Course Outline

SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia

Course Coordinator:Bridgette Williams (bwillia6@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

UniSC Caboolture

UniSC Fraser Coast

UniSC Gympie

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course will introduce you to Indigenous Society, Culture and Values. You will begin to understand and appreciate the complexity of Indigenous world-views and this in relation to western worldviews in an Australian context. You will further explore and analyse Australian historical policies that have impacted Indigenous Peoples and examine how this has influenced Indigenous contemporary Society. You will explore your own values and develop your positionality to identify your culturally responsive professional practice and how you can positively contribute to the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples in Australia.  

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Content required for workshop discussion and assessment preparation 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorials 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Online
Learning materials – Content required for workshop discussion and assessment preparation 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online tutorial 2hrs Week 1 11 times

Course Topics

Overview of Indigenous Society, Culture and Values in an Australian context

Self values, worldview and positionality

Introduction to historical policies relating to Indigenous Australia 

Understanding the impacts and influence of your positionality on Indigenous Australian Society 

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate an understanding of the history and contemporary context of Indigenous Australian society, cultural values and worldviews Knowledgeable
2 Critique your values, worldview and positionality Empowered
3 Analyse impacts of colonial worldviews and policies on Indigenous Australian society Creative and critical thinker
4 Demonstrate cultural competence through critical reflexivity Creative and critical thinker
5 Ethically communicate academic research and collaborate with peers in a group context Ethical

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Tutorials will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Creative Individual 25%
This task will be in Word doc or PowerPoint file format - Present your Positionality
Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Oral Group 40%
15-18 minute in-class group presentation
Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 3 Artefact - Creative Individual 35%
8-10 minute video
Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Poster
Goal:
The goal of this assessment is to to identify and analyse your culture, values and influences and present these in a positionality statement.
Product: Artefact - Creative
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Digital poster submitted via Canvas
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identification of key theories and concepts
1
2
Analysis of values, world views and positionality
2
3
Ethically communicate research
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 2:Group Presentation
Goal:
To describe and analyse historical Indigenous Australian policies and present in a creative and engaging format in class
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Group presentation to be presented in class from weeks 6-9. The group PowerPoint slides to be submitted via Canvas after your presentation
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Description of a key historical Indigenous policy
1
2
Describe the relation between colonial and Indigenous worldviews and cultural values
1
3
Critique and analyse the impacts of colonial worldviews on Australian Indigenous society
3
4
Collaborate with peers to produce an oral presentation
5
5
Ethically communicate
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Video Reflection
Goal:
Demonstrate your critical reflections of the course content.
Product: Artefact - Creative
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Recorded in PowerPoint and submitted in via Canvas Studio
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Describe key theories, policies and historical events from course content
1
2
Critically reflect on course material through a reflexive framework
4
3
Analyse how your positionality and course knowledge contributes to cultural competence
4
4
Ethically communicate
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: