CQUniversity Unit Profile
CRIM13005 Indigenous Justice
Indigenous Justice
All details in this unit profile for CRIM13005 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In this unit you will examine the justice systems and practices of Indigenous Australian communities and their relationships with Western justice institutions. Indigenous Australian understandings of Western law and justice will also be compared to the situations and principles of international Indigenous communities. You will discuss and evaluate community justice innovations that seek to respond to Indigenous interests and to embrace Indigenous perspectives and voices. Through analysis of these innovations you will demonstrate the importance of empowering communities to find solutions to their problems. You will develop skills to identify the position of Indigenous people within the Western criminal justice system and you will develop your Indigenous cultural competency to a higher level.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2024

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
2. Research Assignment
Weighting: 30%
3. Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books
Weighting: 30%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE qualitative student feedback

Feedback

Provide more examples of previous assignments (exemplars).

Recommendation

Exemplars to be developed by UC which reflect the general layout for each task, in addition to the instructional documents and videos that students are provided.

Feedback from Unit evaluation

Feedback

Clearer link to the overall degree to indicate relevance.

Recommendation

UC to embed links to other units that students are/have completed, to indicate how the topics intersect. Provide more criminal justice related examples.

Feedback from Feedback during workshops

Feedback

Students remarked on the inclusive and safe workshop space in which complex and sensitive topics could be discussed openly.

Recommendation

Continue to foster safe learning spaces through clear expectation setting, and inclusive language and teaching practices. Continue to role model reflexivity and encourage students to do the same through workshop and assessment reflection activities.

Feedback from Student feedback email

Feedback

Appreciation of the clarity of unit layout and delivery.

Recommendation

Continue to ensure that Moodle is laid out in an accessible manner, with clearly labelled sections and resources to ensure ease of navigation by students.

Feedback from Student feedback email

Feedback

Students appreciated the level of support and prompt communication provided by the UC.

Recommendation

Continue to embed support throughout the unit, including integrating the principles of trauma-informed pedagogy.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Compare and contrast the key features of Indigenous justice and differences from the Western justice system
  2. Critically express the importance of listening to and empowering communities
  3. Discuss the effectiveness of Indigenous justice projects in Australia and overseas
  4. Evaluate innovations and programs in the Indigenous justice field
  5. Explore best practice for the development and implementation of Indigenous cultural competency at a professional level.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Research Assignment - 30%
3 - Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Rachel Hale Unit Coordinator
r.hale@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

Planet Justice: Introduction to CRIM13005 

Chapter

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007)

https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html

United Nations (2009) 'State of the World's Indigenous Peoples Vol 1', pp 1-11, 220-238


https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/publications/state-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples.html

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

Indigenous representation: Who speaks for the people?

Chapter

Henrietta, L. (2013). Poetics and Politics of Exhibiting Other Cultures. In S., Hall (ed) Representation: Cultural Representation (2nd ed), Sage.

 

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

Examining history: Who speaks for the past?

Chapter

Blagg, H., & Anthony, T (2019). "Postcolonial Criminology: “The Past Isn’t Over…”." Decolonising Criminology. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

Extending history: The legacy of the colonisers

Chapter

Hand, C.A., Hankes, J., & House, T. (2012) Restorative justice: the indigenous justice system, Contemporary Justice Review, 15:4, 449-467, DOI: 10.1080/10282580.2012.734576

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Analysing media: Images of Indigeneity 

Chapter

Spiegel, S. J, Thomas, S., O'Neill, K., Brondgeest, C., Thomas, J., Beltran, J., Hunt, T., & Yassi., A. (2020). Visual Storytelling, Intergenerational Environmental Justice and Indigenous Sovereignty: Exploring Images and Stories amid a Contested Oil Pipeline Project. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health17.7,2362.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Workbook submission 1 due


Workbook Due: Week 5 Friday (5 Apr 2024) 11:49 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

No topic

Chapter

No readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Contemporary colonialism: The state and structural violence

Chapter

Alfred, T., & Contassel, J., (2005). Being Indigenous: resurgence against contemporary colonialism. Government and opposition, 40(4), 597-614. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-7053.2005.00166.x

Emery-Whittington, Isla G. "Occupational Justice—Colonial Business as Usual? Indigenous Observations From Aotearoa New Zealand: La Justice Occupationnelle : Sous Régime Colonial Comme D’habitude? Observations D’autochtones D'Aotearoa En Nouvelle-Zélande." Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy (1939) 88.2 (2021): 153-62.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Space and Place

Chapter

Blagg., A., & Anthony, T. (2019). Who Speaks for Place. In H., Blagg, & T., Anthony. Decolonising criminology : Imagining justice in a postcolonial world. Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Indigeneous self-determination: Conflicts and challenges

Chapter

Cornell., S. (2018) Justice as Position, Justice as Practice: Indigenous Governance at the Boundary. In S., Hendry. Indigenous Justice : New Tools, Approaches, and Spaces. Palgrave Macmillan UK.  https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/cqu/detail.action?docID=5398697.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Critical analysis essay due 


Critical analysis piece Due: Week 8 Friday (3 May 2024) 11:49 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 06 May 2024

Module/Topic

Indigenous victims: The impact of power and corruption

Chapter

De Carvalho, s., Goyes, D.R., & Vegh Weis, V. (2021). Politics and Indigenous Victimization: The Case of Brazil, The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 61 (1), 251–271, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azaa060

Nicholas, L., & Thomas., S. (2022). The natural and built rural environments as victims. In R, Hale., & A., Harkness (eds). Rural victims of crime. Taylor & Francis.

