Overview
This unit introduces you to the law of Torts in Australia as one of the main categories in the law of civil obligations. Along with Contract law, this unit will provide you with a solid foundation in many of the civil law issues faced in legal practice. You will gain an understanding of civil wrongs as developed by the common law yet increasingly supplemented by legislation. This unit will commence with an overview of tort law, its development and aims. You will also study the torts of negligence, trespass, nuisance and defamation, including available defences. Forms of concurrent liability are also considered along with remedies in tort and alternative statutory compensation schemes. Finally, the unit will consider the protection available in tort from unfair business practices. Tort law is constantly evolving and often raises unique and complex social and moral questions. The unit will develop your ability to think critically about the relationship of law to social, economic and political conditions. This unit meets the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board requirements for Torts.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Co-requisite: LAWS11057 Introduction to Law.
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 - 2025
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 unit evaluation and emails
Two-hour tutorials are helpful to student learning and should continue.
Continue with 2-hour tutorials as they provide more opportunities to explore and discuss key legal concepts and engage students.
Feedback from Student unit evaluation and emails
The tutorials are interactive and engaging.
Tutorials should continue to be facilitated in a way that encourages student discussion and debate using authentic and real-life legal scenarios.
- Explain the essential elements of tort obligations and the development of tort law in response to changing social, economic and political conditions
- Explain the principles of tort law at common law and as supplemented by the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld) and other legislation
- Apply relevant legal principles and exercise legal reasoning to determine obligations, rights and remedies in tort disputes
- Demonstrate written and oral communication skills in response to a legal scenario
This unit satisfies the Priestley 11 requirements for Torts as approved by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
| 2 - Examination - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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
Contemporary Australian Law
- Edition: 2nd (2024)
- Authors: Joanna Kyriakakis et al
- Cambridge University Press
- Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
- ISBN: 978-1-009-34877-5
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.oyson@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 10 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Introduction to the Law of Torts
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 17 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Duty of Care
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 24 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Breach of Duty of Care
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 31 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Damage: Factual Causation and Scope of Liability
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 07 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Defences to Negligence
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Vacation Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 21 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Trespass to the Person
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 28 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Torts Arising from Statutory Duties and Powers
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 05 May 2025Module/Topic
Nuisance
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 12 May 2025Module/Topic
Vicarious Liability and Non-Delegable Duty
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 19 May 2025Module/Topic
Defamation and Unfair Business Practices
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. AND Amanda Stickley, Australian Torts Law (4th edition, 2016) Ch. 24 (pp. 613-631 only)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 26 May 2025Module/Topic
Remedies
Chapter
Joanna Kyriakakis et al, Contemporary Australian Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2024) Ch. 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 02 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Review Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 09 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 16 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Exam Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This written assessment involves answering two questions based on hypothetical case scenarios. It will cover any of the topics in weeks 1 to 5. The questions will be released on 9 April 2025 (Wednesday) at 7 pm (AEST) and answers are due on 16 April 2025 (Wednesday) at 7 pm (AEST). The total word count for all the answers, including footnotes, should not exceed 1000 words.
There is no allowance beyond the word-count limit. Any text that exceeds the 1000-word count limit will not be marked.
Vacation Week Wednesday (16 Apr 2025) 7:00 pm AEST
The answers must be saved in MS Word (not as a PDF) in the following format: LastName_FirstName.docx.
Week 8 Wednesday (7 May 2025)
This assessment will be assessed according to the following criteria: correct and thorough identification of the legal issue(s) (10%) and rules/legal principles (30%); correct and thorough analysis and application of the rules and legal principles to the legal issue(s) and the facts (40%); well thought-out conclusion (10%); and quality of the language usage and observance of proper structure, format, and instructions (10%).
A detailed marking rubric is available on the Moodle site.
- Explain the essential elements of tort obligations and the development of tort law in response to changing social, economic and political conditions
- Explain the principles of tort law at common law and as supplemented by the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld) and other legislation
- Apply relevant legal principles and exercise legal reasoning to determine obligations, rights and remedies in tort disputes
- Demonstrate written and oral communication skills in response to a legal scenario
Examination
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?
