76083 Ngiya - Talk the Law: Editorial Role
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2017 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): (70616 Australian Constitutional Law AND 70317 Real Property AND 70311 Torts AND (70114 Criminal Law and Procedure OR 70218 Criminal Law))
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 94680 Entering Professional Life (6cp) AND 94681 Entering Professional Life (8cp)
Description
Ngiya means 'talk the law' in Kamillaroi. The idea for Ngiya came from a group of Indigenous lawyers who were frustrated that there was no unique voice for critique of the dominant legal system and its impact on Indigenous peoples. Ngiya allows for these voices to be heard.
Ngiya is published twice a year and its articles are subject to rigorous peer review. It provides a mix of general and thematic editions. There are generally eight articles per edition, which are approximately 5000 words each.
The subject is offered in Autumn and Spring sessions under joint supervision of:
- a staff member from Jumbunna Research Unit responsible for Ngiya, and
- a staff member from the Faculty of Law.
The student works closely with the Jumbunna staff responsible for Ngiya, or related Jumbunna journals, in relation to the editing and proofreading tasks of one article accepted for publication in Ngiya, or related Jumbunna journals.
The student is supervised by a member of the Law Faculty to undertake research for an article written with the intention of publication in Ngiya, or related Jumbunna journals. Staff at Jumbunna may also provide input into the nature and scope of the article..
The unit is limited to eight students per session (although this may be lower, depending on the needs of the journal). They are selected on the basis of academic merit and interest in Indigenous issues. Preference may be given to Indigenous students and students in their final year of a law program.
Students selected for this subject must be prepared to serve for approximately six months (1 December – 30 May or 1 June – 30 November).
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | demonstrate advanced written communication skills through clarity of expression, persuasive argument and ability to draw conclusions. Work effectively with UTS staff towards the realisation of a mutual objective (ie the production of an edition of Ngiya or related Jumbunna journal) through ongoing communication and collaboration |
|---|---|
| 2. | demonstrate the capacity to rigorously check and cite references for accuracy and use a range of research technologies |
| 3. | set their own priority goals, produce structured plans and time-manage |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes:
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility
A capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards including an understanding of approaches to ethical decision making, the rules of professional responsibility and, an ability to reflect upon and respond to ethical challenges in practice. (2.0) - Critical Analysis and Evaluation
A capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively including an ability to identify and articulate legal issues, apply reasoning and research, engage in critical analysis and make reasoned choices. (3.0) - Research skills
Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues. (4.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
Strategy 1 Regular supervision meetings with law faculty supervisor
Strategy 2 Feedback from Jumbunna staff
Strategy 3 Weekly log book updates, which will receive regular comments from law faculty supervisor
Content (topics)
Editing article from Ngiya or related Jumbunna journal; writing journal article for submission to Ngiya or related Jumbunna journal and providing 1 page logs in reflect journal each week
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Reflective journal
| Intent: | Reflective journal – this is a weekly log of work that includes reflections on research, editing and communications with supervisor and Jumbunna, and how it is connected with graduate attributes. Students should comment on how they have managed to negotiate or process the impact on Indigenous communities flowing from the research that they are editing or writing. (This assessment task is in lieu of face-to-face class discussion and should not be considered part of the assessable ‘word count’) |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 1 page per log (approx. 400-500 words). Your final entry can be longer. |
Assessment task 2: Editing/proofing journal article for Ngiya or a relevant related journal
| Objective(s): | This task contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 3: Writing a 5000 word article for Ngiya
| Objective(s): | This task contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 50% |
Required texts
In order to ascertain the nature of the journals you will be working on, you are required to read articles from back copies of the
Journal of Indigenous Policy and Ngiya: Talk the Law. For an overview of these journals, including guidelines for contributors, see: http://www.jumbunna.uts.edu.au/researchareas/journals/index.html
The latest issues of the Journal of Indigenous Policy can be found here: http://www.jumbunna.uts.edu.au/researchareas/journals/jip.html
Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 3rd edition https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1586203/FinalOnlinePDF-2012Reprint.pdf
Refer to the Law databases to access articles from other editions of these journals.
Information on the Bowraville case, which is the subject of the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Indigenous Policy, including:
Innocence Betrayed, Documentary, http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/316286531592/innocence-betrayed
Family Responses to the Bowraville Murders, various documents from NSW Parliamentary Inquiry 2014, https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2131
Recommended texts
Behrendt, L., Cunneen, C. and Libesman, T. (2009) Indigenous legal relations in Australia. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
McRae, H., Nettheim, G., Anthony, T., Beacroft, L., Brennan, S., Davis, M. and Jenki, T. (2009) Indigenous Legal Issues: commentary and materials. 4th ed. Sydney: Thomson
References
Australian Indigenous Law Library (austlii): http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/indigenous/
