Overview
In this unit you will look at Australia and its place in a changing world. It begins with the human settlement of the Australian continent and its ‘international’ trade before 1788. You will then explore the impact of colonisation, the development of democratic institutions, and the emergence of a modern, multicultural nation. In the first half of the unit, you will consider key moments when Australia was on the world stage, such as the gold rushes, the Federation Movement, the world-leading women's rights movement, participation in the World Wars, and the failed republic campaign. In the second half of the unit, you will explore Australia's relationship with various nations. This unit challenges you to consider how Australia became the nation that it is today and how it has managed its relations with other countries. While this is a history unit, it also covers many topics in the arts including politics, geography, and international relations.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Minimum 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 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.
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 Student email
The easy access to secondary and suggested readings was useful
Secondary readings will continue to be made easily available on the moodle site to assist students.
- Develop a broad knowledge of Australian society, the impact of colonisation on First Nations Peoples, and Australia's evolving relationships with the United Kingdom, United States of America, and selected nations of the Asia-Pacific region
- Evaluate Australia's place in the world and its performance on the world stage from the eighteenth century till today
- Conduct independent historical research and present an argument in a formal essay about Australia's place in the world and historic relationship with another nation.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||
| 2 - Group Discussion - 30% | |||
| 3 - Essay - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Australia on the World Stage: History, Politics, and International Relations
Edition: 1st (2022)
Authors: Bridget Brooklyn, Benjamin T. Jones, Rebecca Strating
Routledge
ISBN: 9781032117171
Students do NOT need to purchase a copy of the textbook unless they want to. The textbook is available online through the CQU library.
Students do NOT need to purchase a copy of the textbook unless they want to. The textbook is available online through the CQU library.
Additional Textbook Information
This book is available online through the CQU library.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Turabian
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
b.t.jones@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Australia and the world before 1788
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Please listen to the weekly online lecture then attend the tutorial on Tuesdays at 1pm (Queensland time).
Module/Topic
Australia as British colonies
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The White Australia Policy
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Dominion to Almost Republic
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Australia's Relations with NZ and the Pacific
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Australia and PNG
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Primary Source Analysis Due: Wednesday 22 April at 11:45 pm AEST
Primary Source Analysis Due: Vacation Week Wednesday (22 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Australia and the USA
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Australia and Indonesia
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Australia and China
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Australia and Japan
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Australia and the UN
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Into the 21st Century: A Summary
Chapter
Study Guide Topic 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Essay Due on Friday 5 June at 11:45pm
Research Essay Due: Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Primary sources are crucial to sound historical research. Overwhelmingly people read about figures from history rather than reading what those people actually said in their own words. In this task, you will choose one primary document and offer a sophisticated analysis.
Although the focus of this assessment is on a single primary source, you will be expected to conduct research to understand its broader context. A requirement of this task is that you consult at least four (4) tertiary-standard academic works of your own finding in addition to your study guide. This means a book chapter or peer-reviewed journal article. If unsure, consult the unit coordinator about suitability before including in your analysis.
The primary source analysis should be 1000 words in total (a 10% variation is acceptable). The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It includes quotes. It excludes the cover page, footnotes, and bibliography.
Your analysis should be set out like an essay with an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. It should answer all of the following questions:
• Who created this source and who was the intended audience?
• When was it created? What was going on in Australia and the world at the time?
• What was the significance of the source when it was made?
• Does the source contain bias or other limitations?
• How does this source contribute to our knowledge of the past?
Before submission, ensure that your analysis meets the assessment criteria listed below.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, Gen AI agents may be used in a limited way to improve grammar, punctuation, and syntax, and to help you understand a topic or concept or brainstorm ideas. The final product, however, must be your own original work. AI cannot be a substitute for reading and research and the normal plagiarism policy still applies. Any source you cite in your assessment must be something you have accessed through the CQU library and that you have personally read. All AI use must conform to the academic integrity policies of the university.
Vacation Week Wednesday (22 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit as a Word doc or docx via the link on Moodle
Week 7 Wednesday (29 Apr 2026)
The analysis is marked in a similar style to essays drawing on the CREW principle. This stands for: Content, Research, and Essay Writing.
Content:
• presentation of accurate, relevant and unbiased historical evidence
• evidence that the source has been closely read and understood
• All five analysis questions have been addressed
Research (and referencing):
• evidence drawn primarily from scholarly texts
• acknowledgement of all sources of ideas/evidence (footnote) and any quotations (footnote and quote marks)
• correct use of the Turabian referencing style
Essay Writing:
• meeting the required number of words, the bulk of which should be own wording
• logical structure/organisation of ideas
• clear, concise and correct written English
- Develop a broad knowledge of Australian society, the impact of colonisation on First Nations Peoples, and Australia's evolving relationships with the United Kingdom, United States of America, and selected nations of the Asia-Pacific region
- Evaluate Australia's place in the world and its performance on the world stage from the eighteenth century till today
- Conduct independent historical research and present an argument in a formal essay about Australia's place in the world and historic relationship with another nation.
