Course overview
The course allows students completing internships with native title representative bodies and other organisations which deal with native title in Australia or Indigenous law and policy for a period of four to six weeks to complete an academic course which complements their internship experience. The internship enables students to build on their understanding of native title law or Indigenous law and policy by gaining an appreciation of its practical operation. The associated elective course aims to give depth and context to student's existing knowledge of native title law and Indigenous law and policy. In the elective course students will be asked to complete an agreed research task under the supervision of the course coordinator. That research task might involve research into a specific aspect of native title law or procedure or Indigenous law and policy. The precise research topic will be negotiated individually between each student and the course coordinator, and will build on the work the student completes with their host organisation. It is expected that students will also be involved in the day-to-day activities of their host organisation and gain a broad understanding of how such organisations operate. Assessment would typically include: a reflection on the work completed during the internship (15%), a research proposal and annotated bibliography (15%), and substantial research paper (70%).
Course learning outcomes
- Use research skills to interrogate primary and secondary legal material in a substantial supervised research project
- Analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex legal information relevant to native title law and/or other laws affecting Indigenous peoples
- Demonstrate the cognitive skills to analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources and experiences so as to identify and address as appropriate legal and related issues
- Work effectively individually to structure a complex and convincing written argument
- Exercise professional judgment and engage with ethical professional standards relevant to research
- Demonstrate a commitment to the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour
- Develop an understanding of social and cultural diversity, and sensitivity of the operation of the law and legal structures in that context, particularly as relevant to Indigenous peoples and critically engage with laws as they affect Indigenous peoples
- Reflect on the importance of cultural and personal background as a subject of the law, and use reflection and feedback to drive improvement in research and writing skills