Course overview
Enrolment in this course is restricted to persons nominated by the Commonwealth. This course offers students the capacity to understand and apply: the ADF Rules of Engagement process at the strategic level and its relationship to the strategic planning process; the processes and framework for Australia's international engagement as relevant to the Defence Force; the process and Constitutional law principles and issues of the Defence Aid to Civil Community and Defence Force Aid to the Civil Power regime at the strategic level including State/Territory Federal relationships, consultative mechanisms and the role of the CDF; the higher level application of international law effecting the general obligations of the State as relevant to the ADF and the overall strategic management of ADF operations; the treaty ratification process including in particular the ADF role and the formulation of National Impact Assessments; higher level United Nations processes and law; ethical and doctrinal concepts and their relationship to applicable law; the international Status of Forces Agreement process and practice, including jurisdictional issues, and cross servicing arrangements.
Course learning outcomes
- Analyse, interpret and apply international and Australian law applicable to the use of force, including international and regional humanitarian operations.
- Appreciate the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, especially the Geneva Conventions and Protocols, as they apply to contemporary aspects of military operations.
- Provide advice on complex military operational law matters without supervision
- Analyse critically the law applicable to Defence in order to identify and resolve complex issues affecting ADF operations and to make recommendations for change to the law where appropriate
- Undertake self-directed research into military operations law matters
- Appreciate the social, ethical and moral context of providing legal advice in ADF operations