Future Challenges For Australia Australia In Its Regional And Global Contexts Stage 5 Geography Syllabus 5A4 What are your thoughts? Syllabus Agenda Population Current and future population trends: growth rates, age structure and spatial distribution government population policies to manage population growth Implications of population trends: ecological sustainability population movement and urban planning Human rights and reconciliation Future challenges for Australia in relation to: human rights reconciliation How other nations have responded to these challenges Strategies to address the challenges Introduction Australia is an isolated continent with one of the lowest population densities and highest living standards in the world. This presents both challenges and opportunities to our country and its leaders. With the current global population of 7 billion set to reach 9 billion by 2050, overpopulation threatens the quality of life for people everywhere. A sustainable and peaceful Australian and world population can only be achieved by balancing the needs of all people with the global environment in which we all live. By developing informed opinions geographers can make decisions that will help create a positive future. ABS Predictions Population Growth /Shrinkage Australia's population in June 2007 of 21.0 million people is projected to increase to between 30.9 million and 42.5 million in 2056, and reach between 33.7 million and 62.2 million by This is a projected increase of between 32 and 51% World population National Geographic 7 Billion Where We Are Living On The Australian Continent? Given the resources available, 85% of Australians live around the coastline. This is mainly due to : Access to fresh water Access to telecommunications Access to health services Access to transport services Access to education facilities Temperature moderate/mild vs. extreme Land type desert vs. temperate Government Policies What government policies are affected by the future challenges of population growth, human rights and reconciliation? Health Immigration Education Transportation Land Rights Citizenship Refugee Pension Aged care Upcoming In-depth Investigation Population Growth Human Rights Reconciliation