85209 Reconciliation Studies 8cp UG

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Social Inquiry
Credit points: 8 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

Reconciliation is a key strategy for a sustainable future for Australia. By reconciliation we mean creating 'a united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all' (Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, 1992). This subject introduces students to the challenges of this process. Core reconciliation issues are investigated and discussed, drawing on relevant life experiences, academic research and professional practice. Skills in applying reconciliation principles in a professional field, industry or community are developed, including the use of cultural plurality and diversity of perspectives found in reference material and the classroom.

For further information, contact:

Heidi Norman
email Heidi.Norman@uts.edu.au

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the completion of this subject, you are expected to be able to:

Identify and understand the historical and social reasons for the legislated Australian Reconciliation process and be aware of why Reconciliation is a key strategy for a sustainable future for Australia.
Identify and be in contact with Aboriginal people, communities, businesses, organisations and/or professional associations that are related to your professional field, industry or community, and—as part of your range of professional communication skills—use appropriate cultural protocols when working with Aboriginal people.
Identify and understand different concepts of Reconciliation and be aware of how a Reconciliation framework can make a difference in reaching resolution of key political and cultural conflicts that arise between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians.
Identify ways of taking Reconciliation forward in your professional field, industry or community and be able to participate, in direct consultation with Aboriginal people, in developing Reconciliation initiatives.
Deal confidently with the plurality and diversity of perspectives on Reconciliation that you encounter in the reference material, in the classroom and in the wider society.

Teaching and learning strategies

Reconciliation is one of the most significant issues facing Australian society today. By Reconciliation we mean creating 'a united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all' (Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, 1992). Reconciliation Studies introduces you to the challenges that the Reconciliation process poses to all Australians.

The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) supports the Reconciliation process. In its Reconciliation Statement (1989 revised 2004), UTS recognised that 'education has historically played a significant role in the colonial processes of dispossession and disempowerment of Indigenous Australians'. Today, education plays a key role in improving relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. UTS supports activities and programs—such as this subject—that explore contemporary social justice issues and which foster communication and collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and students.

This subject brings the study of Reconciliation issues in a structured learning environment into the UTS curriculum for the first time. It does so by concentrating on the task of understanding and improving relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The subject starts from the premise that focus on this task will enhance the academic and professional lives of all UTS students—as well as the well being of the broader community.

The subject provides you with access to a wide range of intellectual resources addressing Reconciliation issues. It also provides you with a wide range of learning experiences so that you can develop your knowledge of Aboriginal cultures and heritage, your skills in liaising with Aboriginal community or political organizations, your research and analysis of how Reconciliation frameworks enable the resolution of political and cultural conflicts between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and your application of Reconciliation principles in your profession, industry or community. This approach is consistent with UTS' commitment to practice-based learning.

Content

In this subject, you will examine Reconciliation as a key strategy for a sustainable future for Australia. You will study the contemporary Australian Reconciliation process and key concepts such as Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination and social justice. The subject is divided into four modules. The first module introduces the concept of Reconciliation by tracing the history of the legislated process (1991-2001) and examining the eight key themes of Reconciliation. It also looks at the history of struggle for Aboriginal peoples' rights that Reconciliation emerged from and the ideas of solidarity and anti-racist work that it relies on.

The second module develops the themes of belonging and dispossession that emerge in stories from Australia's past and about the past, including stories from Indigenous perspectives that have often been ignored, denied or distorted. It pursues the objective of introducing non-Indigenous people to the importance of relationships to land and sea, family and community in Indigenous cultures; and of encouraging wider recognition of and respect for Indigenous culture and history as a valued part of Australian heritage

The third module examines different understandings of Reconciliation: for example the 'Reconciliation as equality approach' offered by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) (1991-2001), and the 'Reconciliation as human rights approach' advocated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and 'practical Reconciliation as articulated by the Federal Government. In this module, the emphasis will be on understanding how a Reconciliation framework can make a difference in reaching resolution of key political and cultural conflicts that arise between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians. The module develops this understanding through a case study of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge dispute that involves individual research, a class-based role play and group reflection.

In the final module, consideration will be given to the range of proposals for taking Reconciliation forward that have emerged since the end of the official legislated process in 2001 and the newly created body 'Reconciliation Australia'. These include Indigenous sovereignty, 'practical' Reconciliation, the people's movement, a treaty, reparations and constitutional change. The backlash to Reconciliation will be outlined. We will study the changes in the administration of Aboriginal Affairs at the Commonwealth level under the Howard Government including the intervention in the Northern Territory and critically evaluate the new approach to Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation under the Rudd labor Government. Comparative international perspectives on Reconciliation will be canvassed. The premise of this module is that everyone can contribute to taking Reconciliation forward whether in professional, intellectual or other parts of daily life. Key questions are therefore: What can you do? Who else is interested in the same kind of approach and how can you work together to further your goals? In doing this work, what kind of collaborations are being developed between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people?

