Unit Outline

Australia is a migrant nation, with a rich and diverse mix of peoples, languages and cultures. In Migrant Families, we trace the journeys of ancestors who migrated to and from Australia and New Zealand, and place their lives in the context of global migration over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We explore the ways governments have shaped populations through migration and citizenship law and policy, and consider how these might have affected your ancestors’ lives. Migrant Families develops your archival research skills in the digital age. We explore where and how to find migration records (in Australia, New Zealand and overseas) and how to use them effectively to tell your family’s migration story. The unit builds on historical research and writing skills developed in the Foundation-level Family History units.

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	Use appropriate technologies to locate, identify and access historical records relating to migration and citizenship
2	Read, interpret and evaluate historical information found in migration and citizenship records
3	Research and write a biographical non-fiction account of an individual or family’s experience of migration
4	Situate individual lives within the wider history of migration, particularly in relation to Australia and New Zealand

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No changes as a result of student feedback have been made to this unit for Term 1, 2026.

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:	Online quizzes	Week 2	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Document analysis	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Essay	Week 8	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online quizzes

Task Description:

You must complete four online content knowledge quizzes, each comprising 10 randomised questions. The quizzes are based on content presented in Modules 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Each quiz opens on Monday at 9:00am, at the start of the relevant Module, and closes one week later.

You can attempt each quiz three times and your highest result is recorded for your grade. You may be required to answer different questions in subsequent attempt.

Task Length:

4 quizzes of 10 questions each (total 40 questions)

Due Date:

Week 2

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Correctly answer quiz questions relating to content knowledge from Modules 1, 2, 4 and 5	LO1, LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Document analysis

Task Description:

In this assessment task, you will analyse a text-based primary source relating to migration or citizenship.

Examples of appropriate documents include: a ship’s passenger list, a migrant selection document, a naturalisation application, a citizenship certificate, a diary entry, a newspaper article.

The document you choose should (ideally) be one that you intend to use as a source for Assessment Task 3. It is okay for your document to be only one or two pages long.

In the document analysis you will need to:
– answer a series of short questions based on your close reading of the document
– write a brief reflection on how you could use the document in telling the story of a migrant ancestor
– construct a correct reference for the document for use in a footnote and a bibliography.

Task Length:

500 words or less

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify an appropriate text-based primary source relating to migration or citizenship	LO1
2	Accurately describe and interpret a primary source through close reading	LO2, LO3
3	Reflect on the relevance of the primary source in writing migration history	LO3, LO4
4	Demonstrate accuracy and consistency in your use of the specified referencing style	LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Essay

Task Description:

In your final assessment task, you will research and write an essay about the migration journey of an individual ancestor or family group. You must not write about someone who came to Australia as a convict.

The assessment task involves locating and analysing primary and secondary source material, and using the historical information you have found to write a contextualised, non-fiction account of your ancestor/s’ experience of migration.

Your essay may include up to three illustrations – such as a portrait of your subject/s and a map showing their journey – but this is not required.

You must provide references that indicate the source of your information. Your references should be accurate and consistently follow the style set out in the Family History Referencing Guide.

Task Length:

1000 words (+/- 10%), not including footnotes and bibliography

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Undertake historical research to identify migration records, other primary sources and scholarly secondary sources	LO1
2	Produce a non-fiction account based on relevant historical information you have found in primary and secondary sources	LO2, LO3, LO4
3	Communicate clearly and coherently by structuring your work and following the conventions of written English	LO3
4	Demonstrate accuracy and consistency in your use of the specified referencing and essay presentation styles	LO1, 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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

All learning materials for this unit, including required readings, are provided in our MyLO site. You do not need to purchase a text book.