Rights and Public Policy

This subject is not offered in 2011.

166-579 Rights and Public Policy

166-058 Law, Ethics and Public Policy

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject aims to assist students with the development of skills relevant in the policy-making process. This is carried out by familiarising students with legal and political developments within a variety of rights fields and by requiring them to reflect on the institutions responsible for defining and protecting rights. We consider rights issues such as freedom of speech, sexual and racial discrimination, assisted reproductive technologies, euthanasia, Indigenous rights and the impact of bills of rights. Students who complete this subject should gain skills relevant to policy-making processes.

Students who complete this subject shoud:

• gain skills that are relevant to the policy-making process.
• understand recent developments within legal and ethical philosophy.
• understand the institutions (courts, parliaments and administrative agencies) responsible for implementing programs in Australia.

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who complete this subject should:

• be able to apply research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry.
• be able to develop persuasive arguments on a given topic.
• be able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively and articulately.