Overview
The Australian employment legal relationship is complex and varied. This unit is structured under three themes and modules. They are (1) entering the employment relationship (2) regulating the employment relationship and (3) ending the employment relationship. The main focus of the unit is the federal Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the FWAct) and the common law contract of employment. This FWAct dominates Australian employment law and is increasingly encroaching upon other areas such as sexual harassment and discrimination which were traditionally the domain of other statutes. Understanding the FWAct is crucial to practising in this area in Australia. Students from international jurisdictions may see some similarities if they come from Common Law countries. However, by and large Australia has a unique system that is not replicated elsewhere in the world.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: 24 credit points of law units including LAWS11057.
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 - 2025
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 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
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
Scaffolding of assessments
Explain scaffolding and how it works to students so they may be empowered in improving their performance with each assessment item.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator
Reinforce basic skills of reading amending statutes
Consider including more formative opportunities to follow the amendments to current statutes.
- Interpret and apply Australian employment law principles to fact scenarios in order to develop problem solving skills and legal reasoning.
- Critically examine themes and trends in Australian employment law.
- Develop cross cultural competency skills through an examination of employment discrimination laws.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 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
Stewart's Guide to Employment Law
7th Edition (2021)
Authors: Andrew Stewart
Federation Press
ISBN: 9781760023157
Additional Textbook Information
Please also download Stewart's Guide 7 Supplement - March 24 via the 'Federation Press' website at no cost.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom access: microphone and webcam required
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.lococo2@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
PART 1: Entering into the employment relationship
Chapter
Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 1,2 & 3; March 2024 supplement
Events and Submissions/Topic
Attend Zoom session.
Complete weekly exercises.
Self-guided reading and research.
Module/Topic
PART 1: Entering into the employment relationship
Chapter
Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 4,5 & 6; March 2024 supplement
Events and Submissions/Topic
Attend Zoom session.
Complete weekly exercises.
Self-guided reading and research.
Module/Topic
PART 2: Regulating and managing the employment relationship.
Chapter
Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 7, 8 & 10; March 2024 supplement
Events and Submissions/Topic
Attend Zoom session.
Complete weekly exercises.
Self-guided reading and research.
Module/Topic
PART 2: Regulating and managing the employment relationship - continues
Chapter
Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Reading: Chapters 11, 12, 13; March 2024 supplement
Events and Submissions/Topic
Attend Zoom session.
Complete weekly exercises.
Self-guided reading and research.
Module/Topic
PART 3: Ending the employment relationship.
Chapter
Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 9 & 14; March 2024 supplement
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete weekly exercises.
Attend Zoom session.
Self-guided reading and research.
Workbooks - Parts 1 and 2 Due: Week 5 Friday (11 Apr 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Vacation week
Chapter
Vacation week
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation week
Module/Topic
PART 3: Ending the employment relationship
REVIEW AND EXAM PREPARATION
Chapter
Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 16 & 17; March 2024 supplement
Events and Submissions/Topic
Attend Zoom session.
Complete weekly exercises.
Self-guided reading and research.
Module/Topic
Study period
Chapter
Study period
Events and Submissions/Topic
Study period
Take Home Written Exam Due: Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 11:30 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This assessment is a workbook. The purpose of a workbook is to help students engage with the unit content early.
Students will be given a series of questions to prepare answers for Part 1: Entering into the Employment Relationship and Part 2: Regulating the Employment Relationship.
Students are encouraged to work through these questions progressively as we review the unit content in Weeks 1 - 4.
Week 5 Friday (11 Apr 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Students are expected to have worked through the exercises progressively so the bulk of the work would have been completed by the end of week 4.
Will be returned online within 2 weeks.
Completion of tasks
Identification of legal issues
Discussion of relevant primary sources
Effective communication and referencing
- Interpret and apply Australian employment law principles to fact scenarios in order to develop problem solving skills and legal reasoning.
- Critically examine themes and trends in Australian employment law.
- Develop cross cultural competency skills through an examination of employment discrimination laws.
2 Written Assessment
This will be a take-home written examination. The assessment may contain a mix of problem-style questions and essay-style questions drawn from the whole course content, with a particular focus on Part 3: Ending the Employment Relationship.