2 Group Discussion
In this unit you are expected to attend the weekly tutorial having listened to the lecture and be an active participant in the discussion. At three points during the Term, you will be required to lead the Group Discussion by giving a short talk of around 5 minutes. No slides are needed and the tone should be informal.
1 Topic Discussion
Choose a week between 2 and 6 and give a short summary of the themes of the week. This can be based upon the compulsory reading, the study guide, the lecture, or a combination of all three. Your talk should show that you have paid close attention to the themes of that particular week. You should highlight anything you found particularly interesting or surprising and explain what this theme tells us about Australian history and politics. Finally, you should throw a question to the class prompted by the week’s theme.
2 Primary Source Discussion
Choose a week between 7 and 9 to give a short talk of around 5 minutes about your primary source analysis. You should explain to the class what the significance of your source is and how you went about researching it. You should be prepared to answer questions about your primary source and the secondary sources you used in the assessment.
3 Essay discussion
Choose a week between 10 and 12 and give a short talk about of about 5 minutes about your essay. You should explain how you chose your topic and why it drew your interest. This talk must include a detailed explanation of 2 secondary sources that you plan to use in your essay. You need to explain how you found these sources, what the article or book chapter is about, what the author is arguing, and how you will use it in your essay.
As per the instructions, the group discussions take place throughout the Term.
All presenters will receive their mark after their final talk.
This assessment is graded on the following criteria:
For the Topic Discussion: evidence that you have read the weekly reading, listened to the lecture and taken adequate notes. Evidence that you have thought deeply about the weekly topic. That you offer an engaging question to the class based on the weekly theme.
For the Assessment Discussions: evidence that you have conducted original research using the CQU library. An ability to speak about the primary source and its significance. An ability to speak about key sources for your final essay and its significance.
No submission method provided.
- Develop a broad knowledge of Australian society, the impact of colonisation on First Nations Peoples, and Australia's evolving relationships with the United Kingdom, United States of America, and selected nations of the Asia-Pacific region
- Evaluate Australia's place in the world and its performance on the world stage from the eighteenth century till today
3 Essay
You must select ONE (1) of the questions on Moodle and answer it in an essay of 2,000 words (10% variation is acceptable).
References and bibliography must be included in the Turabian referencing style. Please read the instructions carefully and consult the essay-writing and referencing guides provided on the Moodle website.
CQUni Library holds a range of Australian history books and there are additional resources in the Digital Readings (DRs) on Moodle. You should also search the CQUni Library databases for relevant scholarly articles on the topic of your choice. Only use articles from peer-reviewed journals or other reputable academic sources, and be sure to provide accurate citations (footnotes). You are expected to consult a minimum of six (6) tertiary-standard academic books and/or journal articles in the preparation of the research essay. In order to pass, your essay most show clear evidence that you have read, used, and correctly cited sources from the CQU library in addition to the book Australia on the World Stage and materials.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, Gen AI agents may be used in a limited way to improve grammar, punctuation, and syntax, and to help you understand a topic or concept or brainstorm ideas. The final product, however, must be your own original work. AI cannot be a substitute for reading and research and the normal plagiarism policy still applies. Any source you cite in your assessment must be something you have accessed through the CQU library and that you have personally read. All AI use must conform to the academic integrity policies of the university.
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit as a Word doc or docx via the link on Moodle
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
Essays will be marked and returned within two weeks of receipt by the Unit Coordinator.
The essays are marked on three principle criteria that can be summarised as CREW. This stands for: Content, Research, and Essay Writing.
Content:
• presentation of accurate, relevant and unbiased historical evidence
• evidence that the relevant(s) lecture has been listened to
Research (and referencing):
• evidence drawn primarily from scholarly texts
• acknowledgement of all sources of ideas/evidence (footnote) and any quotations
(footnote and quote marks)
• correct use of the Turabian referencing style
Essay Writing:
• meeting the required number of words, the bulk of which should be own wording
• logical structure/organisation of ideas
• clear, concise and correct written English
• presentation in formal essay style and layout
- Develop a broad knowledge of Australian society, the impact of colonisation on First Nations Peoples, and Australia's evolving relationships with the United Kingdom, United States of America, and selected nations of the Asia-Pacific region
- Evaluate Australia's place in the world and its performance on the world stage from the eighteenth century till today
- Conduct independent historical research and present an argument in a formal essay about Australia's place in the world and historic relationship with another nation.
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?
