Course coordinator
Dr Allanah Hunt
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Have you ever wondered about Aboriginal cultural values and care for Country? Have you ever reflected about the history of Country and Aboriginal sites of significance in and around South-East Queensland? This course offers you opportunities to explore Aboriginal cultural values, with an emphasis on connection to Country, and historical and contemporary sites that have shaped and continue to shape Indigenous Australia. Through engaging site visits, reflective practice, and learning to engage with Country with some Aboriginal cultural values and knowledge, you will gain a deeper appreciation of the history of the Country you stand on and the greater contributions by Indigenous Australians to knowledge systems.
Students experiencing problems with enrolment in this course are advised to email the ATSIS team for assistance (atsis.academicadmin@uq.edu.au).
Here is an overall breakdown of the term:
Weeks 1-2: Aboriginal values - Students will be taught about Indigenous values, culture and spiritual connection to Country, thinking about Indigenous customs and culture.
Weeks 3-6: History within Country - Students will learn about the history of the Country they are walking on, understanding Indigenous connection to Country while at the same time, understanding the extent of colonisation. At the same time, students will learn how to interact with land in a more Indigenous lens.
Weeks 7-10: Cultural resilience/Maintaining culture - There will be a brief overview of some work being done to keep culture alive, while learning to listen and care for Country again, still engaging with Indigenous values and connection.
Weeks 11-13: Climate and Country - In recent years, Western systems are beginning to understand the depth of Indigenous knowledges and how they have been used to navigate and care for Country for millennia. With climate issues, more and more Indigenous knowledges are being implemented to undo the damage that has been done to Country when no care was given to it.
Course requirements
Assumed background
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
We strongly recommend to have either completed ABTS1000 or Module 1 and Module 2 of the Core Cultural Learning Modules before undertaking this course,
Restrictions
The maximum enrolment quota is 40.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Allanah Hunt
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The nature of this course demands a flexible schedule that can adapt itself to field trips. Because of the number of students, several of the field trips will be spread across two days and outside of normal class time. Please keep this in mind when planning your course schedules.
Weekly course content and readings will outline the structure and issues addressed throughout the semester. Community Elders and guest speakers will present and participate in various lectures. Students should be aware Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community protocol requires that they remain in lectures conducted by community Elders until the speaker has finished, if possible.ﾠAdherence to this protocol shows respect toﾠcommunity Elders and leaders, who are sharing their time voluntarily.
Aims and outcomes
In this course, you will explore Aboriginal history and connections to place by focusing on the cultural, social, political and economic experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Through a combination of field trips, seminars and critical reflections, you will gain a deeper appreciation about Aboriginal sites of significances in South-East Queensland and Aboriginal cultural knowledges and values. In this course, you will be exposed to a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical experiences which will enable opportunities for self-reflection and appreciation of Aboriginal peoples' cultural heritage.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Critically reflect on the impact of colonisation on Indigenous Australians.
LO2.
Engage in deep personal reflection on experiences gained through field trips and course content.
LO3.
Sensitively communicate about the diversity and richness of Aboriginal cultures and traditions.
LO4.
Critically evaluate and present research about prominent Indigenous places and/or practices.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notebook/ Logbook, Reflection | Reflective Journal while On Country | 40% |
5/09/2025 1:00 pm
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay on one of the significant locations we will learn about in South-East Queensland | 30% |
26/09/2025 1:00 pm
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. |
| Essay/ Critique, Presentation |
Presentation: 10-minute training session OR 10-minute presentation on how Indigenous knowledges help climate change
|
30% |
24/10/2025 5:00 pm
Presentation transcript due for all students on Friday, Week 12, the 24 of October, 5pm. Presentations will take place during seminar time, on Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 2-4pm. For students presenting online, they must upload their video, via submission video link, before the end of Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 5pm. Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. |
Assessment details
Reflective Journal while On Country
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Notebook/ Logbook, Reflection
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
5/09/2025 1:00 pm
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Task Description: Students will visit an outside space at UQ, 3 separate times (incorporated into class times), to write about Country and its changes over a certain amount of time. This will draw heavily on Reflective Writing
Word Count: 1,200 words (400 for the three separate visits)
Referencing: APA 7th Referencing Style
Use of artificial intelligence (AI)
While students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
via Turnitin
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
If you need to submit an extension, this needs to be done before the submission date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Essay on one of the significant locations we will learn about in South-East Queensland
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
26/09/2025 1:00 pm
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
Task Description: Students will present about a site of significance they visited and share the historical, cultural, social and/or economic significance of that site in an Indigenous context. Please use reflective writing within your essay, commenting on what you’ve learnt visiting these sites.
