Unit Outline

This interdisciplinary unit engages students in a detailed study of Indigenous experience of social and legal systems from invasion/colonisation to the present day. Beginning with the global historical context, the unit traces the ongoing struggle for Indigenous justice from the violent colonial frontier to the era of social media. The unit explores issues including Land Rights and Native Title, criminal justice, Indigenous ownership of intellectual and cultural property, and treaty negotiations at the local and national levels. Where appropriate, comparisons are drawn from the experience of Indigenous people in other places.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Analyse and compare Indigenous experience of Australian legal and justice systems through critical review
2.	Evaluate historical interaction between Indigenous and Australian law through case studies and examples
3.	Discuss and appraise contexts in which these themes are explored within Indigenous Justice Issues

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The following changes have been made in response to feedback:

This unit was restructured in 2022 to provide an innovative, multidiscplinary approach to Indigenous justice that draws on voices from local (lutruwita), national, and international contexts.

In response to feedback in 2023:

Assessment task weightings have been rebalanced to better reflect participation.

Tutorials have been extended to allow more time for discussion, activities, and feedback.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Review Essay	Week 6	20 %	LO1
Assessment Task 2:	Essay	Week 12	40 %	LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Take-home exam	Exam Period	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Participation	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Review Essay

Task Description:

This short assessment task asks you to compare and critically review three articles pertinent to Indigenous experience of Australian legal and justice systems.

Task Length:

750 words

Due Date:

Week 6 (08/Apr/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Compare and critically review three articles relevant to Indigenous experience of Australian legal and justice systems	LO1
2	Take a position and defend your position by presenting an argument supported by evidence	LO1

Assessment Task 2: Essay

Task Description:

Select ONE of essay topic from a list on the unit MyLO site under ‘Assessment Resources’ then ‘Assessment Task 2’.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 12 (24/May/2024)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate historical interaction between Indigenous and Australian laws	LO2
2	Develop an evidence-based argument that discusses and appraises contexts where these themes are explored.	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Take-home exam

Task Description:

Take-home exam (open book)

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Exam Period (12/Jun/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse Indigenous experience of Australian legal and justice systems	LO1
2	Evaluate historical interaction between Indigenous and Australian laws	LO2
3	Develop an evidence-based argument that discusses and appraises contexts where these themes are explored	LO3

Assessment Task 4: Participation

Task Description:

On-campus: Weekly 1.5-hour tutorials starting from Week 1 for on-campus students. Online: Choice of weekly 1.5-hour Zoom tutorials starting from Week 1 and/or completion of weekly discussion exercises.

Please note that participation begins in Week 1 for on-campus and online students. It is 1.5 hours weekly.

Task Length:

Tutorials (on-campus and on-line) are 50 minutes in length. On-line exercises will be 50 minutes to an hour in length.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Participation in tutorial discussions/exercises	LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.