Subject details

If you wish to pursue a professional career as an ER and/or HRM practitioner, Australian Employment Relations presents an invaluable overview of the Australian industrial relations system. The subject specifically aims to:

  1. deepen your understanding of the employment relationship
  2. develop your understanding of the objectives, structure and activities of the main parties in industrial relations
  3. analyse the nature of industrial conflict
  4. evaluate recent public policy regarding wages in particular, and more broadly the form of the industrial relations system
  5. analyse the impact of policy on wages, conditions, workplace flexibility, equity and social justice and performance
  6. examine the main theories of employment relations
  7. develop critical insights into the likely future development of Australian employment relations
  8. develop the application of Griffith generic skills.
  • Topics
    • What is employment relations?
    • Theoretical frameworks and models for studying employment relations
    • Employers in the Australian labour market
    • The State and employment regulation in Australia
    • Employee voice and representation
    • The changing context of ER
    • When interests collide
    • Review of the current state of ER and likely future development
  • Study resources
    • Instructional Methods
      • Audio/Video conferencing
      • Disscusion forum/Discussion Board
      • Embedded Multimedia
      • Online assignment submission
      • Podcasting/Leacture capture
      • Web links
    • Online Materials
      • Online Assessment
      • Printable format materials
      • Resources and Links
      • Audio-Video streaming

No eligibility requirements

Special requirements

No special requirements

This subject was previously known as IRL100.

Practitioners of industrial relations, employment relations and human resource management need to appreciate the role of institutions and understand the practices and processes used by industrial relations actors. Australian industrial relations covers the roles of the state, trade unions, the tribunal system, employer associations and emerging institutions. This subject provides you with an historical and theoretical context that explains present structures, activities and limitations. It also addresses the contemporary approaches to workplace relations between managers, employees and unions.

  • Assignment 1 - Discussion Board (20%)
  • Assignment 2 - Report (45%)
  • Assignment 3 - Journal (35%)

Textbooks are subject to change within the academic year. Students are advised to purchase their books no earlier than one to two months before the start of a subject.

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Related degrees

Postgraduate

Graduate Certificate in Employment Relations

Postgraduate

Master of Employment Relations