Overview
This unit provides students with a broad overview of the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. It begins by looking at traditional ways of educating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, before examining a history of Indigenous education since the colonisation of Australia by white settlers, and seeing how racism still has a major influence on Indigenous education. Students will look at the impact of social factors, such as health issues, housing, remoteness, and poverty on education; and also see how different cultural factors, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait identities, different ways of teaching and learning, and language in particular, affect Indigenous education in Australia. Students will look more specifically at teaching and learning in Indigenous communities, including some case studies. Finally, the unit allows students to explore trends in Indigenous school education, Indigenous vocational education and training (VET) and TAFE, and Indigenous tertiary education in more detail, including the influence that Indigenous Australians have had on mainstream education.
Details
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 - 2023
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Non-award 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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 Unit Coordinator
Issues with external links becoming unavailable.
Review unit content and update links to external resources where required.
Feedback from Students
Positive feedback on student contact.
Continue to attempt regular telephone contact with students.
- Analyse the historical and contemporary impacts of government policies upon education for Indigenous Australians
- Identify various social issues that impact upon education for Indigenous Australians
- Explain why cultural factors should be taken into consideration for the education of Indigenous Australians
- Evaluate contemporary trends in various levels of education for Indigenous Australians.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Self Management | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 4 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 5 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 6 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 7 - Cross-Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical Practice | ||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.armstrong@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Overview of the Learning Material
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ways of Learning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Since Colonisation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete Quiz 1
Module/Topic
Racism and Education
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Social Impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cultural factors Impacting on Education
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete Quiz 2
Academic Essay Due: Week 6 Friday (21 Apr 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Education in Remote Communities
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Education in Torres Strait Islander Communities
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Trends in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Education
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete Quiz 3
Module/Topic
Trends in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander VET and TAFE Studies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Trends in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Education
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete Quiz 4
Academic Essay Due: Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Online Quiz(zes) Due: Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Unit Coordinator: Laurie Armstrong
Email: l.armstrong@cqu.edu.au
Telephone: 07 4930 9251
Mobile: 0418 791 373
1 Written Assessment
Choose ONE topic from the list below (or negotiate a topic with your Lecturer), and write a 1000 -1200 word academic essay.
1. Describe the ways of learning that were used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people before colonisation.
2. Explain the historical impacts on the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since colonisation.
3. How has racism affected the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
4. What social circumstances affect the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? In your discussion, you may wish to use an example from your own community.
5. How do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures fit in with mainstream educational systems? You may use an example from your own community if you wish.
In your essay, present balanced coverage of the arguments in relation to the topic. You must write objectively, research widely and reference accurately. Your Reference list should include at least 4-6 sources; however, more is always better.
You are required to use the Harvard style of referencing. Remember that this is an academic essay and so should be properly presented with an introduction, the body of the essay (or the main discussion), a conclusion, and a reference list.
Use 1.5 or double line spacing and a clear font such as Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11 and include page numbers.
Week 6 Friday (21 Apr 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Friday (5 May 2023)
Academic Content
- Understanding of the unit material relevant to the assessment task
- Evidence of research
- Relevance to the topic
Writing Skills
- Logical organisation of ideas and arguments
- Accuracy and fairness in representing the views discussed
- Clarity of expression, avoidance of grammatical errors, correct use of words
- Logical organisation of arguments and information in an appropriate essay structure
- Adherence to word length requirements
Referencing Skills
- Use of authoritative academic sources
- Acknowledgement of sources through correct in-text referencing and corresponding accurate reference list
- Use of Harvard style of referencing
- Analyse the historical and contemporary impacts of government policies upon education for Indigenous Australians
- Identify various social issues that impact upon education for Indigenous Australians
- Explain why cultural factors should be taken into consideration for the education of Indigenous Australians
2 Written Assessment
Choose ONE topic from the list below (or negotiate a topic with your Lecturer) and write a 1000 - 1200 word academic essay.
1. Describe teaching in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Look at this from the perspective of students and teachers.
2. Compare and contrast education in Torres Strait Islander communities with education on mainland Australia.
3. Discuss the main trends in education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students. You can discuss this either from a historical or contemporary point of view.
4. Has there been any recent significant improvement in the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in vocational education training (VET) or TAFE? Discuss the reasons for this.
5. Discuss the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the tertiary education sector. In your response, discuss various trends in participation, success rates, and the fields of education in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are most interested.
In your response, please utilise feedback from the previous assessment. You will need to research widely and reference accurately. Include at least 4-6 sources in your reference list; however, more is always better. You are required to use the Harvard Style of referencing.
Remember that this is an academic essay and so should be properly presented and include an introduction, the body of the essay (or the main discussion), a conclusion, and a reference list.
Use 1.5 or double line spacing, a clear font such as Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11 and include page numbers.
Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Results will be available prior to the Certification of Grades.
Academic Content
- Understanding of the unit material relevant to the assessment task
- Evidence of research
- Relevance to the topic
Writing Skills
- Logical organisation of ideas and arguments
- Accuracy and fairness in representing the views discussed
- Clarity of expression, avoidance of grammatical errors, correct use of words
- Logical organisation of arguments and information in an appropriate essay structure
- Adherence to word length requirements
Referencing Skills
- Use of authoritative academic sources
- Acknowledgement of sources through correct in-text referencing and corresponding accurate reference list
- Use of Harvard style of referencing
- Identify various social issues that impact upon education for Indigenous Australians
- Explain why cultural factors should be taken into consideration for the education of Indigenous Australians
- Evaluate contemporary trends in various levels of education for Indigenous Australians.
3 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment consists of four (4) quizzes that are available on the Moodle unit site. Although the four quizzes are due on Friday of Week 12, we encourage you to complete each quiz in the weeks they are scheduled: weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12. Each quiz will test your knowledge of the unit material for the previous three weeks and consist of ten (10) questions that are randomly selected from a question bank. Each quiz will be worth 5% of the total grade for the unit and the complete assessment of four quizzes will be worth 20% of the total grade for this unit. Although a mark will be available to you after the completion of each quiz, the final grade will not be shown until the end of term.
Points to note:
- If you have technical problems with the quiz, contact the unit coordinator or TASAC as soon as possible.
- You are encouraged to attempt every quiz to obtain the maximum number of marks.
- You are encouraged to refer to the unit materials in order to obtain as many correct answers as possible.
- There will be no time limit on quizzes.
- You will be allowed two attempts at each quiz.
- The attempt with the highest grade will be used for grading.
4
Other
Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Each quiz is set up so that you will know your score as soon as you have finished.
You will be marked according to the number of correct responses for each quiz.
- Analyse the historical and contemporary impacts of government policies upon education for Indigenous Australians
- Identify various social issues that impact upon education for Indigenous Australians
- Explain why cultural factors should be taken into consideration for the education of Indigenous Australians
- Evaluate contemporary trends in various levels of education for Indigenous Australians.
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?
