Australian Studies

This course examines Australian politics from a historical perspective. It explores the foundation and working of democracy, the formation and transformation of the party system, and the relationship of politics to broader changes in society. The first part follows a chronological structure, beginning with traditional Indigenous government and extending through the colonial era to the present day, while the second examines a range of themes such as federation, nationalism and republicanism, women, gender and politics, rural politics, Indigenous politics and the media.

This course examines the background, context, conduct and implications of politics relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (TSI) communities and policy affecting Indigenous Australians. It explores aspects of inclusion and exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from the formal political system, internal power relations within and between communities, social movements and representative bodies, Australian Indigenous politics with those of other nations, and looks at a range of policy areas.

This course examines Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through time. It explores the historical, cultural institutional and political relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, in the past and how these continue in the present. Topics include Indigenous resistance and activism, constitutional recognition, kinship, racism in sport, Indigenous astronomy, sovereignty, First Nations literature, and criminology and incarceration. 

This course introduces students to Indigenous Australia in a stimulating, in-depth study of traditional and contemporary forms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural expression. Ranging from dreaming and ancient knowledges, ceremony and lore, to the lives and societies of Indigenous peoples today, students learn about Aboriginal kinship, language, story and art, Indigenous agriculture, aquaculture and astronomy, and contemporary Indigenous cultures and cultural currents. Students explore traditional and contemporary Indigenous life, with special emphasis on the integrity, strength, and wisdom that has underpinned such extraordinary continuity.

This course examines the Australian identity through an exploration of Australian film, theater, and television traditional formats and new digital content and delivery platforms. It focuses on young Australian playwrights, performers and filmmakers, and the range of learning that takes place through young people's engagement in, and appreciation of, theater, film, television and digital content. A variety of genre, formats and delivery are critically examined against the backdrop of Australian historical and sociological perspectives. Critical analysis is undertaken, not only through deconstructing Australian films and plays, but also through constructing digital content, using smart phone video application. 

This course examines the social function of popular culture in Australia with particular emphasis on the period from the 1960s to the present. It explores how popular culture is produced and consumed and asks how specific forms and practices (such as cinema, music, sport, and food) contribute to concepts of individual and national identity. The course does not attempt to define a uniquely Australian form of popular culture. Rather, students examine the distinctive ways in which cultural activity and practice, whether originating in Australia or overseas, have been produced and consumed in Australia.

This course examines a wide range of different art practices to give a holistic view of Indigenous arts and their role in facilitating a voice and its use as a tool for social change. It covers the role of art as a tool for resistance and self-actualisation within Indigenous communities, studying the effects of cultural reclamation and artistic practice on the mental and spiritual well being of a people.

This course examines Australia's foreign and security policies since Federation, with a focus on contemporary issues such as defense planning and operations and engagement with the global economy. It explore Canberra's stance on terrorism, nuclear affairs, asylum seekers, and global environmental management.