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Getting in touch with 'Aboriginal Sydney'

Objectives	a, b, e
Value	30%
Due	Friday 11th April
Task	To move outside the classroom and contact locally-based Indigenous Australian people, communities, organizations, businesses and/or professional associations. To complete a written report on 'Getting in touch with 'Aboriginal Sydney'' (6cps: 1,000-1,200 words; 8cp: 1,200-1,500 words).
Purpose	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live and work all over the Sydney metropolitan area. As a resident of this city, and a participant in Reconciliation Studies, you would be interested to develop an understanding of, and links with, Aboriginal people, places, communities, services, businesses or cultural events. This task requires you to go out in search of 'Aboriginal Sydney'. Take a little time to think about what might constitute 'Aboriginal Sydney'. Find a place to visit that will help you get in touch with Aboriginal Sydney. Your choice is as broad as your imagination and motivation. Report on your experiences and findings.
Structure	Your report needs to include: a statement about your understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Sydney. a statement about the organisation, community, business or cultural event you chose to visit and why you made that choice; your comments about the ways your visit contributed to your knowledge about 'Aboriginal Sydney'. your comments about the ways your visit has assisted you to develop a deeper understanding of the eight key themes of Reconciliation (see Module 1 Reader).
Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: Establish contact and report back on your interaction with an Aboriginal organisation, place, community, service or business. Understand and discuss the concept of 'Aboriginal Sydney' by reference to both research into the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Sydney, and informed commentary (based on direct interaction) about a specific organisation, community, business or cultural event. Understand and discuss the eight key themes of the Reconciliation process.

Assessment item 2: Understanding the Hindmarsh Island Bridge dispute

Objectives	a, b, c, e
Value	35%
Due	Friday 9th May
Task	To explore, appreciate and be able to negotiate the complexity of political and cultural conflicts between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians through the in-depth study of a particular recent dispute (the construction of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge). To prepare a written profile that outlines the perspective of a key stakeholder on the main issues in the dispute (6cps: 1,200-1,500 words; 8cp: 1,500 words).
Purpose	The aim is for you to immerse yourself in the perspective of one stakeholder in the Hindmarsh Island Bridge dispute. The interest groups are: the developers, the Aboriginal community of Hindmarsh (men & women), the traditional owners (men & women), the federal government and opposition, the state government, anthropologists, and the media. [Note: you will be assigned a role by the subject co-ordinators]. In class, we will come together and enact a role-play simulation of the dispute as a way of exploring the full range of issues that arose in this dispute; of seeing these issues from multiple perspectives and of experiencing the practical challenges involved in reconciling different and conflicting interests, cultural perspectives and worldviews. This task requires you to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Take time to consider your own worldview and how it compares and contrasts with your stakeholder. Think about the emotional investment you may have in your stakeholder's perspective, and reasons why you may or may not be open to considering other perspectives. Think about how a Reconciliation framework can make a difference.
Structure	Your profile needs to include: a short personal profile of your stakeholder, a statement of how she/he came to be involved in the dispute and a statement outlining your stakeholder's perception of its significance. an outline of the main legal, cultural, political, economic and community and/or other relevant issues in the dispute. a list of points on which your stakeholder was prepared to negotiate. a critical analysis of the pros and cons of your stakeholder's interests/perspectives. a statement indicating how adopting a Reconciliation framework could make a difference for your stakeholder in resolving this complex dispute.
Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: Research and prepare a written profile from the perspective of one key stakeholder on the main issues in the Hindmarsh Island Bridge dispute. Outline and critically analyse the range of issues that are at the centre of political and cultural conflicts between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians. Understand and discuss what is meant by a adopting a Reconciliation framework for dispute resolution.

Assessment item 3: Taking Reconciliation forward

Objectives	a, b, c, d
Value	35%
Due	Friday 6th June
Task	To critically assess the available concepts of Reconciliation, the legacy of the legislated process (1991-2000) and the prospects for creating 'a united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all' (Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, 1992). To complete a written essay that outlines your understanding of Reconciliation, sets out your preferred concept of Reconciliation and makes an argument about how Reconciliation can best be advanced at the national, professional, industry, intellectual, community and/or international level.
Purpose	The aim is to enable you to synthesise what you have learned in the semester and to evaluate your understanding of the subject materials. This task requires you to individually reflect on two key questions: why advocate Reconciliation? And, what are we advocating in adopting a Reconciliation framework? Take time to consider your reasons for studying Reconciliation, the intellectual resources and learning experiences that you have had access to, the new understandings you may have reached. Think about what the legislated Reconciliation process achieved, and reasons why it did not or could not achieve more. Think about the future directions for Reconciliation and the pros and cons of different strategies. Think about the reasons that a backlash to Reconciliation has emerged. Think about the difference that a reconciled Australia would make to you, your family, your community, your profession, your industry, and the country as a whole. Finally, consider what you can do in your professional, intellectual or other aspects of your daily life to take Reconciliation forward and identify some achievable goals.
Structure	A written essay that includes an introduction, a central argument, evidence in support of your main claims, critical analysis of opposing viewpoints, a conclusion and a bibliography. The written essay must be typed (A4, double-line spacing), printed on one side of the page, and referenced using the Harvard style. 6cps: 2,000 word essay. 8cps: 2,500 word essay.
Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: Complete a written essay that demonstrates your understanding of the subject materials. Identify, understand and evaluate different concepts of Reconciliation. Make an argument about how Reconciliation can best be advanced in the next decade at the national, professional, industry, community and/or international level.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.