Aboriginal Studies

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Aboriginal Studies

Syllabus overview

HSC Course

1960s onwards (120 indicative hours)

Part I – Social Justice and Human Rights Issues

This part of the course consists of two sections.

A - The Global Perspective
Indicative course time: 20%
The focus of Section A is a global examination of social justice and human rights issues as they impact on Indigenous peoples.

B – Comparative Study
Indicative course time: 30%
A comparative case study on an Aboriginal and an international Indigenous community, in relation to TWO of the following topics:

Health
Education
Housing
Employment
Criminal Justice
Economic Independence

Comparative case study:
Different communities may be studied for each topic.

Part II: A - Aboriginality and the Land or B - Heritage and Identity

Indicative Course Time: 20%
The focus of this section is the evaluation of contemporary issues through an Aboriginal community study in relation to EITHER:

A – Aboriginality and the Land
The focus of this topic is the efforts made by Aboriginal peoples to reassert their sovereign title to Country and the impact that these efforts have had on Aboriginal peoples and the wider Australian community.

The Land Rights movement and the recognition of native title
Government policies and legislation
Non-Aboriginal responses

OR
B – Heritage and Identity.
The focus of this topic is the efforts of Aboriginal peoples to affirm their distinct nature and the form of their heritage and identity, and the impact that these efforts have had on Aboriginal people and the wider Australian community.

Contemporary aspects of Aboriginal heritage and identity
Government policies and legislation
Non-Aboriginal responses

Part III – Research and Inquiry Methods – Major Project

Indicative Course Time: 30%

A student's Major Research project on an aspect of the HSC course.

Methods and skills relating to:

Community consultation
Planning research
Acquiring information
Processing information

NOTE: The HSC Major Project must be discrete in both focus and content from a student’s Preliminary Local Community Case Study.

HSC Course Outcomes

H1.1	evaluates the impact of different viewpoints of colonialism on Aboriginal and other Indigenous peoples
H1.2	analyses and discusses the social justice and human rights issues that are contemporary consequences of colonialism on Aboriginal and other Indigenous peoples
H1.3	assesses the representation of Aboriginal peoples and cultures for bias and stereotyping
H2.1	examines contemporary expressions of Aboriginal and other Indigenous peoples’ culture, heritage and identity
H2.2	analyses the importance of Country as a contemporary issue impacting on Aboriginal and other Indigenous peoples’ cultural, political, social and economic life
H3.1	assesses the effectiveness of government policies, legislation and legal decisions in addressing discrimination
H3.2	evaluates the impact of key government policies, legislation and legal decisions on the socioeconomic status of Aboriginal peoples and communities
H3.3	evaluates initiatives that promote the social, economic and political independence of Aboriginal and other Indigenous peoples
H4.1	plans, investigates, analyses, synthesises and communicates relevant information, incorporating Aboriginal and other Indigenous peoples’ perspectives
H4.2	undertakes community consultation and fieldwork and applies ethical research practices
H4.3	investigates and compares the histories and cultures of Aboriginal peoples and other Indigenous peoples