Unit rationale, description and aim
Human trafficking and the smuggling of narcotics, firearms, dangerous goods, wildlife and endangered and threatened species are persistent crimes with serious negative social implications. Knowing about and understanding key concepts and practices associated with these matters, including border protection and biosecurity are important foundations for skills needed to identify, categorise and manage associated risks.
This unit introduces students to key concepts and practices in customs, border protection and biosecurity. The unit begins with a foundation of knowledge about the history and purpose of customs. It progresses to consideration of law, policy and practice across Australian airports and seaports, smuggling, and trafficking, each of which is further elaborated through consideration of international aspects. The unit then considers the separate but related matters of biosecurity and quarantine before finishing with consideration of contemporary challenges in border protection. This progression helps students to develop skills to critically evaluate border protection skills having regard to the dignity of the individual, human diversity, the common good and the human right to a sustainable environment.
The aim of this unit is to help students develop their knowledge and understanding of customs, border security and biosecurity and associated skills in identifying, categorising and managing associated risks.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Describe border protection risks and the regulator...
Learning Outcome 01
Explain how regulation, policy and border manageme...
Learning Outcome 02
Apply risk management principles to identify, cate...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- History and purpose of customs.
- International customs union.
- Australian airports: law, policy and practice.
- Australian seaports: law, policy and practice.
- Smuggling: law, policy and practice.
- Trafficking: law, policy and practice.
- International dimensions of smuggling and trafficking.
- History of biosecurity and quarantine.
- National and international dimensions of biosecurity and quarantine.
- Contemporary challenges in border protection.
Assessment strategy and rationale
Assessment is used in this unit as an integral part of the learning process by integrating it with the learning and teaching strategy described above. The assessment tasks support students through a scaffolded sequence of development so that they learn how to apply their understanding of customs, border security and biosecurity to the skill of identifying, categorising and managing associated risks.
This unit will be assessed by three assessment tasks: a content knowledge quiz to test jurisdictional and policy knowledge, a risk rating exercise to ensure students appreciate, understand and can apply risk analysis suitable to the work of the unit topics, and a ministerial briefing note in which students are required to respond to a request for critical analysis of a proposed reform.
Overview of assessments
Quiz: students will demonstrate understanding of ...
Quiz: students will demonstrate understanding of key topics including law, policy and practice in a selection of areas.
20%
Risk rating exercise: using guidelines, students ...
Risk rating exercise: using guidelines, students will learn about risk analysis and the law and policy underpinning risk analysis in a specific area of border protection.
40%
Ministerial briefing note: using a template, stud...
Ministerial briefing note: using a template, students will analyse a cluster of unit topics and respond to a request for critical analysis of a proposed reform.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit comprises 150 hours of study in total. It will be taught over a 12 week semester, with one 2-hour lecture followed by a 1-hour tutorial each week or ACU Online 10 week asynchronous delivery mode. Other study components might include on-line webinars, podcasts, readings, discussion forums etc. The balance of the hours is comprised of self-directed study.
The unit begins with a foundation of knowledge about the history and purpose of customs. It progresses to consideration of law, policy and practice across Australian airports and seaports, smuggling, and trafficking, each of which is further elaborated through consideration of international aspects. The unit then considers the separate but related matters of biosecurity and quarantine before finishing with consideration of contemporary challenges in border protection.
This progression helps students to develop skills to critically evaluate border protection skills having regard to the dignity of the individual, human diversity, the common good and the human right to a sustainable environment.
ACU Online
This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.