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 13 May 2024

Module/Topic

Indigenous knowledge: Designing for justice

Chapter

Poiner, H., & Drake, C. (2021). Transformative or Tokenistic? Exploring the Legitimacy of Participatory Design Methods within an Indigenous Context. M/C Journal, 24(4).

Events and Submissions/Topic

Workbook submission 2 due 

Week 11 Begin Date: 20 May 2024

Module/Topic

Decolonisation: The way forward

Chapter

Toi, S. (2018) Mana Wahine: Decolonising Governance?, in Indigenous Justice : New Tools, Approaches, and Spaces, edited by Jennifer Hendry, et al., Palgrave Macmillan UK.  https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/cqu/detail.action?docID=5398697.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 27 May 2024

Module/Topic

Reflections: Applying the course learnings in practice

Chapter

See Moodle 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Virtual museum paper + presentation due


Virtual museum Due: Week 12 Monday (27 May 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Critical analysis piece

Task Description

WORTH: 40% of overall grade

DUE: week 8

Select a document/piece of writing produced by a non-indigenous group. For example, this could be a newspaper article, book chapter, historical document, legislation, policy document. Be sure to attach a copy of the piece along with your assessment. 

Write a 1200 word essay critically analysing the piece based on the themes from the unit.

In your analysis provide an overview of:- what is being presented, whose position is being represented, how, and why is this problematic/harmful to First Nations peoples.

In your analysis, include how any (or all) of the following issues from the unit are evident in the piece:

  • Indigenous misrepresentation
  • Colonialism
  • Postcolonialism
  • Racism
  • Paternalism 

Incorporate current scholarly literature (minimum 6 refs) to support your analysis. Cite these in-text using APA7 and provide a full reference list at the end of the paper on a new page. 


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (3 May 2024) 11:49 pm AEST

Submit via Moodle submission box


Return Date to Students

Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

  • Appropriateness of chosen piece of writing/document   /4
  • Depth of critical analysis and thought   /10
  • Application of relevant unit terms/concepts   /10
  • Evidence base & research (including referencing   /9
  • Quality of written piece (presentation/structure/spelling/grammar)  /7


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Compare and contrast the key features of Indigenous justice and differences from the Western justice system
  • Discuss the effectiveness of Indigenous justice projects in Australia and overseas
  • Evaluate innovations and programs in the Indigenous justice field
  • Explore best practice for the development and implementation of Indigenous cultural competency at a professional level.

2 Research Assignment

Assessment Title
Virtual museum

Task Description

WORTH: 30%

DUE: WEEK 12

Virtual museum presentation and research paper

Select an Indigenous First Nation from somewhere outside of Australia (anywhere in the world!).

Research and explore their history, culture and the concept of justice by engaing with materials that have been produced by their community. 

Collect 5 different 'artefacts' that are relevant to the chosen group and which derive from their community (*examples of artefacts will be provided in class).

1. RESEARCH PAPER: Write a research based paper (1200 words total) explaining the relevance of each artefact to the First Nations community you have chosen (e.g. what is it? what does it mean to the First Nations group? why is it significant? what does it represent?)

Include at least five reliable sources to support your work. Cite sources in-text using APA7, and provide a full reference list at the end on a new page.

2. PRESENTATION: Share what you learned about the chosen First Nations group in a 5 minute reflective video presentation (this can be audio recorded narration over slides, or talking face to camera). In your video reflect on the experience of learning about a culture other than your own - What did you learn? What interested you the most? What did you find challenging? What are the key learnings from this activity and the unit? 

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (27 May 2024) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit via Moodle submission box


Return Date to Students

Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

  • Extent of research (including application of references) /8
  • Depth of analysis and reflection /8
  • Quality of paper (including referencing, spelling, grammar etc.) /7
  • Quality of presentation (including verbal presentation and slides) /7


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critically express the importance of listening to and empowering communities

3 Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books

Assessment Title
Workbook

Task Description

SUBMISSION 1: Select three workbook topics from weeks 1-5 to submit (300 words each entry = 900 words total)

DUE: end of week 5 (worth 15%)

SUBMISSION 2: Select three workbook topics from weeks 6-10 to submit (300 words each entry = 900 words total)

DUE: end of week 10 (worth 15%)

See workbook template on Moodle for all instructions, weekly activities, and marking guide.

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (5 Apr 2024) 11:49 pm AEST

There are two submission dates for this task (week 5 & week 10) - please see Moodle for details


Return Date to Students

Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

  • Ability to explain and apply key unit themes and concepts /5
  • Depth of responses (including research, reflection, and analysis) /5
  • Quality of responses (spelling, grammar) /5


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Compare and contrast the key features of Indigenous justice and differences from the Western justice system
  • Critically express the importance of listening to and empowering communities
  • Discuss the effectiveness of Indigenous justice projects in Australia and overseas
  • Evaluate innovations and programs in the Indigenous justice field
  • Explore best practice for the development and implementation of Indigenous cultural competency at a professional level.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?