Religion and Society: VCE Units 1 & 2

Elective Unit

Course Description

Year 10 Accelerated Elective

Religion and Society invites students to examine how religious belief and practice shape — and are shaped by — the societies in which they exist, with a particular focus on Australia's multicultural and multi-faith landscape. Students explore how religious traditions have influenced Australian identity, community life, and public discourse, while also developing a broader, global perspective on how faith intersects with culture, ethics, and social change across different societies and eras.

Through this lens, students build the skills to think critically and empathetically about the role religion plays in a diverse, interconnected world — considering questions of identity, belonging, and moral decision-making from multiple religious and philosophical viewpoints, while learning to engage respectfully with perspectives different from their own.

Considerations for students choosing this subject:

• Accelerated VCE commitment: This is a genuine VCE unit undertaken a year early. Students will be assessed against VCE standards and receive a VCE study score contribution, so it suits students who are organised, willing to manage a heavier workload, and ready for senior-level expectations around independent research and written analysis.
• Foundation for Units 3 & 4: Completing Units 1 & 2 in Year 10 is intended as a pathway into Religion and Society Units 3 & 4 in Year 11, allowing students to complete the full VCE sequence one year ahead of their peers.
• Balance with other Year 10 electives: Students should consider their overall Year 10 workload, particularly if they're taking other accelerated subjects concurrently.

Interest fit: Best suited to students with a genuine curiosity about religion, ethics, and society — rather than students seeking a "lighter" elective, as the content and assessment demands are equivalent to a standard VCE unit.

VCE - Religion and Society (VCE Units 1) 

Unit 1: The Role of Religion in Society

Students explore the origins and purpose of religion, and its contribution to the development of human societies over time. With a focus on Religion in Australia, students examine how religious traditions have shaped — and continue to shape — personal, group, and national identity in a multicultural context, while also considering how these traditions evolve through their interaction with individuals, communities, and global influences.

Areas of Study: The Nature and Purpose of Religion | Religion through the Ages | Religion in Australia

Assessment: A combination of short answer, extended response, and essay questions completed under test conditions.

VCE - Religion and Society (VCE Units 2) 

Students investigate ethical decision-making across at least two religious and philosophical traditions, then apply this understanding to real ethical issues facing societies — including Australia — where multiple worldviews coexist. This unit develops students' capacity to navigate ethical complexity with cultural sensitivity and global awareness.

Areas of Study: Ethical Decision Making and Moral Judgement | Religion and Ethics | Ethical Issues in Society

Assessment: A combination of short answer, extended response, and essay questions completed under test conditions.

 

Please select the links below for a full course outline

VCE CARE - Religion and Society Unit 1

VCE CARE - Religion and Society Unit 2