The Year 9 science programme is based upon the Australian Curriculum: Science. This curriculum has three strands: Science Understanding, Science Inquiry Skills and Science as a Human Endeavour. The three strands of the curriculum are interrelated and their content is taught in an integrated way.

The Science Inquiry Skills strand addresses the skills of scientific inquiry through five sub-strands. These are:

1. Questioning and predicting
2. Planning and conducting
3. Processing and analysing data and information
4. Evaluating
5. Communicating

The Science Understanding strand involves the selection and integration of scientific knowledge to explain and predict phenomena, and to apply that knowledge to new situations. This strand is comprised of four sub-strands.

Biological Sciences
Students understand that:
multi-cellular organisms rely on coordinated and interdependent internal systems to respond to changes in their environment
ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment
matter and energy flow through these systems.

Chemical Sciences
Students understand that:
all matter is made of atoms which are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons
natural radioactivity arises from the decay of nuclei
chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms and the conservation of mass
chemical reactions are important in both non-living and living systems and involve energy transfer.

Physical Sciences
Students understand that:
energy is transferred through different mediums
this can be explained using wave and particle models.

Earth and Space Sciences
Students understand that:
the theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and continental drift.

The Science as a Human Endeavour strand highlights the development of science as a unique way of knowing and doing, and the role of science in contemporary decision making and problem solving. It acknowledges that in making decisions about science practices and applications, ethical and social implications must be taken into account. This strand also recognises that science advances through the contributions of many different people from different cultures and that there are many rewarding science based career paths.

Streaming
There is no streaming in Year 9 Science; all students will study the same course.

Assessment
Students will be assessed using a range of formative and summative assessments throughout the year to provide feedback on their learning. Summative assessments typically consist of tests, inquiry-based assignments and scientific investigations.