Human Rights in Australian History

This subject is not offered in 2008.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The central objective of this subject is to encourage critical thinking and writing that revolves around the nature of universal rights and the historical mechanisms by which these have been both denied, suspended, or rendered non-applicable to individuals and groups, and the means by which they have been won. This will be grounded in an historical gauging of the nature of rights and evolving categories of exclusion, inclusion and privilege. The subject will consider the ways Australia has been imagined as a nation over time and constructed by debates over the make up of its boundaries, subjects and citizens. With attention to the ways in which the apparently universal notion of 'humanity' has shifted, expanded and contracted in direct relation, for example, to race, gender, ability, poverty, and migrant or refugee status, the subject will locate current global human rights issues and debates in historical and local case studies.

Information Not Available

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;

• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.

Formerly available as 131-294/394. Students who have completed 131-294 or 131-394 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.