CQUniversity Unit Profile.

This unit will first pave the foundation to understand how contracting parties engage in enforceable contracts, both in respect of building owners and contractors, as well as contractors and subcontractors. Then, you gradually obtain knowledge of how the dynamics of the contract change during the course of the building project, in respect of variations and extensions of time. This will further ensure you become familiar with the circumstances of how contracts can be breached, the methods of providing remedy for the breaches, and of dispute resolution. The unit will then consider the legal framework of government legislation in terms of the Acts of Parliament that relate to Builders Licensing, the Building Code of Australia, The Development Act and Occupational Health and Safety. All previous knowledge areas make you become competent in the reading and understanding of building contracts, and the application of government regulations that apply to building projects.

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Staff Feedback

The unit content requires periodic review to ensure alignment with current construction industry regulations and standards, reflecting recent changes in practice.

It is recommended that the unit materials be systematically reviewed and updated to incorporate the latest relevant regulations and industry standards. This will help ensure content remains current, accurate, and aligned with professional practice expectations.

Feedback from Staff Feedback

While the unit already includes practical examples, the coverage of applied case material could be strengthened, particularly regarding construction health and safety regulations.

It is recommended to expand the range of practical examples used in lectures and learning materials, placing greater emphasis on construction health and safety scenarios. This will further support students in connecting regulatory content to real-world industry practice and improve their applied understanding.

Feedback from Staff Feedback

Students would benefit from additional supporting explanations being made more explicit and accessible within the Moodle learning environment, particularly regarding the regulatory system.

It is recommended to enhance the Moodle site by adding more structured explanatory notes and supporting content alongside existing materials. This will improve clarity of key concepts, strengthen students’ understanding of the regulatory framework, and provide a more consistent reference point for independent study and revision.