1. This unit has an invigilated take-home examination of 2.5 hours (150 minutes) duration. Students should consult the Invigilated Take-home Examination Guidelines, College of Law, available from the Laws Moodle site. These guidelines require students to obtain a student card for verification purposes—see https://sportal.cqu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1113/Information-Sheet-Student-ID-Card-2017.pdf.
2. Students must also have access to a reliable and adequate internet connection and a computer, tablet, or laptop equipped with a working webcam, working microphone, Zoom installed and access to the unit Moodle site via an Internet browser.
3. No extensions are permitted for invigilated take-home examinations.
4. Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted and will receive a zero mark.
5. Failure to attend the invigilated take-home examination will result in a zero mark.
6. Exam conditions apply to all invigilated take-home examinations.
Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 11:30 am AEST
Students are expected to complete the assessment within a 2.5-hour time frame and submit it online.
Results will be released online and may be withheld until final results are released
| HD High Distinction | D Distinction | C Credit | P Pass | N Fail | |
| Identification of legal issues | All legal issues are identified in a logical manner with alternative legal issues addressed where relevant. | Most of the relevant legal issues are identified in a logical manner. | Most legal issues are at a minimum identified, but some are not addressed in a logical manner. | Identifies some of the core legal issues. And/or some issues are missed or confused. | Understanding of the tasks not apparent. And/or limited or no attempt to identify legal issues. |
| Identification and analysis of relevant law | Identifies most of the relevant legal authority (case law/statutory provisions) to support discussions. And identifies relevant counterarguments arising from the relevant statutory provisions and case law. | Identifies most of the relevant legal authority (case law/statutory provisions) to support discussions. | Reasonable use of legal authority to support discussions. And/or evidence of a reasonable ability to interpret the relevant statutory provisions. And/or evidence of a reasonable understanding of the relevant case law | Some use of legal authority to support discussions. And/or evidence of limited ability to interpret the relevant statutory provisions. And/or evidence of a limited understanding of the relevant case law. | Little or no use of legal authority to support discussions. And/or lacks evidence of ability to interpret the relevant statutory provisions. And/or lacks evidence of an understanding of the relevant case law |
| Ability to apply the law to a factual scenario | Most of the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law are correctly applied to the facts. And most of the relevant facts are referred to. And counterarguments arising from the facts are also considered. | Most of the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law are correctly applied to the facts. And most of the relevant facts are referred to. | A reasonable attempt is made to apply a substantial amount of the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law and it is correctly applied to the facts. And a substantial amount of the relevant facts are referred to. | Some attempt is made to apply the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law and it is correctly applied to the facts. And some of the relevant facts are referred to | Little or no attempt to apply the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law to the facts. And/or little or an absence of a discussion regarding the relevant facts arising from the problem. |
| Ability to provide clear, supportable conclusions | Conclusion is well-reasoned, logical and is consistent with the discussions throughout the answer. | Conclusion is consistent with the discussions throughout the answer. | Conclusion is grounded in the discussions throughout the answer. | Conclusion is too brief and is inconsistent with, or does not refer to, the discussions in the answer. | Unsubstantiated conclusions based on generalisation only or no conclusions at all. |
| Effective communication and referencing | Fluent writing style and terminology appropriate to the document with a suitable and clear structure. Grammar, spelling and referencing are consistently accurate. | Language mainly fluent with a suitable and clear structure. Grammar, spelling and referencing are mainly accurate. | Language reasonably fluent. Structure apparent. Grammar, spelling and referencing are reasonably accurate. | Meaning apparent but language not always fluent. Some structure. Grammar and/or spelling contain errors. Referencing contains numerous errors. | Meaning unclear. Grammar and/or spelling contain frequent errors. Lack of structure. Almost all referencing is incorrect or no attempt at referencing at all. |
- Interpret and apply Australian employment law principles to fact scenarios in order to develop problem solving skills and legal reasoning.
- Critically examine themes and trends in Australian employment law.
- Develop cross cultural competency skills through an examination of employment discrimination laws.
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?
