CQUniversity Unit Profile
LAWS12071 Australian Employment Law
Australian Employment Law
All details in this unit profile for LAWS12071 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

The Australian employment legal relationship is complex and varied. This unit is structured under three themes and modules. They are (1) entering the employment relationship (2) regulating the employment relationship and (3) ending the employment relationship. The main focus of the unit is the federal Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the FWAct) and the common law contract of employment. This FWAct dominates Australian employment law and is increasingly encroaching upon other areas such as sexual harassment and discrimination which were traditionally the domain of other statutes. Understanding the FWAct is crucial to practising in this area in Australia. Students from international jurisdictions may see some similarities if they come from Common Law countries. However, by and large Australia has a unique system that is not replicated elsewhere in the world.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisite: 24 credit points of law units including LAWS11057.

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

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 60%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 Unit Coordinator

Feedback

Scaffolding of assessments

Recommendation

Explain scaffolding and how it works to students so they may be empowered in improving their performance with each assessment item.

Feedback from Unit Coordinator

Feedback

Reinforce basic skills of reading amending statutes

Recommendation

Consider including more formative opportunities to follow the amendments to current statutes.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Interpret and apply Australian employment law principles to fact scenarios in order to develop problem solving skills and legal reasoning.
  2. Critically examine themes and trends in Australian employment law.
  3. Develop cross cultural competency skills through an examination of employment discrimination laws.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Written Assessment - 60%

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 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Stewart's Guide to Employment Law

7th Edition (2021)
Authors: Andrew Stewart
Federation Press
ISBN: 9781760023157

Additional Textbook Information

Please also download Stewart's Guide 7 Supplement - March 24 via the 'Federation Press' website at no cost.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Zoom access: microphone and webcam required
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Dom Lococo Unit Coordinator
d.lococo2@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

PART 1: Entering into the employment relationship 

Chapter

Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 1,2 & 3; March 2024 supplement

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Attend Zoom session.

Complete weekly exercises.

Self-guided reading and research.

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

PART 1: Entering into the employment relationship

Chapter

Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 4,5 & 6; March 2024 supplement

Events and Submissions/Topic

Attend Zoom session.

Complete weekly exercises.

Self-guided reading and research.

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

PART 2: Regulating and managing the employment relationship.

Chapter

Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 7, 8 & 10; March 2024 supplement

Events and Submissions/Topic

Attend Zoom session.

Complete weekly exercises.

Self-guided reading and research.

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

PART 2: Regulating and managing the employment relationship - continues

Chapter

Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Reading: Chapters 11, 12, 13; March 2024 supplement

Events and Submissions/Topic

Attend Zoom session.

Complete weekly exercises.

Self-guided reading and research.

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

PART 3: Ending the employment relationship.

Chapter

Reading: Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 9 & 14; March 2024 supplement

Events and Submissions/Topic

Complete weekly exercises.

Attend Zoom session.

Self-guided reading and research.

 


Workbooks - Parts 1 and 2 Due: Week 5 Friday (11 Apr 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Vacation week

Chapter

Vacation week

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation week

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

PART 3: Ending the employment relationship 

REVIEW AND EXAM PREPARATION

Chapter

Reading:  Stewart, A. Stewart's Guide to Employment Law Edition: 7th (2021) Chapters 16 & 17; March 2024 supplement 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Attend Zoom session.

Complete weekly exercises.

Self-guided reading and research.

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Study period

Chapter

Study period

Events and Submissions/Topic

Study period


Take Home Written Exam Due: Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 11:30 am AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 05 May 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 12 May 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 19 May 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 26 May 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Workbooks - Parts 1 and 2

Task Description

This assessment is a workbook. The purpose of a workbook is to help students engage with the unit content early. 

Students will be given a series of questions to prepare answers for Part 1: Entering into the Employment Relationship and Part 2: Regulating the Employment Relationship

Students are encouraged to work through these questions progressively as we review the unit content in Weeks 1 - 4.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (11 Apr 2025) 11:59 pm AEST

Students are expected to have worked through the exercises progressively so the bulk of the work would have been completed by the end of week 4.


Return Date to Students

Will be returned online within 2 weeks.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Completion of tasks

Identification of legal issues

Discussion of relevant primary sources

Effective communication and referencing

 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please see moodle for instructions

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Interpret and apply Australian employment law principles to fact scenarios in order to develop problem solving skills and legal reasoning.
  • Critically examine themes and trends in Australian employment law.
  • Develop cross cultural competency skills through an examination of employment discrimination laws.

