data and the HARDING microsimulation model it is demonstrated that for many students the loan option will result in financial advantages, and that the take‐up rate is likely eventually to be high.