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Indigenous Land Management (GEOG90019)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2022
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
Overview
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As Australian landscapes continue to degrade under current land management practices, land managers and stake-holders are looking toward alternative and more sustainable land management strategies, such as indigenous land management and traditional knowledge. This subject looks at how indigenous people in Australia manage their environment and how management practices vary across the Australian landscape. The subject will examine indigenous land management in Australia and abroad, and evaluate how traditional knowledge and beliefs guide approaches to land management. We will examine examples where indigenous land management has been reintroduced to landscapes in Australia and investigate the potential application of similar schemes across different parts of Australia. The subject will be taught as a 14-day intensive during the mid-semester break, comprising lectures and field observations in western Victoria and the Northern Territory. These two very different regions will be used to examine the relationship between environmental context, indigenous land management and post-colonial history. Lectures will provide the necessary conceptual framework with which to engage and understand the different environmental contexts and indigenous land management practices of these regions.
More information about this subject and the field trips can be seen at: http://michaelsresearch.wordpress.com/geog90019/
This subject will incur additional fees in the vicinity of $900 per student to cover travel.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students will have achieved the following objectives
- An appreciation of the philosophies underpinning indigenous land management in Australia;
- An appreciation of the biogeographic diversity of Australia and the various ways in which this governs the way in which people manage the land;
- Familiarity with the key literature and current debates on indigenous land management;
Generic skills
- ability to comprehend some of the current debates in the field;
- software skills, such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel and more specialised software;
- basic introduction to indigenous Australian cultures;
- basic introduction to Australian biogeography;
- oral presentation skills;
- group field and research activities.
Last updated: 24 January 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
At least some background in indigenous cultures, biogeography, ecology and/or physical geography. Interested students who are unsure if they possess sufficient academic background are welcome to contact the coordinator for advice.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 24 January 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Critical review
| Prior to field trip | 25% |
Reflective field journal
| After completion of field trip | 15% |
Theoretical essay
| Two weeks after field trip | 60% |
Last updated: 24 January 2023
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2022
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject will incur additional fees in the vicinity of $900 per student to cover travel.
An enrolment quota of 15 students applies to this subject. For detailed information on the quota subject application process, enrolment deadlines and selection preferences, refer to the the Faculty of Science website: http://studentcentre.unimelb.edu.au/eastern/subject_information/quota_subjects
Given the remote location of this subject and the dependence on interaction with remote indigenous communities, the precise timing of the subject will be confirmed mid-semester 1. The subject will run for 14 consecutive days during the time window in the mid-year break.
Students need to confirm selection through a $100 deposit. Total field trip balance will be due by prior to leaving on the field trip.
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in field activities. Students undertake field trip experiences that will require them to be physically capable of undertaking outdoor field work in remote locations
Last updated: 24 January 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Environmental Science Course Master of Geography Major Development Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 24 January 2023