Enrolments for 2020 have closed.
Human Rights Law in Australia
Postgraduate | RMI-OJD423 | 2020
Course information for 2020 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Look at the sources of human rights law in Australia: the Constitution, State legislation, common law and international norms. Apply these to counter terrorism laws, anti-discrimination, indigenous Australians, refugees and asylum seekers.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 14 weeks
FEE-HELP available
Human Rights Law in Australia
About this subject
Upon successful completion of this subject you will be able to:
- demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of the fundamental doctrines and principles which underpin human rights law at the international and Australian levels
- critically evaluate the law of human rights and identify areas of reform
- analyse and research complex problems relating to human rights and make reasoned and appropriate choices amongst alternatives
- demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching legal issues relating to human rights and generate appropriate responses.
- Human Rights Law: Nature and Sources
- International Law Overview
- Nature and Scope of States' Human Rights Obligations
- UN Human Rights Mechanisms & Australia's Engagement
- Civil and Political Rights, Terrorism and The Torture Debate
- Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Rights of the Child
- Rights Protection in Australia - History; Ongoing Debate
- The ACT Human Rights Act and the Victorian Charter
- Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Rights of Australians with Disabilities and Mental Illness
- Rights of Prisoners
- Rights of Indigenous Australians
- Rights of Homeless Australians
This subject provides a broad overview of international human rights law and its interaction with the protection of human rights in Australia. The subject begins with an overview of the history, nature and structure of human rights law and the main human rights treaties and UN supervisory bodies. The subject then looks at the sources of human rights law in Australia including the Constitution, state human rights legislation, the common law and international human rights norms. Finally, the international and Australian law relating to human rights is studied in the context of counter terrorism laws, anti-discrimination law, Indigenous Australians, Australians with disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers and more.
- Online Discussion (10%)
- Communication to UN (40%)
- Take-home Exam (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
To help set you up for success before you start this subject, we suggest completing or having equivalent knowledge in:
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.