Study Australia - Justice, Rights, and Reconciliation

  Australia

• Sydney: 
Sydney

Term: Winter 
Dates: January 2-27, 2009

Description: This course explores the unique aspects of social and economic inequality, the rights of indigenous people, and injustices perpetrated against refugee and new migrant communities as they play out in an Australian context.

Highlights: The course will begin by exploring how human rights are framed and protected before moving on to examine the tensions which lie between these established global ideals and the real challenges faced by a sovereign nation such as Australia. Part of the uniqueness of dealing with issues of rights and justice in the Australian context lies in the history of the relationship between Indigenous Australians and the settlers who later claimed the land as their own. The resulting diversity of viewpoints in relation to key community issues are part of what now comprises the colourful fabric of Australian culture and community. Specifically, the course will focus on the way that these issues are informed by history and approached by government, portrayed in the media and understood by the Australian people. In particular there will be a significant emphasis on understanding key human rights and social justice issues as they currently relate to members of the Australian Aboriginal community, as well as how they impact on new migrants and refugees who have come to Australia from Africa, the Middle East and parts of South-East Asia.

Ultimately, the course will push students to explore the challenges facing the wider Australian community in regards to understanding the past and confronting the present while addressing issues of reconciliation and restorative justice with a view towards identifying inclusive and respectful pathways to healing. By the conclusion of the course, students will be tasked with examining how their exploration of social justice and human rights in the Australian context relates to their understanding of similar issues at home.

The course will have a strong emphasis on experiential learning and includes a service-learning component. Students will have a 20-30 hour placement with an organization currently working within the community to address issues of social injustice, human rights abuses and reconciliation at a grass-roots level. In addition to the service-learning component, the course will be structured around daily interactions with guest speakers who are working on key justice and rights issues from a variety of perspectives. Speakers will include: Executive Directors of local community organizations, program managers from large, multi focused Non-Government Organizations, Government policy makers, representatives of key peak bodies, local Indigenous leaders, advocates, activists, members of the local and national media and indigenous and non-indigenous young people. Additional course material will include textual references, a course reader, videos, some short field trips and a weekend learning excursion to Melbourne and Canberra. On a daily basis, students will be challenged to reflect on their various experiences and to integrate these experiences with other learning opportunities provided throughout the course.

Students will be accommodated in fully furnished apartments while in Sydney. They are ideally situated for easy access to Bondi Beach (5-10 minute bus ride) and the city center. The units also come with cable television, air-conditioning, internal laundry with washer and dryer, land line phone service, weekly cleaning service, linens, towels, on-site building management, 24-hour security access, and enclosed balconies with city or harbor views. The complex also has a lap pool, exercise room, spa, basketball courts, sauna, virtual golf center, and tennis courts.

Course size is restricted to thirty students allowing greater student participation and a more hands-on approach to learning. Teaching will be done by David Platt, Study Australia's Director of Global Service Learning. In addition, there will be other Study Australia students participating in other winter courses. Most will be following similar itineraries, thus allowing for participants to meet and interact with other students.

Cost in US$: $4,030

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to Australia Independently Or in Groups

Scholarships are Available. - Each year Study Australia awards thousands of dollars to qualified program participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Transcript

Year Founded: 1995