Holocaust Education – Delivery Requirements

Policy

This policy outlines the requirements for Holocaust education in school-based curriculum programs in Victorian government secondary schools.

Details

Students must be taught about the Holocaust as part of the school’s Level 9–10 History program. In the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, this content is specifically taught within the Australians at War (1914–1945) World War II investigation.

Schools must design and deliver their Holocaust education program as part of their core (non-elective) History program so that all students are taught about the Holocaust across Levels 9 and 10.

The guidance on the Guidance tab draws on best practice principles for teaching of History and of the Holocaust and reflects the revised Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0.

The Resources tab contains links to resources to support teachers’ confidence in teaching about the Holocaust. This includes professional learning opportunities and background reading and viewing as well as lesson plans and resources.

When teaching the Holocaust, schools should note that it is against the law in Victoria to display the Nazi Hakenkreuz symbol or perform gestures such as the Nazi salute in public. However, schools may use resources that contain the Nazi symbol or Nazi salute for genuine educational purposes. For further information, refer to Teaching and Learning Resources – Selecting Appropriate Materials, and About the Nazi symbol ban.

For Holocaust education classroom teaching resources, including department suggested and curated lesson plans, learning objects, and links to student experiential programs, refer to Holocaust Education on the department’s Arc learning platform.

Related policies

• Curriculum Programs Foundation to 10
• Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools
• Teaching and Learning Resources – Selecting Appropriate Materials
• Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0

This guidance contains the following chapters:

• Why study the Holocaust
• Delivering a quality Holocaust education program

Why study the Holocaust?

A defining historical event of the 20th century, the Holocaust offers enduring lessons about humanity. It prompts students to consider how such events became possible and to recognise the causes and consequences of prejudice, discrimination and genocide.

Understanding the dangers of hatred and discrimination remains vital in addressing intolerance in today’s world.

Studying the Holocaust helps students develop the capacity and willingness to be informed, active citizens. It highlights the roles of institutions and structures that protect human rights and freedoms, and the importance of safeguarding them.

Learning about the Holocaust also provides opportunities for students to explore stories of courage, adversity, upstander behaviour and resilience. This helps students to understand the importance of respect, empathy and inclusion in their own communities.

It has been mandatory to teach Holocaust education in Victorian government schools since 2020.

Delivering a quality Holocaust education program

Schools are strongly encouraged to use the Holocaust education Level 9–10 lesson plans developed by the department to deliver their programs. Alternatively, when developing their own programs, schools should ensure that their program:

1. aligns to the curriculum and is part of the Australians at War (1914–1945) Level 9–10 History investigation
2. is taught chronologically. A chronological approach, beginning with World War I and the interwar period, shows that the Holocaust did not happen in isolation. This helps students understand cause and effect, including the rise of Nazism and the escalation of hatred over time
3. is delivered safely and respectfully. This includes using age-appropriate language, avoiding distressing imagery, and encouraging student questions. It also means setting clear expectations and zero tolerance for racism in line with the Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools policy
4. uses teaching materials from trusted and reputable sources, which represent a range of experiences and prioritise survivor voices. It acknowledges that some Nazi-generated propaganda may be shown briefly to illustrate manipulation, but it should be used sparingly to avoid distorting history, spreading harmful stereotypes, or disrespecting the memory of victims
5. deliberately uses historical concepts and skills including historical questioning, chronology, cause and consequence, continuity and change and others. Actively engaging students with authentic primary historical sources promotes deeper historical understanding. Teaching about the Holocaust should avoid the use of fictionalised content, role-plays, simulations, ‘impossible choice’ scenarios and Holocaust denial, or conspiracy theories. It should teach a range of experiences, rather than single-story narratives, for example, recognising that not all victims experienced concentration camps
6. incorporates an experiential learning opportunity, where possible. A visit to a Holocaust museum enhances a school program by letting students connect with real stories, primary sources, and survivor experiences. It deepens understanding and empathy. Bookings for the 'Everybody Had a Name' exhibition at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum: School programs (Levels 9–12, ages 15 and above, allow up to 90 minutes).

Refer to Holocaust teaching and learning resources for:

• detailed guidance
• Holocaust Level 9–10 lesson plans
• responses to common student questions.

Resources

This page contains links to supports and resources for school leaders, teachers and students.

For school leaders

• If families/students question why it is taught: the Holocaust is a required part of the Victorian History Curriculum 2.0 for Years 9–10 and must be taught in all government schools. It builds understanding of a major historical event and helps students recognise the impacts of prejudice, discrimination, and human rights violations, supporting them to become informed, responsible citizens.
• If programs are seen as political or religious: Holocaust education is historical learning that also helps prevent racism and discrimination. It is not about religion or political views. Antisemitism is taught as one form of discrimination among many, and the focus is not on current conflicts but on helping students recognise and challenge hatred.
• If families/students question the safety of Holocaust programs: just like any other part of the curriculum and in alignment with Child Safe Standard 5 – Diversity and Equity, the school ensures that teaching is age-appropriate, trauma-informed, and supported by clear wellbeing practices. Teachers are tasked with promoting classroom environments where respectful discussion, empathy, and inclusion are explicitly taught and modelled, for instance students are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns.

For teachers

• Professional learning – see Arc events
• Background reading and viewing for teachers
• Lesson plans – department created Holocaust education Level 9–10 lesson plans. The lesson plans include an appendix on responding to challenging student questions
• Other teaching resources including video explanations, virtual tours, graphic organisers, maps, survivor testimony, imagery, poems, artwork can be found on the Holocaust education Arc learning page

For students

• Museum visits/meeting a survivor – schools can visit the Everybody Had a Name exhibition at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, giving students direct engagement with primary sources and personal histories. Hearing a Holocaust survivor deepens historical understanding and supports connection to evidence and significance. For bookings see School programs