Locations: All the places visited in the course (e.g. Cherbourg, sites in Brisbane CBD, sites on UQ)
Word Count: 1,000 words
Referencing: APA 7th Referencing Style
Use of artificial intelligence (AI)
While students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
via Turnitin
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
If you need to submit an extension, this needs to be done before the submission date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Presentation: 10-minute training session OR 10-minute presentation on how Indigenous knowledges help climate change
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
24/10/2025 5:00 pm
Presentation transcript due for all students on Friday, Week 12, the 24 of October, 5pm. Presentations will take place during seminar time, on Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 2-4pm. For students presenting online, they must upload their video, via submission video link, before the end of Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 5pm.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Task Description: Students will write a transcript and do a 10-minute presentation on one of the following scenarios:
Scenario 1: You are a team leader and are taking a team out onto an Indigenous community. You have 10 minutes to teach them how to be more culturally capable when visiting that community. Go through what you think is the most pertinent information they should know before they step out onto community to make sure they don't 'Other' or disrespect community members.
OR
Scenario 2: Indigenous knowledges have always taken into account Country and how people’s actions affect it. Present on an Indigenous cultural practice that helps Climate Change/in the conservation and health of Country.
Word Count: 1,200-1,500 word transcript, followed by a 10-minute presentation)
Referencing: APA 7th Referencing Style
Options: You can do your presentation in person or upload a video online
Note: Presentation transcript due for everyone on Friday, Week 12, the 24 of October, 5pm. Presentations will take place during seminar time, on Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 2-4pm. For students presenting online, they must upload their video, via submission video link, before the end of Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 5pm.
This assessment provides an opportunity for the course lecturer to assess students’ overall competencies and learning outcomes of ABTS1000.
Part 1
Students are required to submit a copy of their presentation transcript, notes or paper (1200–1500 words) by Friday, Week 12, the 24 of October, 5pm.
Part 2
Students are required to deliver a ten-minute presentation in class or online.
Use of artificial intelligence (AI)
While students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
Presentation transcript due, via Turnitin, for all students on Friday, Week 12, the 24 of October, 5pm. Presentations will take place during seminar time, on Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 2-4pm. For students presenting online, they must upload their video, via submission video link, before the end of Week 13, Friday, 31 of October, 5pm.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
If you need to submit an extension, this needs to be done before the submission date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
If you are completely new to Aboriginal peoples and history, or looking for a quick refresher, we recommend:
- the SBS series First Australians, available to stream from the UQ library (you will need your UQ student login and password to access it)
- Welcome to Country: An Introduction to Our First Peoples for Young Australians, available online as an eBook from the UQ Library.
- Growing up Aboriginal in Australia edited by Anita Heiss.
For a guide to APA 7th referencing,ﾠrefer to ﾠAPA 7th referencing style.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 1: Seminar Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 2: Seminar Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 3: Guest Lecture Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 4: Seminar Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 5: Guest Lecture - Professor Anne Pattel-Gray Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Excursion |
Week 6: Blackcard Tours (Day 1) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Excursion |
Week 6: Blackcard Tours (Day 2) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Excursion |
Week 7: UQ Anthropology Museum Tour (Day 1) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Excursion |
Week 7: UQ Anthropology Museum Tour (Day 2) Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Excursion |
Week 8: Cherbourg Trip (All-Day) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Excursion |
Week 9: UQ Tour with School of Archaeology, including the bush tucker garden (Day 1) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Excursion |
Week 9: UQ Tour with School of Archaeology, including the bush tucker garden (Day 2) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
|
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
Seminar |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Seminar |
Week 10: Guest Lecture Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Excursion |
Week 11: UQ Art Museum tour (Day 1) Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Excursion |
Week 11: UQ Art Museum tour (Day 2) Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
|
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Seminar |
Week 12: Seminar Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Seminar |
Week 13: Presentations (in place of normal seminar) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.