Support for Small Businesses

Year Level

Year 10

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

20 students

Learning Area

Economics and Business (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Australian Curriculum Alignment

Content Description:
Students investigate the role of businesses and explore support systems in the Australian economic context, aligning with "Economics and Business 7–10" curriculum for Year 10, specifically understanding the support available for entrepreneurs and small business operators.

Relevant Content Descriptions from AC v9:

AC9HE10S03: Interpret information and data, explaining economic and business issues, trends and economic cause-and-effect relationships, and make predictions about consumer and financial impacts.
AC9HE10S04: Develop and evaluate a response to an economic and business issue, using cost-benefit analysis or criteria to decide on a course of action. (Especially for evaluating the benefits of support organisations)
AC9HE9S05: Create descriptions, explanations and arguments, using economic and business knowledge, concepts and terms that incorporate and acknowledge research findings.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Identify key organisations in Australia that provide support and advice to small businesses.
Describe the types of support these organisations provide (e.g., financial, mentoring, legal, information resources).
Analyse the benefits of accessing these supports for small business entrepreneurs.
Apply knowledge of support systems to a small business scenario and recommend appropriate supports.
Collaborate effectively with peers to communicate findings using business terminology.

Resources Needed

Whiteboard and markers
Projector or large screen for visual display
Printed profiles of Australian small business support organisations (e.g., Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Business.gov.au, AusIndustry)
Worksheet with small business scenarios
Note paper or devices for research
Timer or stopwatch

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Engagement (10 minutes)

Teacher sets the context: Recap the importance of entrepreneurship and small businesses in Australia’s economy. Introduce today’s focus on the "Support for Small Businesses".
Learning hook: Ask students to brainstorm what challenges a small business owner might face. Capture responses on the whiteboard.
Brief discussion: Why might support and advice be crucial for these challenges?

2. Exploration – Organisation Profiles (15 minutes)

Activity: In pairs, students receive a printed profile or tablet access to information on a specific Australian organisation supporting small businesses.
- Examples include: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Business.gov.au, AusIndustry, local chambers of commerce, industry associations.
Task: Identify key services that the organisation offers (financial advice, mentoring, grants, legal services, training, networking).
Output: Each pair prepares 3 key points about their organisation to share.

3. Sharing & Group Synthesis (10 minutes)

Each pair presents their organisation and key support points to the class (2 minutes max each).
The teacher facilitates note-making using a large table on the whiteboard of organisations versus types of support provided.

4. Application – Scenario Analysis (15 minutes)

Scenario worksheets: Distribute a worksheet with a small business scenario detailing a start-up or struggling business owner with particular needs (e.g., seeking funding, needing legal help, marketing support).
Students work individually to analyse the scenario and recommend which organisation(s) might best help and why, justifying their choices using business concepts and terminology.
Encourage them to consider financial, mentoring, and information supports and how these might positively impact business outcomes.

5. Reflection & Assessment (10 minutes)

Class discussion: Students share their scenario recommendations and discuss similarities and differences.
Formative assessment: Teacher provides oral feedback, probing reasoning behind choices and business vocabulary usage.
Students self-assess confidence using a quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down on understanding support organisations and their roles.

Assessment and Feedback

Formative: Observation of paired presentations and scenario recommendations.
Written: Completion of scenario worksheet with clear identification and justification of suitable support services.
Reflection: Participation in class discussions demonstrating understanding of the role of support organisations in business success.

Differentiation

Support: Provide simplified scenario options and guided note-taking templates.
Extension: Challenge advanced students to consider how support organisations can influence entrepreneurial success long term and how government policies connect.
Use open questioning to prompt thinking about economic impacts and business growth.

General Capabilities & Cross-Curriculum Priorities

Critical and Creative Thinking: Evaluate business needs and possible solutions using support resources.
Intercultural Understanding: Discuss relevance and diversity in business supports across Australian society.
Literacy: Use and understand economic and business terminology in speaking and writing.
Ethical Understanding: Reflect on equitable access to business support services.

Teacher’s Notes

Emphasise real-world relevance: This lesson connects directly to how many small businesses survive and grow.
Encourage students to personalise examples and think about local small businesses they know.
Reinforce connection to national policy and the role of government and non-government organisations in business ecosystems.

This detailed, curriculum-aligned lesson plan ensures students not only learn about support systems for Australian small businesses but also apply economic and business concepts in practical, collaborative activities, enhancing their entrepreneurial skills as per the Australian Curriculum v9 .

Teaching Instructions