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Take Home Written Exam

Task Description

This will be a take-home written examination. The assessment may contain a mix of problem-style questions and essay-style questions drawn from the whole course content, with a particular focus on Part 3: Ending the Employment Relationship.

1. This unit has an invigilated take-home examination of 2.5 hours (150 minutes) duration. Students should consult the Invigilated Take-home Examination Guidelines, College of Law, available from the Laws Moodle site. These guidelines require students to obtain a student card for verification purposes—see https://sportal.cqu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1113/Information-Sheet-Student-ID-Card-2017.pdf.

2. Students must also have access to a reliable and adequate internet connection and a computer, tablet, or laptop equipped with a working webcam, working microphone, Zoom installed and access to the unit Moodle site via an Internet browser.

3. No extensions are permitted for invigilated take-home examinations.

4. Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted and will receive a zero mark.

5. Failure to attend the invigilated take-home examination will result in a zero mark.

6. Exam conditions apply to all invigilated take-home examinations.

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 11:30 am AEST

Students are expected to complete the assessment within a 2.5-hour time frame and submit it online.


Return Date to Students

Results will be released online and may be withheld until final results are released


Weighting
60%

Assessment Criteria

 
  HD High Distinction D Distinction C Credit P Pass N Fail
Identification of legal issues All legal issues are identified in a logical manner with alternative legal issues addressed where relevant. Most of the relevant legal issues are identified in a logical manner. Most legal issues are at a minimum identified, but some are not addressed in a logical manner. Identifies some of the core legal issues. And/or some issues are missed or confused. Understanding of the tasks not apparent. And/or limited or no attempt to identify legal issues.
Identification and analysis of relevant law Identifies most of the relevant legal authority (case law/statutory provisions) to support discussions. And identifies relevant counterarguments arising from the relevant statutory provisions and case law. Identifies most of the relevant legal authority (case law/statutory provisions) to support discussions. Reasonable use of legal authority to support discussions. And/or evidence of a reasonable ability to interpret the relevant statutory provisions. And/or evidence of a reasonable understanding of the relevant case law Some use of legal authority to support discussions. And/or evidence of limited ability to interpret the relevant statutory provisions. And/or evidence of a limited understanding of the relevant case law. Little or no use of legal authority to support discussions. And/or lacks evidence of ability to interpret the relevant statutory provisions. And/or lacks evidence of an understanding of the relevant case law
Ability to apply the law to a factual scenario Most of the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law are correctly applied to the facts. And most of the relevant facts are referred to. And counterarguments arising from the facts are also considered. Most of the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law are correctly applied to the facts. And most of the relevant facts are referred to. A reasonable attempt is made to apply a substantial amount of the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law and it is correctly applied to the facts. And a substantial amount of the relevant facts are referred to. Some attempt is made to apply the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law and it is correctly applied to the facts. And some of the relevant facts are referred to Little or no attempt to apply the relevant legal principles arising out of the relevant statutory provisions and case law to the facts. And/or little or an absence of a discussion regarding the relevant facts arising from the problem.
Ability to provide clear, supportable conclusions Conclusion is well-reasoned, logical and is consistent with the discussions throughout the answer. Conclusion is consistent with the discussions throughout the answer. Conclusion is grounded in the discussions throughout the answer. Conclusion is too brief and is inconsistent with, or does not refer to, the discussions in the answer. Unsubstantiated conclusions based on generalisation only or no conclusions at all.
Effective communication and referencing Fluent writing style and terminology appropriate to the document with a suitable and clear structure. Grammar, spelling and referencing are consistently accurate. Language mainly fluent with a suitable and clear structure. Grammar, spelling and referencing are mainly accurate. Language reasonably fluent. Structure apparent. Grammar, spelling and referencing are reasonably accurate. Meaning apparent but language not always fluent. Some structure. Grammar and/or spelling contain errors. Referencing contains numerous errors. Meaning unclear. Grammar and/or spelling contain frequent errors. Lack of structure. Almost all referencing is incorrect or no attempt at referencing at all.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submitted on moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Interpret and apply Australian employment law principles to fact scenarios in order to develop problem solving skills and legal reasoning.
  • Critically examine themes and trends in Australian employment law.
  • Develop cross cultural competency skills through an examination of employment discrimination laws.

Academic Integrity Statement

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?