Overview
This unit will present you with demographic concepts, theories and methods. It emphasises both the practical skills of acquiring and analysing demographic information and communicating this in clear and concise forms. You will develop both theoretical and practical knowledge of demographic analysis through analysing the dynamics of real-world population data for a range of areas. You will gain knowledge and analytical skills useful in career areas of administration, policy development, business management and research.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Completion of 18 credit points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate 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.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
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 UC self-assessment.
Continue to update the learning materials while maintaining the integrity of the current unit structure.
Maintain the existing unit structure while regularly updating the learning materials. As an AQF8 unit, it is essential that the content and assessment tasks remain closely aligned with current industry practices and professional standards to ensure ongoing relevance and quality.
- Acquire and synthesise demographic information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other sources, or from small-area sample surveys
- Analyse demographic data including population estimates and projections
- Communicate demographic analysis of characteristics and trends in Australian population suitable for professional reports.
n/a
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Report - 50% | |||
| 2 - Report - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.wu@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Demographic Analysis for Real-world Applications
Chapter
Weekly learning materials will be made available on the unit's Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Population Growth and Decline
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Age-Sex Composition
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Population Composition
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Fertility & Mortality
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Family Demography
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Vital Statistics and Life Expectancy Trends
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Local Population Sampling and Estimates
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Visualizing Population Distribution Patterns
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Migration Dynamics: Patterns and Trends
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Future Population Trends: Projections and Estimates
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Towards Sustainable Populations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Report
This assessment task requires students to collect demographic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website and other authoritative sources. Using these data, students will calculate key demographic measures, construct age–sex population pyramids for selected populations, and prepare a written report.
The report should present, analyse, and discuss the results and findings. Demographic measures to be examined include population size, population change rate, sex ratio, dependency ratio, crude average annual rate of population growth (or decline), doubling time, and related demographic measures.
Detailed instructions for accessing ABS data and guidelines for completing the assessment are available on the unit’s Moodle site.
AI Assessment Scale: Level 2
You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Online submission
Week 9 Friday (15 May 2026)
The papers will be marked and returned in two weeks after the due date or as soon as practicable.
The assessment will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Data Collection and Presentation: Demonstrating knowledge of demographic information sources and effectively gathering and using the information for calculations and analysis.
- Data Analysis and Interpretation: Demonstrating comprehension of the demographic measures and the ability to construct the age-sex pyramids, along with the use of other visual aids (such as tables, and charts) and providing insightful discussions.
- Communication and Organization: Demonstrating proficiency in data reporting, including accuracy and consistency in citation, as well as proper formatting.
- Acquire and synthesise demographic information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other sources, or from small-area sample surveys
- Analyse demographic data including population estimates and projections
- Communicate demographic analysis of characteristics and trends in Australian population suitable for professional reports.
2 Report
This assessment task requires students to utilize data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website and other authoritative sources to to undertake the following tasks and present the results in a written report:
a) produce a choropleth map to analyse population spatial change for a specified region;
b) produce and discuss population projections for a defined population; and
c) describe and discuss the changes in social demography of the specified population.
Detailed instructions and assessment requirements are available on the unit’s Moodle site.
AI Assessment Scale
Multiple levels apply to different components (Levels 2-3). See detailed guidance in Moodle for specific requirements for each section.
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 5:30 pm AEST
Online submission
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
The assessment will be marked and returned as soon as practicable at the end of the term.
Your papers will be assessed according to the following criteria:
a) The quantity and quality of research undertaken, including the effective collection and use of data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and/or other relevant demographic sources to undertake the specified tasks.
b) The extent of analysis demonstrated within the specified tasks, including the analysis and discussion regarding population spatial change, population projections, and changes in social demography.
c) The effectiveness of written communication, including the clarity, coherence, and organization of the report, as well as appropriate citation and referencing.
Detailed assessment criteria are available on the Moodle site of the unit.
- Acquire and synthesise demographic information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other sources, or from small-area sample surveys
- Analyse demographic data including population estimates and projections
- Communicate demographic analysis of characteristics and trends in Australian population suitable for professional reports.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
