EUN649 Policy in First Nations Education

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

In this unit, you will develop your understanding of policy eras that have shaped the treatment of First Nations peoples since 1788, ending with a focus on present-day policy initiatives. The unit content will specifically investigate the role of education in delivering policy intentions and the impact this has had, and continues to have, on First Nations peoples and their ways of knowing. These understandings will contribute to the development of your own critical practice in First Nations education.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a body of knowledge relating to the evolution of policies that have impacted on First Nations education experiences to critically examine recent policy developments (CLO 1.1).
2. Use cognitive and critical reflection skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and scholarship relating to policy impacts on First Nations education (CLO 2.1).
3. Demonstrate technical and communication skills to analyse and theorise about policy contexts and how they shape practice in First Nations education (CLO 2.4).
4. Demonstrate application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to analyse unique First Nations education contexts with high level personal autonomy and accountability (CLO 3.1).

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:

• Online modules incorporating video, story-sharing, artwork and text content and reflection spaces
• Weekly readings
• A face-to-face 4 hour intensive session, or online equivalent
• Weekly yarning gatherings either face-to-face or online
• Authentic assessment tasks for applying your knowledge of the unit content in real-world scenarios.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formative feedback will be provided on an outline of the first assessment, providing guidance on academic writing skills as well as proposed content and arguments.

Assessment

Overview

There are two pieces of written assessment for this unit. These tasks provide opportunities for you to analyse the impact of policy, past and present, on First Nations education initiatives, and interrogate your own practice. These tasks build on the unit’s core learning experiences and assess all unit learning outcomes.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Essay

Write an essay that critically examines the role of education in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in one historical policy era.

Relates to learning outcomes
CLOs 1.1, 2.1

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Case study

Develop a case study of an education context you are familiar with and analyse how your context is a product of past and present policies relating to First Nations peoples and education. Explain tensions in future policy directions for First Nations peoples and education that are relevant to your context, and navigate critical issues to propose actions that will enhance outcomes for First Nations learners.

Relates to learning outcomes
CLOs  2.4, 3.1

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace Health and Safety protocols associated with computer use will apply.