Unpacking the New Child Studies Syllabus: What NSW Teachers Need to Know
Aug 20, 2025
Unpacking the New Child Studies Syllabus: What NSW Teachers Need to Know
The brand-new Child Studies syllabus has just been released and for many NSW teachers it feels like another mountain to climb. After years of navigating change across PDHPE, CAFS and Health and Movement Science, the arrival of a new elective Child Studies syllabus might feel overwhelming.
But here’s the good news: the new Child Studies syllabus isn’t just another set of documents to decipher, it’s an opportunity to refresh your programs, streamline your teaching and bring more relevance and flexibility into your classrooms.
In this blog, we’ll explore the key changes in the 2025 Child Studies syllabus, what’s in and what’s out and how you can strategically prepare for implementation without burning out.
Why another syllabus change matters for NSW teachers
Over the last five years, teachers across NSW have faced a barrage of syllabus reforms, five new syllabuses in five years. For small schools and PDHPE/CAFS specialists who also teach Child Studies, this can feel like an impossible workload.
Yet, syllabus reform also brings with it the chance to reimagine teaching and learning. With updated structures, clearer outcomes and stronger links to real-world application, the 2025 Child Studies syllabus helps us step into a more modern, streamlined approach to teaching this important course.
The major changes in the 2025 Child Studies syllabus
Here are the key updates teachers need to know:
1.Reduced outcomes and streamlined content
One of the most welcome changes is the reduction of outcomes, from 12 outcomes to just 6. This makes new Child Studies syllabus programming clearer, assessment more focused and expectations more manageable for both teachers and students.
2.New performance band descriptors
For the first time, electives now have Performance Band Descriptors. This is a game-changer for reporting and assessment, giving teachers a clearer benchmark of what “an A” looks like and helping schools bring greater consistency to marking and feedback.
3.Depth studies and core focus areas
The new syllabus introduces four Core Focus areas with flexible Depth Studies embedded into them. Schools running a 100-hour course will complete one Depth Study, while a 200-hour course will complete two. This allows for deeper exploration without adding extra workload.
4.Embedded Aboriginal perspectives
Rather than being siloed into a separate unit, Aboriginal Perspectives are now embedded throughout the syllabus, reflecting a contemporary and culturally responsive approach to teaching the new Child Studies syllabus.
5.Greater emphasis on thinking, researching and communicating
The syllabus now explicitly requires students to develop skills in research, analysis and communication. This includes creating written texts, evaluating reliable sources and applying higher-order thinking, all of which better prepare students for senior study in CAFS, HMS or pathways in education and childcare.
What’s out of the syllabus?
While the new syllabus introduces exciting directions, some elements have been removed.
Gone are:
- The 13 separate modules
- Generic outcomes, objectives and stage statements
- Inquiry questions and coded “learning across the curriculum” statements
- Explicit syllabus links to CAFS (though teachers can still build strong connections in practice)
This streamlining removes the “list-heavy” structure of the 2019 syllabus and replaces it with a more flexible, skills-based progression.
Implementation timelines and teacher realities
Although the syllabus was released in July 2025, mandatory implementation doesn’t begin until 2028. Some schools may choose to adopt the new Child Studies syllabus earlier in 2027 to get ahead.
That means now is the time to:
- Familiarise yourself with the structure
- Map old content against the new outcomes
- Strategically plan how your faculty will roll out changes
- Secure resources to avoid starting from scratch
The biggest challenge isn’t the syllabus itself… it’s time, energy and teacher wellbeing.
With PDHPE, HMS and now Child Studies all demanding attention, schools need practical strategies and access to resources to avoid burnout.
Why this change is an opportunity, not a burden
It’s easy to view another syllabus as “just more work.” But with reduced content, embedded skills and flexibility built into the structure, the 2025 Child Studies syllabus is actually a chance to:
- Refresh outdated programs
- Reimagine delivery for today’s students
- Strengthen pathways into CAFS, PDHPE, HMS and beyond
- Provide students with relevant, real-world learning experiences
If approached strategically and with the right resources in place, this change can actually lighten your teaching load, not add to it.
Next steps for NSW Child Studies Teachers
Ready to dive deeper and get the support you need? Here are three ways to get started today:
- 📘 Grab the free 2019 v 2025 Child Studies Mapping & Overview Document
👉 www.thelearnnet.com/childstudiesmapping - ✨ Be one of the first schools in NSW to access the new Child Studies Teaching Package and get $100 off
👉 www.thelearnnet.com/childstudiesnew - 🎙️ Listen to the full episode of The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast: Unpacking the New Child Studies Syllabus (#149)
👉 www.thelearnnet.com/149
